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111 PISTOLS HIE. Robbers Hold Up an S., F. & W. Train On me Eoge oi me OkeeimoKee snu THE TRAIN DYNAMITED. The Express Car Blown Open. The Messenger Forced to Open the Safe $1,222 SECURED. THE PASSENGERS UNMOLESTED. The Robbers Steal the Engine and Escape Bloodhounds on Their Track. One of the most daring and successful train robberies in the history of Georgia railroading took place yesterday morning on the Savannah, Florida and Western railway, just this side of Homerville, whfbh ia 122 miles from Savannah, be tween Waycross and Thomasville. Train No. 6, leaving Thomasville at 10:82 p. m., and scheduled to arrive in Sa vannah at 7 o’clock yesterday morning, was held up in the woods, just this side of Homerville, at 1:50 o'clock, by half a dozen masked men, the engine stopped, the Southern Express car blown open with dynamite, and the safe rifled of its contents, which, it is reliably stated, were $1,222, though no information as to the exact amount could be obtained from the Southern Express officials. After securing their booty the robbers took the engine away from Engineer Jen kins and his fireman, and proceeded to make their way if possible beyond the reach of law. They ran the engine up to Manor turnout, near Argyle, several miles from where they held up the train, and then took to the woods. A pack of bloodhounds was obtained from Mcßae’s camp in Lowndes county, and a posse in charge of ex-Sheriff Hurst of Thomas county started in pursuit, taking up the trail where the robbers left the engine. THE OFFICIALS NOTIFIED. Conductor John A. Farris, as soon as the robbers had completed their work, went at once to Homerville, about a mile away, and notified Capt. Jackson, master of transportation, what had taken place. It was about 2:30 o’clock in the morn ing when he reached the telegraph office and asked for instructions. A freight train, which was just behind the nassen-1 ger, was ordered to push the coaches up to where the engine had been left stand ing on the track. The freight did this service up to the 108-mile post, when the engine was again fired up and took its own train, and arrived in the city at 11:32 o’clock. The news of the robbery spread rapidly, and all along the line from Waycross to Savannah, wherevel stops were made, eager crowds were on hand to gather news of the bold attack made on the ex press car. Fortunately, however, the scheme had passed oft quietly as planned, -instead of resulting disastrously for the passengers or those in charge of the train. None but the express car was molested and none of the passengers or train crew wore hurt. CONDUCTOR FARRIS’ STORT. Conductor Farris gives a graphic ac count of the robbery. While in one of the passenger coaches he could hear and make out all that was going on. “We left Homerville at 1:46 o’clock a. nb., on time,” he said, “with no idea or suspicion that the train would meet with any serious calamity. Two of the men boarded the train just as it was leaving Homerville. This was evident, though no one but Engineer Jenkins and the fire man knew anything about it until the train came to a standstill. “Just as the train left Homerville one of these masked men climbed over the tender, whilr the other got in between the engine and the tender and covered the engineer with a pistol. “ ‘Run vfntil we tell you to stop,’ he shouted to the engineer who had no altern ative but to obey. “About a mile this side of Homerville the train was brought to a standstill. This was thnfirst intimation I had that there was any trouble in store. SIGNALED THEIR COMRADES. “My trainhand and I left the car to in vestigate the cause of the stop, when we heard shots tired —one shortly after the other seemingly a signal and answer. 'We thought there was some trouble ahead, but as the train began to move off, we got aboard . “The engine pulled up only about twelve car lengths when it stopped again. This confirmed my suspicions, and as we left the car again to investigate two more shots were fired. We walked toward the engine to see what the trouble was, but before we had passed two cars we were confronted by three or four masked men, who covered us with Winchesters and or dered us back to tiie coach. The train hands did not wait to bo bid twice, nor did I; we went. “It seems that the first stop was not t the exact place where the two men wore ' to meet their associates and they pulled i up a little farther. As near as I could make out there were six masked white I men in the party, four of them having pil health gives way to Brown’s Iron fitters I v < joined it where the train stopped in the woods. COULD) FIND BUT TWO PIBTOLB. “When we went back in the car, realiz ing that the situation was a desperate one, I began to look around to see what could be done. “I informed the passengers what was taking place, and there was consternation among them at once. Several of the men started on a run for the rear end of the train. They probably thought if the rob bers came into the car they could at least be the last ones tackled. They soon saw, however, that there was little need for fear, and that there was nothing to do but wait. They then cooled down and I went through the coaches to see if J could get any pistols. I used to carry one my self, but of late have discarded it, as I had never found any use for it. I could find only two pistols among the passengers on the train, and of course it was needless to attempt. .to put a stop to the robbery with such a scarcity of firearms and with few men to use them. So I gave it up and went to the platform of the passenger coach, just two cars away from the express car, to see what they would do. BLEW OPEN THE DOOR WITH DYNAMITE. “I didn’t have to wait long to see. I could distinguish the forms of two or three men on the eastern side of the track, near the express car. I heard one of them say to the messenger: “Open the door,'or we’ll make it hot for you.” “The messenger was plucky, however, and refused to let them in. They re peated the order twice and still he re fused. Then I heard one of them tell him he had better look out, and with that he placed what proved to be a dynamite car tridge at the side door of the car, and I saw him light a fuse, and in a few seconds there was a loud explosion. The door was shattered and broken from its fastenings, and was pushed open by the men with compar ative ease. Only one of them entered the car, and what happened in there the mes senger can tell better than I, As I did not see it. The robbers secured the money from the safe; then all of them made for the engine. TOOK AWAY THE ENGINE. “The fireman was ordered to cut the engine loose from the train, which, under the circumstances, he did unhesitat ingly. ' ' “The engineer was ordered out of his engine, and it was in charge of the. six robbers, who started off up the road. We felt considerably easier after they left, and began to figure on what to do. The engineer said he had put on the in jectors, and he knew they could not go far, as the cold water would soon cause the steam to die down. He and the fire man went up the track after the engine, and I started off for Homerville to wire for orders. I notified Capt. Jackson of what had occurred about 2:30 o’clock or shortly after. It was about twenty five minutes from the time the train was held up until the robbers left with the en- j gine. Orders were sent out instructing a freight train that was just behind us to push our train up to where the engine was standing. “It was 5 o’clock this morning when we started again. Our train was pushed up to the engine where the robbers had left it, at the 111-mile post. Manor turnout, not far from Argyle. We were pushed up to the 108-mile post before the engine could be fired up sufficiently to take up the train. Engineer Jenkins left the train at Waycross. We arrived in Savannah at 11:32 o’clock.” THINKS THEY CAME TOWARD SAVANNAH. Conductor Farris thinks when the rob bers left the train they started off in the direction of Savannah, though, of course, it is hardly probable that they ha,d any idea of coming to the city. Others are under the impression that their path Was toward Okefinokee swamp, in which they hoped to secure themselves until they could escape. It is evident from the shrewdness and thorough manner in which the robbery was planned and car ried out that the robbers were not novices at, the business, and were not going to run any possible risk of being taken. No time was lost in forming a posse to go in pursuit. Ex-Sheriff Hurst of Thomas county was at the head of the posse and the pursuit was begun with a pack of bloodhounds from Mcßae’s con vict camp in Lowndes county, about five hours after the robbery took place. Supt. Fleming, of the Savannah, Florida and Western, said he had information that the party is on the track of the rob bers and he believes they will be captured within forty-eight hours. He says no efforts will be spared to effect a capture as soon as possible. The experience of those on the train was a dangerous one, and he is exceedingly gratified that no one was hurt. The robbers made no attempt to enter the mail car. nor did they disturb any of the passenger coaches. MESSENGER CALDER’S STORY. The position of the express messenger, J. B. Calder, was perhaps the most dan gerous of any of those on the train, from the fact that it was he with whom the robbers dealt, and also that he was in the car /when the door was broken open by the explosion of the dynamite. Mr. Calder was seen at his home, No. 191 Duffy street. “It was rather a frightful experience,” he said, referring to the robbery. “I al ways keep my car securely fastened at night. The doors at each end were fast ened with heavy bars of iron, while both the side doors were hooked and bolted. We had jUst left Homerville and I was nor apprehending any trouble. “When the tram first stopped, about a mile from the station, I heard two shots fired and I thought something was wrong, but the train started again and I thought I might have been mistaken. It was only a few minutes, however, before the train stopped again and I soon discovered that something unusual was in progress. “I heard several men talking outside, and pretty soon one of them shouted to me to open the door. Os course I refused. They were standing just at the side door on the east side of the car. Again they demanded that the door be opened, and when I had refused the third time one of them said: “ ‘Well, you’d better get out of the car and be quick about it? “I heard a match struck and the sound of a burning fuse. The dynamite ex ploded before I could reach the corner of the car. I was stunned by the force of the explosion, though not hurt. OPENED THE SAFE. “A portion of the door was shattered and splintered by the force of the ex plosion. It was burst from its fastening, so that it could be easily opened. “When I came to a minute or two later I was looking into the muzzle of a pistol. There was but one man in the car, but I had had no opportunity to use my pistol. “ ‘Throw up your hands,’ he said, but I was so dazed I could scarcely understand what he was saying. “ ‘Throw up your hands, or you, I’ll kill you,’ he said. That brought nje to my senses, and up they went. I knew he meant business and I could do nothing but obey. “ ‘Get your keys and open the safe,’ Out of sorts! take Brown’s Iron Bitters. THE WEEKLY NEWS (TWO-TIMES-A-WEEK): THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1894. was his next demand. I opened the safe, took out the packages and placed them on the shelf. He kept me covered with his pistol all the while, and there was no alternative but to do as I was bid. The robber was a big, stout fellow with a mask that completely hid his features. There were only a few packages, and when they were all taken out he gathered them up, and, keeping me covered all the wikle, he left the car to join his compan ions. I told them the messenger of the Montgomery car had transferred to me at Dupont, and they left 4.he other express car undisturbed. The robbers then went to the engine, with which they made their escape. ” , THE AMOUNT SECURED. Mr. Calder would not say how much money was taken from the safe. Super intendent Fleming stated it was not more than §1,400 at most, while it is un derstood the Company’s manifests showed it to be $1,222. Messenger Calder said the amount was not near so large as either of these, and while there were several packages, he said none of them contained large amounts. It is probable that of the amount $350 was coming to Messrs. J. P. Williams & Co., as Mr. Williams had ordered that amount returned from Columbia, Ala., the day before. From all accounts the amount obtained must have been con siderably over SI,OOO. This is one of the most daring robberies that has been committed in this section in a long time. Its execution shows it was well planned and carried out in detail. The robbers understood their business, and it is likely that their plans of escape were as well laid as was that of the robbery. There were no Savannahians on.the train when it was held up. There were several passengers aboard who were to take the New Y ork steamer. The steamer was held a short tjipe after sailing time in or der that they could catch it. ENGINEER JENKINS FOLLOWED THEM. A Waycross dispatch to the Morning News tells briefly Engineer Jenkins’ story of the affair. It seems that the parties are having a hard time striking the rob bers’ trail. Engineer Jenkins’ story is to the effect that, as he was pulling out from Homerville, several men boarded the en gine and tender, and with drawn pistols, took charge. They compelled him to stop the train about a mile and a half from the station, and after firing a number of shots under and around the train, proceeded to blow open the express car with dyna mite. Some time after the robbers left Engineer Jenkins followed them on foot and found the engine fourteen miles down the road. The latest report is that the posse is in hot pursuit after the robbers and that the trail leads >in the direction of Homerville. J. Cronin has returned to Waycross with several dogs, which could not strike the trail. a fruitless search. The scouting parties have, from all ac counts, met with small success. A dis patch from Argyle, where the search began, says: Searching parties have been out all day and have just returned. They scoured the woods for miles around with three packs of blood hounds and failed to find a trail that would aid them. They have turned their attrition to other clues. M’ o andlesslexonebated. The Indictments Against Him in the Bank Case Quashed. Atlanta, Ga., June 26.—The two indict ments against Edward A. McCandless for aiding and abetting Assistant Cashier Lewis Redwine to loot the Gate City National Bank were ordered to be noli pressed to-day under circumstances that cause a good deal of comment. McCandless was cashier of the defunct bank at the time of Redwine’s indict ments. His conduct was also investi gated, but no indictment was found by that grand jury. A subsequent jury, however, returned four indictments. After Redwine’s conviction and sentence McCandless made a formal demand for immediate trial. His case was not called during ' that term of court and another odemand was made Finally it was set for next October, Capt. Harry Jackson, special prosecu ting attorney for 'the United States, claiming that he could not get ready earlier. McCandless, who is a candidate *sr the office of city marshal, was not satisfied with the postponement at all. He wanted the case settled by trial, so that it would not embarrass him in his campaign. His friends accused Capt. Jackson of persecuting him. There was bad feeling all around. Last week Judge Newman was induced to take the case up, again by Mr. McCandless’ attorneys and finally it was ordeed for trial on July 9. Capt. Jackson protested again, stating that he had arranged to go to Europe and could not be present to try the case. The court thought Capt. Jack son’s European trip should not interfere, and Said so. At this hearing two of the indictments were quashed. Capt. Jack son would not give ffip his trip to Europe, and with his family left last Saturday for , New York. Before going he and District Attorney James concluded that they could not convict McCandless. Capt. Jackson himself admitting that with the present evidence he would release him if he was ou the jury trying him. Judge Newman was informed of this state of affairs, and promptly instructed that the indictments against McCandless be quashed. The ex cashier is ndw exonerated, but he and his friends think he has been very badly treated by Capt. Jackson. BAIN IN COFFEE COUNTY. Sea Island' Cotton Stood the Drought Well. Pearson, Ga.. June 26.—For the first time in about two months a rain fell here yesterday. The Methodist quarterly meeting commenced a week ago to-day, and prayers were offered for rain, but were unavailing. While at Antioch the people met at noon and prayed con tinuously for rain till night and were re warded by heavy showers immediately. Crops have suffered terribly, especially corn, while sea island cotton, taking all things into consideration, has done fairly well, much better than many expected. Peas have not been sown, or very few if any,on account of the drought,and"will, therefore, be late. But the farmers say they will have time to mature during what is left of the season. They will be extensively planted on account of such a big per cent. of. corn being ruined by the long dry spell. ' •Very few potatoes have been put out, but now, as the rain has commenced, they will be rushed as fast as possible. While the farmers were very blue as they day after day saw their crops drying up, they are now smiling again. ENGLAND’S BEER DUTY. The House Votes Down a Proposal For a Change in the Bate. London, June 26.—The House of Com mons this evening discussed the beer duty as proposed in the budget. Col. Lock wood, conservative, moved that an additional duty of three pence be im posed instead of six pence. After a lengthy debate the amendment was re jected by a vote of 289 to 271, and the clause was adopted. Children get rosy and strong Brown’s Iron Bitters! CHARGED WITH MURDER. F. F. Scharf Arrested in Savannah on Suspicion by Detective Wooster. He is Charged With Being the Princi pal in the Murder of John Jackson at Oliver Six Weeks Ago—A Strong Combination of Evidence Against Him—Three Negroes Under Arrest at Oliver as His Accomplices—Henry Archer Swears That Scharf Gave Him Jackson’s Pistol to Keep His Mouth Shut—To Be Taken to Oliver To-day. The Morning News announced Mon day morning that it was believed that the murderers of J. A. Jackson, the young merchant of Oliver, had been dis covered and that all but one of them were under arrest, the missing party being a white man who was believed to be the principal in the crime. This one was arrested in Savannah yesterday morning by Detective C. A. Wooster, of Atlanta, who has been search ing for him for three weeks. His name is F. L. Scharf and this is the third time he has been arrested for the crime. He had just arrived in Savannah and so had the detective. The latter met his man on Drayton street in front of the Mer chants National Bank and put him under arrest. Scharf yvas taken to the bar racks hnd locked up for safe keeping. He was taken to Oliver by Detective Wooster Monday morning for a prelim inary examination. Scharf is an itinerant piano tuner, and has been working throughout South Georgia and Florida fob several months. He was at Oliver on the night of the mur der, and was arrested a day or two after on suspicion. There was no evidence against him, however, and he was re leased. He was arrested again several days later on the statement of a negro woman that he had given her a bloody shirt to wash a day or two after the mur der. He was taken before the grand jury of Scriven county, which was then in session at Sylvania. The woman’s testimony was very conflicting, however, and besides it was shown that Scharf had no white shirt, and that the only shirt he had was the one on his back. He was re leased again and came to Savannah. story of the pistol. Last Friday’s Morning News con tained a dispatch from Oliver which stated that a Mr. Hill, a gunsmith of Bulloch county, had brought there Mr. Jackson’s pistol, which, he stated, had been brought to him for repairs by a ne gro named J. S. Johnson. Johnson was arrested and stated that he had bought the pistol from Henry Archer, a negro of Oliver, Archer was arrested and at first denied all knowledge of the pistol, besides making an unsuccessful attempt to escape. He afterw'ard de clared that the pistol had been given to him by Scharf. Archer continued to let out the story by piecemeal, resulting in the arrest of two other negroes and a re newal of the efforts to apprehend Scharf. Archer’s story was to the effort that on the night of the murder he went to the housd*of Henry Butler, who lives aJmost in the rear of Jackson’s store. George Jenkins, who had just escaped from the chain gang, was with Butler, and the two men were drinking. Presently Butler sent Jenkins off after something, and when he returned he him a hammer, which was the hammer ho declared Jackson was killed with. While he was there Scharf came up and began talking and drinking with the negroes. Scharf, he said, made him leave, telling him that when he was out of trouble he had better stay out, and not be mixing up where he was not wanted. Archer declared that he then left, and that he knew no more about the doings of the men until two or three night afterward, w'hen Scharf called him off in the dark and gave him' a present, telling him at the same time to keep his mouth shut. The present proved to be Jackson’s pistol. Archer was shrewd enough to dispose of the pistol to a Bulloch county negro, but his shrewdness was not quite far reach ing enough, and led to his arrest. SCHARF THE MISSING LINK. Henry Butler, at whose house Archer claimed to have met the men, was arrested in Oliver. George Jenkins, the negro who had escaped from the chain gang in Bulloch county, had been recao tured and was back on the gang. He was secured on a warrant for murder and was brought to Oliver. Scharf was the only man missing then and there was little hope of finding him, as he had not been heard of since being released from custody at Sylvania. Circumstantial evidence had developed shortly after his release which made the authorities more anxious to secure him than ever, in spite of the fact that he had been twice ar rested and twice released. Jackson was murdered Tuesday night. June 16. Scharf, had been in the neighborhood about two week. On the night of the murder he stopped at the house of Dr. S. J. Lanier, not fai; from Jackson’s store. There was another young man in the room with him named Barnwell who had come to Dr. Lanier for treatment He got up twice in the night and went out. When he got up the second time, about 2 o’clock in the morning, he found that his roommate was missing. When he came back he found Scharf undressing. He asked him where he had been, and Scharf replied that he had not been able to sleep and'had gone out for a walk. He also remarked that he was satisfied some thing terrible was going to happen. The young man took no particular notice of this at the time, and in the excitement consequent upon the discovery of the murder the incident passed out of his mind until he heard afterward of the sus picion that had attached to Scharf. AT THE SCENE OF THE MURDER. Scharf was up very earlv the next morning, and was one of the first to reach the scene of the murder. He was very active in his efforts to apprehend the murderers, going so far as to scour the country with his hired horse and buggy. He was one of the party that arrested the white hoy, Samuel Edmonson, of Macon, and the three negro tramps, who came very near being lynched, and is said to have been one of those who advocated the lynching of the young tramps, though be asserts to the contrary. It tas his activity in the matter that first at tracted suspicion to himself, he being al most a total stranger in the community. A Morning News reporter interviewed Scharf at the barracks Monday after noon. Scharf was very willing to talk. He is a man of about 35 years of age, of barely medium hight. sparely built, with a redish-brown mustache. "He was rather shabbily dressed. He told a very straight-forward story, giving a detailed account of his movements, both before and after the murder. He did not talk nor act like a guilty man. Everybody feels better from Brown’s Iron Bitters. SCHARF’S STORY. He told of doing work as a piano tuner for several well-known citizens of Oliver and vicinity before the murder. He put up at Dr. Lanier’s on the night of the murder. There were several young peo ple at the nouse and, after supper, Scharf and others entertained the party with music. He retired about 10:30 o’clock, he slid. He mentioned his room-mate’s going out during the night, but said noth ing about going out himself. He got up between 6 and 7 o’clock Wednesday morn ing, he said, and went out to Dr. Lanier’s drug store, where news of the murder was shortly afterward abrought by a negro boy. He went with Dr. Lanier to Jack son’s plade and forced the door open, Dr. Lanier climbing in through a win dow. Scharf’s narration of the subsequent events, including the capture of the tramps, Coincide with the published accounts. His interest, he said, was only such as any other well thinking person who was shocked at the crime would have manifested. He used his horse and buggy freely in this work, and was one of the posse which captured the tramps. He said that the negroes came very near being lynched, and that at Dr. Lanier’s request he went to the crowd and begged it to desist. Two of the negroes, he said, were taken out by the crowd the next night and strung up by the necks to make them confess. Un der such persuasion as this the older negro was induced to make a partial con fession, and agreed to lead the crowd to where the money and papers taken from Jackson’s store were buried. HELPED TO FIND THE fBURIED ARTICLES. Scharf was one of the party which ac companied the negro in his search for the buried articles, which, it will be remem bered, was a fruitless one. While at tending the examination of the negroes the next day he was arrested by a con stable and held under arrest for several hours while all of his belongings were searched. Nothing being found to in criminate him he was released. He re mained at Oliver three days longer, when he settled up his bills and left—doing some work in the country between Oliver and Brewer. He was arrested it Brewer the Monday after the murder by Dr. Luff burrow and a Mr. Mills. They took him to Sylvania, where he remained in jail two or three days while the grand jury investigated the charge made against him by the negro woman of having given her a bloody shirt to wash for him. After be ing released on this charge he secured a statement from Clerk Nunnally of the superior court to the qffect that the charge had been investigated by the grand jury and no bill found against him. He then came to Savannah, and, after spending a few days here went to Ella belle, where he did some work. He came to Savannah again and went to Bur roughs, Fleming, Walthourville and other places along the Savannah, Florida and Western railroad, where he worked on pianos. CAME TO SAVANNAH. He came to Savannah last Thursday, he said, and stopped at the Marshall house. He was told at Rosenfeld & Murray’s that Detective Wooster was looking for him. He went to the Marshall in com pany with a friend and inquired for Wooster, but was told that he had left the city. He went out to Burroughs again Saturday, coming back to the city yester day morning. He was on his way to con sult Lawyer Otto Seiler, he said, when he was arrested. ‘ Scharf professed his con fidence that he would be acquitted in the investigation as easily as upon the two previous occasions. At the Marshall house the clerk said that Scharf registered there Thursday as R. Smith, of Florida. He was given a room,for which he paid the next morning. He registered again the next night, but when the proprietor demanded pay for the-room yi advance he did not stay.j The proprietor said he knew that he was the man wanted by the detective, and he did not want him in the house. He said that Scharf asked for Wooster, but he had probably ascertained already that he had left the hotel. TOLD A DETECTIVE WAS AFTER HIM. Scharf was told in the Marshall house bar that a detective was looking for him and declared that he intended to have Wooster arrested at the first opportunity. Scharf is said to have passed himself off as a representative of the Ludden & Bates music house. At Ludden & Bates’ a Morning News reporter was informed that they had known of Scharf for sev eral months and that hp had never had any connection with the house. Very damaging reports had been made to the house some time ago of Scharf’s doings. John F. Smith, a jeweler and post master at Jasper, Fla.,ftwho made some inquiries about him on Jan. 10, wrote ten days later saying that Scharf had skipped out with a watch which he had obtained on false pretences. Scharf is said to have a record es not paying his debts. He will be taken to Oliver this morning by Detective Wooster for exam ination. The detective thought it best not to take him up last‘night, on account of possible dinger of lynching. It is not thought likely that there is much danger of this, however. A STORY FROM OLIVER. An Oliver special says: “Henry Archer, who was on trial there Saturday, was committed to the superior court under the charge of the mqrder of Jackson. He said the pistol brought here by Mr. Hill was given him by Professor F. L. Scharf the night after the murder, as a present, and, judging from his statement, it was to make him keep his mouth shut. Archer states that three negroes, Henry Butler, John Owens and George Jenkins, and Prof. Scharf, a white man, who had been tuning pianos for a short time before the murder, were at Jackson’s store late the night of the murder, drinking and plotting, and that Jenkins had the ham mer under his arm. He says that as he turned to leave the crowd called him and threatened his life if he said anything a bout - their being there. The other negroes, Henry Butler, John Owens and J. S. Johnson, under ar rest, deny knowing anything of the murder, and tbe other negro, Jenkins, will be taken there to stand his trial to-day. It is evident that Henry Archer knows something of the murder, if he was not the party or one of the par ties that did the murdering, as the pistol he gave Johnson cannot be accounted for, and it is in every way like Mr. Jackson’s pistol. Everything is quiet, and there is no inclination to lynching. The citizens are anxious that the crime be ferreted out. Struck by Lightning. Abbeville, Ga., June 26.—During a heavy thunder and rain storm yesterday two dwelling houses were wrecked by lightning, the occupants of both of which were, fortunately, absent at the time. An electric bolt struck a tree in front of the residence of B. E. Moness, and knocked down and stunned his wife, who was the only occupant of the house during the storm. The Louisa, a steamer of the People’s line, is hourly expected at her wharf, having left the Oconee river last Sunday. The establishment of this line of boats will prove of considerable importance to Savannah, as this section will in future confine itself to the patronage of the boat line as far as possible. It’s Brown’s Iron Bitters you need! PULLMANS UNDER BOYCOTT. The American Railway Union’s Big Fight Begun. The Order to the Men Covers Every Road in the United States—The Struggle Expected to Be the Great est Ever Waged Between Capital and Labor—The Opening of the Eight Concentrated Against the Illinois Central—A Number of Northern Pa cific Men Quit at St. Paul. Chicago, June 26.—The boycott declared against the Pullman Palace Car Company by the American Railway Union, went into effect at 12 o’clock to-day. The order is supposed to include every rail road in the United States which handles Pullman cars, and, as declared by the union officials, every road which insists upon running the sleepers will be sub jected to a strike if necessary. As a result of the boycott all of the switchmen in the freight yards of the Illinois Central met at 6 o’clock this evening and no freight of any kind is being handled in the yards. The order to strike was issued this afternoon, but was not observed till late, after it became ap parent that the Illipois Central officers were determined to run the Pullman cars. In addition to the freight switchmen, it is expected that the men are working in the upper yards, handling the passenger trains which will go out to-morrow morn ing. TOOK THE OFFICIALS BY SURPRISE. The strike was sudden and so far is ef fective, taking the officials by surprise and leaving the work in the yards here in bad shape. When the boycott order became effect ive this noon it marked the beginning of what is expected to be the greatest strug gle between capital and labor ever in augurated in one common effort to secure better wages, and while the boycott is ostensibly declared as a demonstration of sympathy in behalf of the strikers in the Pullman shops it is in reality a life and death struggle between the greatest and most powerful railroad labor organiza tion and the entire railroad capital. ON THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL. The strike on the Illinois Central will be of the greatest moment both to the employes and the railroads. About 409 men are included in the Freight Switch men’s Union. When the passenger switchmen go out it will swell the num ber to 500. It was announced to-day that no trains taking Pullman sleepers would be per mitted to go out of the Illinois Central depot after 12 o’clock, and as a precaution the company had all of its passenger trains made up last night. The coaches were chained together, padlocked and sealed with the company’s seal at the couplings, and in addition each train carried a guard of ten special officers employed by the railroad. The first train left at 1:85 o’clock and three other trains were sent out up to 9 o’clock to-night with guards, and from one to two sleepers. The engineers and trainmen received orders from their con federates to-day not to take part in the boycott or assist the union men in any way, and the railroad company relied on this to a great extent in getting out their trains. NO MORE ORDERS YET. Up to late to-night no other orders for strikes were issued, but to-morrow it is understood that all the American Rail way Union men on the entire Illinois Cen tral system will be called out unless the officials consent to join in the Pullman boycott. On the other roads no trouble was had in running out trains. It is evidently the intention of the union officials to allow the Pullman cars to be carried out of Chi cago, but to prevent their return. Vice President Hanratffyn of the Illinois Central said to-night: “T£e freight switchmen could not have chosen a better time to strike as far as we are concerned. We are not moving much freight now, or passengers.” A mass meeting of about 1,000 railroad men, trainmen and yard employes of the roads entering the city from the south side was held this evening, and President Debs of the American Railway Union, and Vice President Howard of the sama organization, addressed the gathering. MEN QUIT AT ST. PAUL. At St. Paul the first serious effect of the American Railway Union’s attempt to boycott the Pullman company was felt at noon, when all the car cleaners, machin ists and carpenters employed on the Pullman cars in the Northern Pacific yards deserted their places. At the com pany’s shops all the painters and car penters repairing Pullman coaches laid down their hammers and brushes, and went quietly to their homes. At 4:15 p. m., when the Portland express was made up, American Railway Union men at tempted to get the train crew to desert their places. Several officers of the Northern Pacific Company were sum moned to the depot and, after a plea that it would be unjust to the passengers to delay them, the men consented to move the train, leaving the depot at 4:82 o’clock, about seventeen minutes late. FEDERAL MARSHALS SUMMONED. At Cincinnati there was no attempt to tie up the Pullman cars. During the day Judge William Taft of the United States court issued a call for the United States deputy marshals of Kentucky at Louisville. Jackson, Moorhead, Mount Sterling, Pineville, and Pittsburg to re port at the government build ing in Covington to await orders. Judge Taft’s action is to protect the property of othe Cincinnati Southern railroad, which in in the con trol of the United States court. The marshals was also instructed to swear in private citizens as deputy marshals should emergency arise ana the railroad property be seriously threatened at Lud low andoother points. And, if necessary United States troops will be called out. The threatened strike of the employes of the Pullman Palace Car Company, which was ordered for to-day, had no ef fect on the company in Kansas Ciiy. At the office of the district superintendent of the Pullman company it was said that no sign of a strike of any kind had been seen. The American Railway Union is not strong there. A MOB AT GRAND CROSSING. At about 9 o’clock to-night a mob of switchmen and their sympathizers con gregated at Grand Crossing, the junction of the Illinois Central and roads out of Chicago, and overpowaring the one or two special officers there, took charge of the signal gates and refused to j>ermit the passage of Illinois Central trains. The St. Louis Diamond special, leaving Chicago at 9 p. m., was caught at the crossing and held for nearly an hour. The officials of the road were notified and a request for police protection brought a squad of police from the Grand Crossing station. The mob was driven away with out violence, and the officers opened the Malaria kept off by taking Brown’s Iron Bitters. Medical. Radwayt READY RELIEF. CURES AND PREVENTS Coughs,Colds, Sore Throat, Influ* enza, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, . Swelling of the Joints, Lumbago, Inflammations, t RHEUMATISM, NEURALGIA. ’ Frostbites, Chilblains, Headache, Toothache, Asthma, DIFFICULT BREATHING. 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The western express on the Pennsyl vania road, due in Chicago at 9 p. m., was also held at the crossing on account of the refusal of the mob to open the signal gates, but after a delay of half an hour, the strikers let the train through on ac count of its carrying the mail car. SUBURBAN TRAINS ABANDONED. Late to-night all suburban trains on the Illinois Central were abandoned on ac count of the trainmen, who are members of the American Railway Union, joining the switchmen in the strike. As early as 8 o’clock several trains were abandoned, but the officials made efforts to get one or two through later, in order to accommo date belated suburban travelers. The passenger train on the Eastern Illi nois road, which left the Polk street; depot at 10:20 o’clock p.m.,came to a stop at Kensington, where the tracks of the Western End Terminal cross the Illinois Central. The strike of the Illinois Cen tral freight switchmen was re sponsible for the trouble. The crossing was blocked with railroad men belonging to the union and others who prevented the passing of the train until the police arrived on the scene and dispersed the crowd. The switches at the crossing were operated by the Eas tern Illinois men because that was the last road to lay its tracks there. B.OPEB IN A HOSPITAL. The Victim of the Murray County Whitecaps Now at Atlanta. Atlanta, Ga., June 26.—"Wi1l Roper, of Murray county, after being shot four times and then thrown into a mining shaft sixty feet deep, where he remained five days, was brought to Atlanta this morning and placed in St. Joseph’s in firmary for surgical treatment. Roper’s ex perience was one of the most outrageous and remarkable in the annals of white capping. He was suspected of being an informer, and last Saturday night, two week ago, a band of Murray county white cappers went to the house where Roper was stopping, and dragging him outside, tied him with a halter. They then carried him on the back of a mule to the edge of an l old copper shaft on the side of the Cohutta mountains. From the surface to the bottom of the shaft is sixty feet. After being shot four times, one ball lodg ing in his skull and another in his body, Roper was pushed over the the edge of the shaft for dead. Physically Rdper is a giant. He measures 6 feet 3 inches in bight and. weighs 200 pounds. Thanks to this strength of constitution, he was able to fight death for five days and nights, lying at the bottom of the 60-foot shaft, and finally win the victory. He was accidently discovered by a farmer looking for stray cattle. Roper says he did not lose consciousness during the five days, notwithstanding his terri ble condition, with death from starvation staring him in the face if not from his wounds. His skull was fractured by one of the bullets, but no bones were broken by the fall into the pit. The surgeons at ttae hospital are confident of his final re covery. Roper was brought to Atlanta by United States Marshal Dunlap and the doctor who has been attending him, since his rescue. CROPS IN THE STATE. Their Condition Greatly Improved During the Past Week. Atlanta, Ga., June 26.—The weekly* crop report of the weather bureau out to day; says: “The condition of crops has undergone great improvement during the past week. In the first place the tetn- Derature has been up to the normal, and. has supplied the needed heat to cotton. Then, at least, partial relief from the drought has been furnished by local showers and thunder storms. This relief is only partial, as the amount of rain has nowhere been sufficient to wet the ground very deep, and the rainfall has varied greatly in different localities. There are even some points where, prac tically, no rain has yet fallen, and a nine weeks’ drought is still unbroken. “There has been little rain in the south* ern sections, and crops are badly wilted. Cotton is in fair condition; corn is badly damaged. “In Southeast Georgia the drought con tinues, and corn and cotton is in poor shape. Melons are small.” MINERS FIRED ON. A Small Fraction of the Men at Soddy In an Ugiy Mood. Chattanooga, Tenn., June 26. —Tha miners are returning to work at Soddy. Every pressure is brought to bear on them by the ring leaders of the strike, but the men are tired of idleness and, nearly 300 of them have resumed work. This afternoon as the miners were leav ing the mines they were fired upon from ambush and one man was injured. The company has offered a reward of 5250 for information that will lead to the arrest of the ambushers. Sheriff Skillern, of Chattanooga, has gone up to Soddy and every effort will be made to run down the assassins. The company will protect its miners at any cost. It is said that are there still about thirty strikers at Soddy who refuse to work and show a very ugly temper toward those who do work. They are suspected of firing on the miners this afternoon. Makes dyspeptics laugh! Brown’s Iron Bitters. 5