Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

t''~ I *> ' ' VOL. IX.?Nsw Series. ^ ^ UNION C. H., SOUTH CAROLINA, SEPTEMBER 2S, 1S77. ^ NUMBER 38. THE BLOODY KU KLUX IN OHIO. WILL THK PRESIDENT DECLARE MARTIAL LAW IN THAT COUNTY ? FOUR DEAD BODIES FOUND DANOLING FROM THE BRIDGE AT DAWN. ^Cincinnati, September 4.?For scveu years the couutiea of Owen und Henry, situated in the southeastern part of the State, havo bccu terrorized by a ga.ig of banditti, 'who have shot, burned and stolen almost 'without fear of law. The roads in much of the region are nurrow, rocky bridle paths, that run along the sides of the mountain streams. Travel is almoBt entirely on horsebaok or on foot, and the familiarity of tho -outlaws with every turn in the roads and -dark corners in the thickets enabled them to put travelers out of the way with very little inconvenience, and without fear of detection. During the war many of their murders were charged to rebel soldiers, and at ono time General Burbridge caused a ^ number of Confederates to be shot in rctalH iatinn. A f?? ,L- 1 J _ ? -VT, "VW.O a^v UUO Ul H1U UdUU, named Shuck, was hung at Owenton. Ho protested to tho last his innocence, and made a statement implicating several of his comrades. Soon after, another member of the gang, named Carter, made a full confession, and on the strength of this four men were arrested and lodged in Newcastle jail.? Three of them were brothers, named Goodrich; the other was James Simmons, Sr.? At half-past 1 o'clock this morning, a mob surrounded the jail took the four men out of their calls, hurried tliom a short distance from the building and hung them in a ghastly row. The victims, before the hanging, confessed to the murders and other depredations with whioh they were charged. Jim Simmons, Sr., was about 5G years of age, aud the acknowledged head of the gang lie was known as "The King," and his 1 . house the "King's Castle." Boll Goodrich on '' the most villainous 1 p;anft. Jfc, 4J1M l|^!^^^PKRodrich was somewhat larthan his brother Bob. He 40 years of ago. Bob was peryears younger. They were mar^B^^ied to daughters of old Jim Simmons.? Sam Goodrich, the youngest, a half-brothor 1 of tho other two, was much their superior iu appearance. The mob seems to have been oomposed in the main of people from tho adjoining AAiinfiaa aP iKa wnot aP niilkam ? *?! vvuuvivn VI vu? TTVOV) VTA V/IUUHUl UUVft 1IIU1* ble, aud probably also a'nuoibor of parties from Madison, Ind., where Bacr, one of their victims, resided. There is little doubt that there were present a number ot men from the eastern part of the county, where most of the oritnes wore committed, but they evidently kept out of sight as much as Jttapible, and through the aid of their dis* t^jQMe,)ymepe<l detection. The first indication or toe presence of the mob was seen at about 1 o'clock, when about twenty men on foot and with double-barrelled sliot-guus in their hands were observed moving quietly along the main street of the town from the west towards the house occupied by the jailer. Arriving at the door, they rapped loudly, awakening Mr. Pierce, who was sleeping in the house. He, calljp^jroui his bed, asked who was there, reoeiving the reply, "A friend." Dressing, he went immediately to the door, whioh he opened, to find himself In the presenoe.<of a body o? masked men, two or three of whom, with revolvers at his head, demanded the keys of the jalL He roplied that he hadn't them, as he was not the jailer. They i then ordered him to oall the jailor, whioh order he complied with, two men being sent with him as a guard. Jailer Jones dressed and started down staiis. On the stairs he was k.. I.A 1 I _k. ?!.k U1VV UJ ?nu UIWIOU UlCO| II11UJ WIV11 piBtUIS at his head, informed him that they were after old Jim Simmons and the Goodrich boys, and that they were going to have them, ordering him to go with them and unlock the jail. He pretested, saying that the la# would oertainlv do justice, to which the reply was: "We mean business, and want no looting on your part. UnlookJbe,jail, or you'll be killed." Taking possession of him, they foroed him to maron to the jail, leaving a guard over the parties who were in the house. By this time the orowd had inoreased to about forty men. On the way Ao the jail, which was a block away, they twere met bv Sheriff Ricketts and his deputies, who had been awakened and informed of the presence of the mob. Ho protested against violence, and in the name of tho common wealth ordered the mob to die,perse. ' The reply was, as to the jailer, "We .mesa business, and are going to hang Jim Simtnons and the Goodriches. Get into your house, and keop still, and you'll cot be harmed." He, however, oontinued his protestations until the mob, cooking their shot-guns, informed hiss that they wanted no more nonsense, and that if he valued his life be bad better gut inside sad not trouble them further. At this he and the deputies withdrew. The mob then moved quietly to a point noar the jail, where they halted, and some of the men were sent after a rope. They went to the storo of Wm. O'Brien, about a block away, and, awaking the proprietor, demanded a rope and some small corda, which they got and paid for, getting a hundred feet of cotton half-inch rope and a quantity of cord. Returning to tho spot where the jailer was still held by a part of the mob, thoy cut and prepared the rope, and then moved ou to the jail. Arriving there, they, with guns at the head of the jailer, ordored hiui to uulock the doors, saying that they were bouud tc have the men, and resistance on his pari would be useless. After another protest which was met with threats, he uulockcd the doors. The moment this was done about thirty mcu rushed iuside, and lighting candles which they had with them, rushed into the cells occupied by the men whom they wished, ordering them to get up and dress. The uicu seemed fully to realize their condition, and prepared to meet their fate with , that stoical ^difference which charactert^ecT*tfieii; conduct from the first. Old Jim Simmons, the leader, received the summons without a word or sign of displeasure. Saui Goodrich, vrhile being tied by his captors, asked permission to give his money, to the jailer, to deliver to his mother, which privilege was allowed him, with the injuuccion that he be quick about it. lie handed over $43 to the jailer, and then turning to the mob gave himself again into their hands Joe Goodrich, with the exclamation, "Oh, Lordy ! they've got us !" allowed himself to be bouud.? Bob Goodrich, who was generally counted the worst of the lot, at least in point of cruelty, asked his captors to grant him time to pray. The reply was: "You didn't give Onan time to pray ! You cau't have time uow yourself!" llis bauds were quickly tied, the rope, ready tied, was thrown over his head, and he was forced from the cell. It will bo remembered that Shuck, in his confession, avers that Bob was ono of the crowd that drowued John Onan in the Kentucky Kiver, after shooting him through the arm, and that he refused to allow Onan time to pray. All this scene occupied but a few seconds, so thoroughly was the work of the mob p^airtieJ Sttd" The leader, a large man, closely masked, and from"'vrtv5tw-ftW-orders emanated, stood in the door of the jail giving commands to the mcu. His principal order was, "Be quick now; we are here for business and want nothing else.? Tic thorn and take them out, and be quick about it, too !" In less than tec minutes from the time the doors were thrown open, the men had dressed themselves, their hands were tied, nooses were throw a over their head*, andp fir/nly grasped, and gwoad?Ljkto each side, in front and rear, and with drawn pistols at their heads, they were marchej} from jail down the street leading to the west of the town. As they were taken out, Humphrey Roberts, a young man living iu this county, who was in jail on some trifliug offense, and who had been tied through mistake by the mob, was untied, aud the jailer was ordered to lock the jail and go home, which he did with alacrity. One or two persons attempted to follow the mob, but were ordered back, and informed that they might be shot if they attempted to follow. They were also informed that the mob was 250 strong, and that auy attempt at resistance would be promptly met, eveu if it were necessary to burn down the town. During all this time?which, by means of the dolay caused by the huut for ropes, occupied over half an hour?probably a dozen or so people had been awakened aud become cognizant of the dreadful work that was going on. Yet no one dared muke any effort to prevent action, as all the streets were picketed and every movement was met with a loaded shot-gun or the glare of a navy six or the glisten of a bowio knife, !. J 1 !_i t ? 1 * accompauieu oy a quiet out ueterunued order to the party concerned to get home and stay there. The mob, after leaving the jail with the prisoners, started on a fast walk or run toward the western portiou of the town.? Following the road at a rapid pace they soon came to a bridge over a branch of Drenao Creek, just outside the western line of the town. This seems to have been the spot agreed upon beforehand for the execution. Arriving there the mob stopped, and, lighting candles, placed one upon each end of the bridge. They then tied the ends of the ropes, which wore about the victims' necks, to the posts at the side of the bridge, and prepared at the word of command to pitch them over the side. Old Jim Simmons and Bob Goodiich were given places side by side on the north side of the bridge, and Sam and Joe Goodrich were consigned to the south. Then the voice of the leader ?whose commands wero the only words spoken distinctly, except another plea for mercy from one of the wretched victims? rang out on the still night air : "Ready ! one, two, three 1" One of the victims was launched over the side of the bridge. The rone was quickly tightened with a snap and a dull thud, and one of the murderers of Beely, James and John Onan and Eli Downy and Wm^Gallighan and John Gividen and Nelson Parriah met his fate. Again that awful voice rang oat: "Ready ! one, two, three !" and another form was hurled over the edge of the bridge into the darkness below. A third time the awful "ready," and the counts were heard, and the third form was dropped by the grave cxecutionor. This time thero was a crssh, and a sound as of a falling body on tho stones below, aceouipnnicd by a cry of anguish. Then | there was a sharp call from the commander: - 1?^ ? . ,u^x*g- f j. ) "Loook out there, below ! Don't let hia get away !" and a confused huurof voic? in i tho darkness below as they gathered up the . form of the half dead wretch, the fastening i of whose rope had given away. Again the ; rope was fastened, and, auiid tho pleadings , for mercy of the now thoroughly unnerved 1 victim, he was again launched over thesidc i of the bridge, bleeding from the fall. As the rope tightened, the dull, cracking sound , announced that the murder of Gallighnn had been nrcugcd. Tlicu came the fourth , and lust victim ; and. as he struggled and pleaded for mercy, he was reminded that , he never showed mercy to his victims.? Amid his pleadings uud imprecations awd groans he, stunt, his Form aaugled beside nHi^OT^pT7 ] The work done, the candles were extinguished, and the tnob lingered in silence to 1 see if it were well done. A few of those < posted below moved quietly forward and ex- I auiined tho bodies, feeling for the pulse, I uud occasionally pulling down a mask and 1 peering into the faces of their dead victims. < Nearly a half hour thus passed, and then i they silently withdrew. Culling in their < pickets stationed through the town and by i roads, and mounting their horses, which I ; they had placed under guard near the ] bridge, they rode off iu a westerly direction. At daylight, the few people who knew of the terrible work that had been in progress, but had been driven houte at the pistol's inouth, ventured forth. Following the tracks of the mob, they soon reached the bridge, and fouud the bodies of the victims. Their hands were firfnly tied behindTtrcm; their hats lay in the dry creek below, where they had fallen as the wretches were pitched over the bridge. At 5 o'clock, Esquire B. B. Gray, who had been notified, (acting 111 tho capacity of coroner,) cut the bodies down, and, rcuioviug them to the town hall, h?dd an inquest. The jury gave a verdict kof death by hanging at tho bauds of unknown patties. - . After the inquest the"*fe??uCw. we re enclosed in neat coffins ^and left in cmVfge of the authorities. Late this afternoon ^be faher of the Goodrich brothers se.it a team for the bodies, which were delivered to the li.essenger. and they will to-day be buried at Lockport, near the scene of their many crimes. The body of old Jim Simmons i OMit ifl rfro son, who liveu at Tl?uiiucuce, femr mnvcnJQUr here, on learning to-day of the terrible late which bad befallen the gang, immediately disposed of their effects, aud, taking the west bound train, left for parts unknowf, not calling tor or giviug auy attention to { the body of the old man. j Of the strength of the mob there are various estimates. Not moro than fifty persons were at the jail or upon the streets together ; but the leader stated that he had 120 men in and around town,?and as many more in .uc immediate surourbs .of the place. They disappeared as'^sudtfeilj as thoy came. f * Shall We Meet Again ??Thcjbllowiug is said to be one of the most tf-illiant articles written by the lamented deo. 1). Prentice: Vf "The fiat of nature is inexorable.^' Thero is no appeal for the relief of the great law which dooms us to dust. We flou^h and fade as the leaves of the forest, Jfrid the flowers that bloom uud wither in uMty have no frailer hold on life than tho Mightiest monarch that ever shook the cartPwith his footsteps. Generations of men wtll appear and disappear as tho grass, and multitude that throng the world to-dat will disappear as the footsteps on the she*. Mon seldom think of the great even^f death until the shadow falls across thoirftWu path .I.S r r 1 ?1?J, uiuiug IIUUI lUCIi t'^eo IIW MJUO Ul loved ones whose living smiles wl the sun- s light of their existence. Death k the unla- { gonist of life, and the cold thowit of the tomb is the skeleton of all feu# We do J not want to go through the darlrValloy, at- ' though its dark passage may bad to Para- ( dise ; we do not want to lay jwl)wa4n-the 1 grave, even with princes for bedfellows.? In the beautiful drama of Ion, the hope of immortality, so eloquently uttered by the 1 death-devoted Greek, finds deep response iu ' every thoughtful soul. When alfcut to yield I his young existence as a sacrifice to (ate, 1 his Clcmantha asks if they should meet ' again, tc which he replios : 'I have asked that dreadful question of the hills that i looked eternal?of the clear streams that i flow forever?of the stars among whoso < fields of azure my raised spirit jAu> walked ' in glory. All were dumb ; bib as I gaze upon thy living face I feel tljkt there is i something in the love that manAls through its beauty that cannot wholly pviah. We shall msot again, Clemantha. \ , ? 1 j "Jessie, what was Joe's arm doing jround Jrour waist when you were at the dhfcj^.gate ast night?" asked a precious Aberdeen boy of his sister. "His arm wan't round my waist! I won a belt from hit and be was taking my measure!" replied the indignant young lady. ? ? A good little boy who was kicked by a i mule, did not say naughty words or go home crying to his mother. TTo just tied the i mule within five leet of a bee hive, hacked : him round to ic, and let him kick. > . , \ FENCE, OR NO FENCE. The question of fencing stock, instead o enclosing crops, has been submitted by tli Legislature to the voters of the State, an< very generally decided in favor of the pros ent systoni of cuclosing, in a shaui way, tin cultivated fields against the depredations o hobbled cattle and pike-nosed hogs, dies tcr County, we see it stated, voted in favo of a change iu all her townships. In An derson, where the couuty had actually beet canvassed upon the subject, a few of tin townships opposed the change. Only oik township in Abbeville Couuty and two o: three iu Fairfield favored a change. S< we uiay say, the law proposing to euclosi r*pWTt{A n e l?sf ST-lm ballot box, as a State measure. ' We do not consider the law as uroDosci by the Legislature a fair test of the want! if our people, simply because it had in ii the anomalous feature of allowing township: Lo adopt or reject it. As well may it hav< been said, let any two or three farmers adopi ir reject it. We would not favor the pas sage of a law submitting this (jucstiou ti jounties, simply because such a law woulc inflict unnecessary hardships upon the citi scus of certain scctious of every county.? It should be n law for the State or no por Lion of it; though we doubt not, that if the land owners of any one county would petition the Legislature lor a change in the existing luw their petition would be grunted, ind the remainder of the citizens of that jounty, who really have uo just right to oppose the change, would be required to conWm to^Kwwow 4nw. Wo do -not oarc to liscuss this question here, because we could lot convince any one who is opposed to us hat his views arc incorrect, but we arc bold luough to say, that any farmer who opposes he change in any part of the State is, in nir judgment, an old fogy, and is ignorant >f the quantity of land necessary to graze lis cattle and other stock during the plantug, cultivating and harvesting seasons. Uut wo do propose to say a word upon he subject of who defeated this stock law >t the recent election. True, many land iwncrs were opposed to it because it was I... ?.:-o . -.1 > : .uwu..i?uu k>j vunuoiii|io , UUIUIS Ujipwtu II rom the fallacious idea that fencing itoclc was denying the poor man a living shaiice, a mere sentiment we think, aud ycl ){iinrs imposed it because they feared i :han?e, an ft anticipated mm. iu n?uia ?ork well. But "who gave systematic, or rani zed opposition to its passage ? The ue ;roes; tlicy turned out to a uiau aud boy ant rotcd agaiost it uuauimously, aud why? Xoi >ecausc they knew or believed it would in ure theui; not because they felt an inter !?t in the country's welfare; not because hey hud stock and uo land upon which to )usturc them, for they were told, that theii suiployers would by the law be compelled tc urnisli them pasturage; (and just here w? vouId iii(|uirc of the (rauiers of the law, sould such a provision have beeu enforced lad the law passed? is it not worse than incoustitutional ?) not because they enjoyed the luxury of mauling rails and building fences; not because they anticipated iny injury, or curtailmeut of rights, civil ir Ot.lii>rivisi> liu fln? r.iKatin.i nf !?" In .. ?, ..... ,???"W ?" 1 >ut the negroes as a body opposed tho pas lagc o( the new stock law, with malice iforcthought, for (ho sole reason that (he vhite people favored it, and this thoy will lo on all occasions until their number is sc educed, or the number of the whites is sc ncrciised, that their opposition will auiounl .0 nothing. Hut does not this opposition of the no jroes teach the farmers more ideas thar me? It clearly shows how uuited and thor mghly organized they are, and that they on y require a malicious leader to prove them iclvcs capable of voting a return of thos< lays we have in the past fought so manful y to conquer. Thisqucstion of tho fence law htfW (IIMiIa fl nrtliflAil nmwfirtn ?nr1 w?ahI/ ;?j r-- v,??v.w.., ?...w isten to no advice or counsel from theii jmploycrs, but went blindly ngaiust it be ;auso it was favored by the whites. And what further does this action of the legrocs show ? It simply proves how com pletely unorganized the farmers of Soutl Carolina are. We are not a "band o brothers wc care nothing for each othcr'i likes and dislikes; we have no concert o action ; we have no industrial or politica organization whereby each and every one i: required to stand shoulder to shoulder witl his neighbor, even though his interests art temporarily sacrificed by so doing. Kach am all of us have a most potent and iudepeuden individuality, which enables us to routes and thwart tho interest of the majorit; whenever wo chose to uct from self-interea or even obstinacy.' Does not the recent election read us valuable lesson upon the necessity of organ ization ? What has become of our Demo crmtio Clubs? Where are our Labor Rc form Associations ? Whv n.o Grange organization show its power in a questions that concern the industrial deve opnient of the country t There is no Stat in this Union that is an agricultural Stat where the farmers havo less organized ir fluencc than in South Carolina, and we car not understand why this is so, unless it ii as wc have said before, almost all our leat ing farmers have other investments, an the fanning interest is subordinate to ever other. Wc lament the existence of such f segregation, but are powerless to prevent it. c Wo have cried, organize ! organize ! until 1 we were hoarse, but events occasionally crop out that show how utterly futile have been e all of our efforts. f Had we an organization amongst farmers, - and a majority of them favored a stock law, r there would be no necessity for legislation aL - I * . "r * " - upuu me suujeci. we need only determine i through our farmers' organization that wc e will allow no mors timber cut or rails t? mauled upon our plantations than is noccsr sarv to keep our stock in an enclosed pas) ture, and the end is obtained at once. IKc 3 have ucvcr allowed a hoof of ours to make - a 4$ack upon auothor man's land, and wc r QTW not"particularly tow?r*>/noothcr man's stock when he makes a track 1 on our land. Let every land owner adopt ; a similar policy, and tlnre will be no need t of legislation to establish a stock law. Wc ? will not despair, but hope on to the end, ? that our people will some day find out that t, if they enclose their stock they will take - better care of thorn ; and taking better care ? of them they will learn that it is no more I trouble or expeuso to keep a tine animal . than a worthless one, aud by degrees they will kill oir the scrubs, iutroduce improved . stock, and in the end greatly cuhauce the > value of the live stock of the State.?1>. W. . AlKEN'in Nines and Courier. Lime for Fowls.?Some of our farmiug frieuds appear to he deeply impressed with tho notion that hens need no food but corn in some one of its forms. We ought , not to forget that "food" means the mate- . ^ I rial for everything Una comes out of tho sys, torn, and that if any particular race takes up any special brauchof manufacture, they , must have the raw material. All animals consume more or less of lime; it is oue of the principal elements entering into the , composition of the bones ; hut the lion needs an extra supply. The domesticated hen also needs more than wild stock of any sort, since she is stimulated to a greater pro? p uiiuiioii oi eggs. in consequence, wc must give her more thau is contained in tho ( various grains. Tho most useful forms in which to give liuie arc pounded shells, pulverized mortar and crushed bone. On the ' whole, we prefer tho former. Its prepara^ tion makes a good stint for the boys. We object to bone meal if not perfectly sweet, L but a good, sound article is a fir&t-rutu thing for this use. recti time must, aDunctamiy at the time when hens are laying most freej ly, and anticipate, if possible, by beginuing ^ early in the season, lest your fowls cat a shellcss egg and acquire bad habits.?Live Stock Journal. ' Bkowbeatino.?In almost every church ' there are a few persons who seem to be actuated by the despicable spirit of rule or * ruin. If tho minister docs not,preach, visit, ! or conduct the different meetings according i to their liking; if the church varies in its 1 discipline or policy from their way of doing ' things, they set themselves against tho majority with a determined spirit that plainly moans to browbeat all others into their ways. They will never let up until the church bel comes passive or the minister, wearied by i little persecutions, takes himself out of the way. The necessity for tho abundance of s grace which was promised the apostle who ' suffered with the thorn in his flesh, is fully I realized in such an experience. We have > wondered what purpose suclt persons servo ? in the jcouomy of grace, unless it may be t that patience uiay, through their ugliness, have its perfect work. It is not ours to judge of their Christian hope, but wc can i sympathize with Spurgeon when lie said of such, that he would rather live an cteruity with them in heaven than ono day on earth. - ?Golden Rule. A Model Tuuck Farmer.?There is a r farmer who supplies the people of a certain I quarter of the city with butter, eggs, apples, r potatoes, etc. He conies to the city twice a . week, driving sixteen miles each way. lie realizes froin the sale of his produce, from $20 to $40 a week, every week the year around. 11 is large crops maintain the farm ^ and his income from his vegetable and butj. tcr wagon is his profit. He briugs queer ^ loads to town sometimes ; but he never fails j. to bring something to sell. lie says that it j really appears that there is nothing on the 4 farm that the city won't buy , and so he t makes a conglomerate load ; the contents rauging from turnip tops to honey, from I cow peas to apple-.?Atlantia Constitution. 1 Scandal Denounced.?In the Itoveillo ^ reporter's wanderings about town last night, ? he heard a lady, talking across the street 1 to a neighbor, thus deliver hcrsolf on tho subject of scandal: ''Of all things I do ft . # - .... ~ hate in this world it's a scandalizing woman. Now, there's Mrs. Jinpdetonguc, that cverybody knows isn't a bit better than she ought !* to bo, and whose two daughters cut up so 1 shameful that no decent woman ought to speak to them, and whose husbaud gets drunk, and they do say he owes for that gren? adine she puts on so many airs in oyer her 0 betters, if I was to say mean things about people like she docs, I would pull my tougue l* out by the roots, the nasty, scandalizing, J' stuck-up old cat.' Id What a man calls hard luck is frequently y louked upon as laziness by his neighbors.