Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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matt on VBS STORKS WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850? Consolidated Ang. 2,1881. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jane. 1 2*>G SUMTER. S. C., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16.1898. Sew Series-Vol. XVIII. So. 16 Piil?s?sd Srrery Wednesday, JNT. <3r. Osteen, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : $1.50 per aooam-io advance. ADVERTISEMENT: Oo3 Square first insertion.........'..-$1 00 Bvery subsequent insertion......... 50 Coa tracts for three months, or longer ?il be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interesta will be charged foras ad vertiemen ts. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. THE s RACE RIOT IN GREENWOOD. 8 NEGROES AND 1 WHITE MAN KILLED, AND A X NUMBER WOUNDED. The Toi berts, the Instigators of tbe Trouble Make Their Escape. Special to The State. Greenwood, Nov. 8 -At Phoenix, 10 miles below this place, to-day there was a most serions occurrence iu con? nection with the election. Gie li O. Etheridge was killed instantly, Thom? as P. Tolbert, Jr. was badly wounded - and se?eral negroes wers hort There is great feeling about Phoenix and throughout the country, aod the prob? abilities are strongly favorable to coe or more Ijnchiogs. About 9 o'clock this morning Giles O. Etbridge aod R. C. Cheatham, citizen* of the Phoenix section, went to the store of J. W. Watson, where fche State aod federal elections were being held, acd at the iostaoce of sev? eral citizens, reproached T. P. Tolbert for the unusual proceedings he was evidently directing. Oo the small piazza io front of the store Tolbert had an ordinary ballot box, aod io it he was directing all the Republicaos who had no registration certificates to drop a certifica*e. marked "Blank No. j 8" reading as follows . ' Blaok No 3 State of South Carolina.1 .?...? ?*....... ? ??.... ....C'Oo o ty ? This certifies that the undersigned, be? ing over the age of 21, male resident cf the voting precinct of Ward aod legally qualified ; to register aod vote therein, did, on this, the 8tb day of November, 1898, ! preceot himself at the said voting Presinol to vote for R R. Tolbert, the Republican candidate for coogress in fae Third district of said State, de biog and intending to vote for the ?d R. R Tolbert, sod, upon his at? tempting to so vote, was deoied the V right to so vote, aod his vote thoa offered to 'he proper officers was rejected Aod the undersigned further states that prior to saab an attempt to vote, aod as required, by statute, be bad ap pl:ed for registration, under the laws of Sooth Carolina, beiog eotitled to such registration, bot had been refused and deoied the right to register ; aod he farther states that if he had beeo permitted to register aod to vee at I said election, he would have voted for R. R Tolbert, the Republican can? didate for coogress io said district. Personally appeared. aod made oath that the above is cor? rect Notary Public. .S C. Nov. 8th, 1898. Etheridge demanded of Tolbert his right to earry on snob a side election, being closely followed by Cheatham and several young men. Tolbert struck Etheridge io the face, aod at about tbe same time some ooe dealt him a horrible blow with ao iron rod. Almost at the same iostaot a pistol was fired, aod Ethridge fell dead with a bullet hole in the centre of bis forehead Then there was exeitemeot aod fury amouot ing almost to distraction, aod rapid aod seemingly indiscriminate 6rtog commeoced By tbe time the men up? stairs at the boxes got down. Tolbert and all the negroes present scattered and got away Those who did tbe firing were mainly young meo. and .he aim was bad. Tolbert wes tbe only san. it seem?, who was seriously hurt. S? vera! negroes were hit. bot tbe wound*? were not sufficient to stop <be flight of anyone Twenty two men had been refused :he privilege of voting wheo tbe killing took piaoe, two beiog white Democrat*. Eighteen negroes bad deposited io Tal? bert's box, the certificate beiog oopied. WHAT HAFPENED ON WEDNESDAY. Greenwood, Nov 9.-A company about 40 strong was organized at Greenwood this morning to make a peaceable settlement of the affair. They visited Piney Grove church and met a crowd resting, about 300 strong, who had several negro pr?3 oners They went to the Harris place and found the house apparently deserted. Two men entered and found John Tolbert and his sister alone. . Tolbert was in a pitiable condition and can't live The company scoured the swamps for bands of negroes reported gath? ering, bot found none. They returned via Rehoboth church where a crowd of two or three hun? dred had eight negroes The crowd was commendably peaceful at first, but soon fired up. They were quieted twice, but finally one negro was dragged out in the road and 100 shots were fired into his body. At this time two ran one way, two another, leaving three on a log, who were immediately lynched Negroes are scarce, but it is thought that they are gathered in some secluded piace. The crowd has not dispersed Ex? citement is at the highest One negro was wounded running across a cotton patch. More and the worst trouble is ex? pected to night FOUR NEGROE3 KILLED Pboeoix. S C., via Greenwood, Nov. 9 -Four negroes were killed near Rehoboth ch arch about 5 o'clock this afternoon by a crowd of white men. Several other negroes escaped, includ? ing Joe Circuit, who shot Etberide. There has been a large crowd at Phoe? nix to-day, but nearly ail have now left. The situation at dark is critical. Negroes are gathered a few milss from here io Urge crowds The namber of white men at Phoe? nix is small, but reinforcements are ex nested Fight is looked for. Some of the negroes who were shot were at Phoenix yesterday. The Tolberts have not been harmed to day, hut the feeling against them is intense. Yoong Miller, who was shot from ambush last night, is at Stockman's and may die. This message is 'phoned to Green? wood from Phoenix, I wiil stay here to-night and send more later if wire is not cut J H. Greenwood, Nov. 9.-The excite ment in the vicinity of Phoenix has been intense since yesterday's riot. The entire community has been in a state of expectancy and the worst has been feared. Unless there is a decided change there will be a lynch ing before sundown. The people are wrought up over the affair and are bent on desperate measures All day there bas been an armed force search? ing for the negroes who participated in the riot and also the members of the Tolbert family who are the recog? nized leaders of the mob The party have not committed themselves, but there is much significance in the re? mark that the guilty one? \ will never be taken to jail WHAT CAUSED THE TROUBLE There is a story concerning the affair not yet made public Many events have recently transpired lead ing up to the culmination at the bal? lot box on yesterday The Tolbert family, of whom John R. Tolbert is the head, have been the dread of the Phoenix community for the past 25 years However, the citizens have always hoped for the best The Tolberts own considerable prop erty and have a large nnmber of j negro tenaute on their farm The political affiliations have been very intimate and as a result the negroes have become very insolent Some time ago a few white men, Democrats, became involved in a quarrel with a negro and ended it in a fight The whites whipped the negro and this incensed the Tolberts aa well as the negroes The Tolberts interested themselves in the affair and made no less than three efforts to have the white Democrats arrested on a charge of assault and battery. The efforts in ?he first two instances proved futile, but after a third attempt the parties were given a preliminary hearing aud boun'i over to court and are now awaiting trial at the next term of the court of genera! sessions The negroes construed this as a victory and it only made them the moro insolent. Matters were appa rently moving with smoothness until a few nights agc when a meeting was held and the Tollerta addressed the negroes at Rehoboth church Po? litical matters were discussed and the negroes were urged to attend the polls. This evidence was obtained from a number of negroes who were captured and questioned this morni According to the evidence submit the Tolberts advised the negroes turn out en masse and vote 1 right was theirs and they sho demand it. If they were any vs objected the negroes were advised disregard it. They were told come armed and prepared for a emergency They were also advh to resort to desperate measures order to accomplish their end cast a ballot. The negroes also stated that tb were assured by the Messrs Tolb that the latter would sanction a course pursued. No trouble shot be feared and if assistance vi needed to call on them (the Tolbert) The testimony obtained at the formal trial this afternoon shows tl the negroes were urged to the d< perate action which characteriz yesterday's election. They admitt that had they not bad the positive ; surance of sanction of their com and protection in the event of trout matters would have assumed a i different aspect As it was, they i lied on the advice of their Repub can bosses and are now suffering t penalty for their misdemeanor. Nothing transpired after thia me? ing at Rehoboth until the riot of ye terday. Since then, however, t excitement has been at fever he and the people have been bent < avenging the death of Mr. Etb ridge. Last night there was a large nui ber of men armed with Springfie rifles who kept guard in the immec ate vicinity of Phoenix. No effc was made to catch all the participan in the riot until to day The gua was on duty all night to protect tl inhabitants from any danger Ear this morning mounted horsemen fro every section of the county began arrive and by the middle of the afte noon the crowd was variously est mated from 600 to 1,000. AU can armed and there was every variety firearms to be seen. Some carrie the old flint and steel, while othe had the latest Springfield rifle. Evei gun in Greenwood was used and order to supply the crowd with an muaition a large quantity was ordere from Elberton, Ga , and came in c the early morning train. At every town in the county thei have been squads holding themselve in readiness to come at a moment call. There was a large represe nt a t?o from Edgefield to arrive early to da and have been rendering muc assistance. This large force of several hundre men a!re being fed by the citizer, around Phoenix Provender for th stock and food for the men have bee dealt out liberally and will be as lon as it is necessary for the crowd t remain. The first thing begun this morain was to search for the negroes. Ever house was visited and in almost ever instance the doors were closed an locked and the inmates away. It wa an extremely difficult natter to locat them. The crowd was determine to apprehend the party or parties wb killed Mr. Etheridge There was n intention of punishing the iocccen and this was manifested io the trial given the negroes Whenever on was captured he was thorough! questioned on ali matters pertaininj to the killing and if be could sstablis his innocence he was free from an; injury In fact, the members of th party instituting the search claims? that the innocent should and wouh be protected, but the guilty mus suffer. The whites assert that the; are not courting trouble, but simply desire to protect their own race I the negroes, acting under the advici of the Tolberts, offer any resistanci or make any threats the people wi! protect themselves even a: the cos of life. Tbis is the deliberate ye determined judgment reached by thi leading men of the county. It was though that Joe Circuit is th< negro who killed Mr Etheridge anc efforts were made to capture him. H< was found this morning and a posse* of 30 mounted men with Springfielc rifles gave pursuit, but on aooonnt o the fences and undergrowth Circuit made hie escape. Immediately a mes? sage was despatched to the county seat and procured the use of two blood? hounds belonging to the oounty and these were put on trail of the negro If Circuit is caught he will be brought back to the church where the headquar tera of the armed force is and either shot or lynched. No quarters will be given, for the death of the negro is the only thing that- will appease the crowd and avenge the death of Mr. Etheridge. At one time this afternoon the negroes who were being examined stated that Wiil White and not Joe Circuit is the slayer of Mr Etheridge Joe Circuit, it is claimed, participated in shooting, but White fired the fatal shot. List night. White escaped and tbe negroes Fay, started fer Charlotte. There is intense feeliog against tbe Tolbert* aod the indications now aro that, tbey will probably be lynched Mr. John Tolbert is seriously wound ed and. the physicians think, will die Thomas Tolbert aod the youog man [ who was also shot are not seriously wounded Mr. John Tolbert is at his home nesir Phoenix The ochers have fled. Lsist night they were in Verdery and thia morning they started towards Abbeville, presumably to the residence of R R Tolbert. The crowd is bent on capturing them and it was reported chat a posse had started in pursuit and would bring them back to Rehoboth church if apprehended These men are regarded as the instigators of the riot and the universal opinion is that a lynching is their just desert. It is openly asserted that the killing of the entire family will be approved by the citizens of the county. It was ascertained late this afternoon that the telephone wires were cut last night by the negroes at the order of the Tolberts. The wire was cut in four different places and stretched across the road just high enough *o interfere with travel. This was done with the view of giving the Messrs Tolbert time to escape. Mr John R. Tolbert was shot while hs and his nephew were attempting to escape in a buggy. The top of the i hoggy was filled with bullet holes. It seems miracnlous that the occupants escaped with their lives. The buggy is now in the city and attracts much attention Private Stuart Miller is lying critically Hi at Stockman'?. His wounds are of a serious nature and the attending physicians entertain no hope of bis recovery, [lis father is new at his side and everything is being done to save the young man's life. It is thought that his death, which is most .probable, will further exasperate the crowd and that the Messrs. Tolbert will be lynched if captured The wounds of Messrs. Fleming and Younger are painful, but not serious. They are resting well and will be able to get up in a few days. Mr George Tolbert, brother of R. R Tolbert and Postmaster at Seneca, has returned to his home. He was here on election day and was on a political mission. While here be was very severe io his criticisms conocrniog the policy of bis brother, Robert Tol? bert, ex-postmaster of. this city. The latter was aooused of being very in? different toward the cause of Repub? licanism, and it is reported that sharp words ensued between the brothers. Just what waa tba. mission of Mr George Tolbert could not be ascertain? ed, but the people believed that he knew of what was to be done and came to assist with the work. The last report from the ?soeoe of trouble this afternoon states that a posse of 25 or 30 men are in pursuit of a negro and are firing on him. From the outlook now it is very likely that the negroes who did the shooting will be lynched and probably Thomas, Elias, Joe and "Rid" R. Tolbert will meet the same fate. There is no clue as to the where? abouts of R. P. Henderson, who ie one of the prime movers of the trouble He has escaped and perhaps is now ont ot the State. Bloodhounds have been put on bis trail and if he is captured he will doubtless be disposed of in the same way as the others. A. Beaty Sherard The Tolberts Have Escaped, and the Excitement Has Subsided. Special to The State. Greenwood, Nov. 10.-Two more negroes were killed in this county to:day. This morning tbe orowd which started from Phoenix, met near Rehoboth church, the scene of yester? day's iynohiog, Essex Harrison, a oegro who was in the Tuesday fight when Mr. Etheridge was killed. Har? rison wa? halted and his heart was shot oat. He was thrown on tho pile of four negroes lying in front of the cburoh who were lynohed yesterday. Their bodies still lie there horribly shot and frequent showers are falling to make matters worse. Coroner Dean went down to hold the inquest to-day. He met a orowd, who did not molest bim, and, after some little threatening and parleying, with some difficulty secured a jury. The verdict mention? ed the customary unknown parties as responsible. Coroner Dean says the bodies will be buried to-morrow. It is reliably understood that two other negroes shot yesterday are lying in the woods nearby. No inquest was hele over these Later in the day a party fouod Ben Collins, another negro in the Tuesday fight when Etherikge was killed. Col? lins was on the place of W. H. Stall worth, Sr , and was promptly killed and left there Mr. J. S. Yv arson at Phoenix tele? phones me that al! is quiet there now A sufficient oumber of men is there and no negroes around. All is quiet at Kirksey's despite rumors, and at all other places heard from. Rhett R. Tolbert took the Greenville and Columbia up train at Donald's dodging a orowd looking for him. Chief Kennedy wires me that be is at J the Maosioo House in Greenville Fie will probably go to Washington. Thomas Tolbert has been moved to / Abbeville He will likely die from wounds. Rhett Tolbert's family is at Dae West. Jim Tolbert, whose wife is postmistress at McCormick has left on demand of citizens. There are some rash talk and rum? ors to night, but no danger unless bad judgment prevails. The negroes need not be afraid. They are completely cowed. Stuart Miller's condition is precarious. 10 45 p. m.-The inquest over Etheridge will be completed to morrow, he having been buried yesterday. The two negroes killed to-day are known to have been in the fight when Etheridge was killed. Ben Collins emptied bis pistol at that time, say eye witnesses. The wbite men have lists of all negroes implicated. By a crossed wire I caught a telephone message to-night from Kirksey'? to Phoenix saying men would leave Kirkseys' for Phoenix to? morrow and that the negroes should be killed. Party of men is in Watson's stare at Phoenix. I understand indiscriminate slaughter of negroes may ensue unless wiser counsel prevails, but I don't vouch for accuracy of the intercepted threat. May wire something import? ant on another Hoe very iate. If Jim Tolbert leaves McCormick to-night there may be trouble. J. H. Tolberfs in the Penitentiary. COMMITTED TO PROTECT THEM PROM PUR? SUERS. Columbia. Nov. 10.-John R. Tol bert, Collector of the port of Charles? ton, and bis son Joseph Tolbert, arrived in this oity at 12.45 to day and went at once to Wright's Hotel and were assigned to a room without registering. Baring the afternoon, Joseph Tolbert showed himself on the street, and was recognized by members of the First Regiment from Greenwood and Abbe? ville counties. It was feared au attempt would be made to kill tbe two Tolberts, and a warrant was accord? ingly issued for their arrest and they whre subsequently committed to the State Penitentiary for safe keepieg. John R. Tolbert is painfully, but not seriously wounded. Rhett it Tolbert Gives His Side of the Story. Washington, Nov. ll.-R. R. Tolbert, whose father and brother were shot in the recent race war at Phoenix, S C., was at the depart? ment of justice to day to secure an investigation of the riot by the Federal authorities. He was accom panied by some of the Republican politicians of the State. The elder Tolbert is now in the State peni? tentiary for safety from popular violence Mr Tolbert says that the true facts of the rioting have not been given. The facts are, he said, as follows : "I waa nominated for congress by the Republicans of my district. For the purpose of making a contest before the house, my brother, T P. Tolbert, agreed to be present at the polling place at Phoenix for the purpose of witnessing the affidavits of colored men who were rejected as voters because of their inability, to comply with the requirements of the constitution "My brother took no part in the management of the polling place, which was in the hands of the Demo? crats. He simply sat on the piazza of Mr Lake's house and witnessed the affidavits given him, depositing these affidavits in a box prepared for the future. "Mr Ethridge, the white man who W8S killed, was an election manager at a precinct two miles away. He left his own precinct and with a party of men went to Phoenix. He had walked up with his party to where my brother was siiting at a table and deliberately kicked over the table and box in which the cer? tificates were. Then he assaulted my brother. "In a short wi ile the Democratic voters who were in the same house rushed out and commenced shooting into the crowd. The negroes fled. My brother who is probably dead by now told me that Ethridge was killed by shots from his own friends. My brother did not have a weapon ou his person." Mr Tolbert said he was at Abbe ville, 25 miles away from the shoot ing His father, J. R. Tolbert, was at Verdery, another precinct. When the elder Tolbert learneJ of the riot he started for the scene in his buggy, accompanied by a ten-year-old nephew Before he reached the scene he was met by ti mob which riddled the buggy with bullets, and wounded him and the little boy a number of times It is said the boy was killed by the shots T. P. Tolbert, who was first 6hot by the mob, was aided to bis home some distance away and was pur? sued by the mob. While lying in bed in a dying condition the mob attempted to make him give the name of the person who had killed Ethe? ridge. He said he could not because Etheridge had been killed by the Democrats themselves. On finding his father so badly wounded, R R Tolbert procured a doctor, who attended to the wounds of the senior Tolbert After placing his family in a safe place, Mr. Tolbert came to this city. Mr. Tolbert states that his brother - said that so far as he could see no shots were fired by the negroes at Phoenix. They fled as soon as the shooting commenced, leaving T. P. Tolbert as the target for the mob to shoot at. McKinley Cabinet Gave Them Some Attention. Washington, Nov. ll.-The cabinet meeting to-day lasted over two hours. While a large amount of routine buisinees was transacted, considerable attention was devoted to the race troubl?e io the Carolinas. The president expressed deep concern over the sitaation, but it was decided that the developments up to this time did not warrant Federal interference. The condition io these two States will, however, be kept under close surveil? lance with a view to action should it be deemed necessary. The president wili oonfer with Attorney General Griggs concerning the sitaation in the Carolinas upon the latter's return to the city. Beyond the newspaper reports DO information from Wilmiogtoo or Greenwood has reached the administration from any source, but there is little doubt that the whole matter will be looked into by the officers of the department of justice. This action was deoided upon at to-day's meeting, and unless the rioting is resumed it is probable that nothing will be done pending the return of Attorney General Griggs. Good Sewing Machines from $10.00 op a Randie's. To see is io try, to try is to buy the "White." BTJCKLEN'S ARNICA SALV.^. The best Salve in the world for Cuts Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fever, Sore Tetter, Chapped Hands, Chilblains, Co ros and all Skin Eruptions and positively core Piles or no pay required. It is guaranteed to gire perfect satisfaction, or money reloaded, pries 25 cents per box. For sale by Dr. J J\ W. D. Lorme. * PANA TROUBLES AGAIN. The Race Riots in Illinois. Recklessness of the Negroes Pana, Ills., Nov. H.-The imported negro non-union miners here are be? coming reckless and the union white roioers are growing restless. Troop B, of Bloomington, remains on duty here, but almost nightly io the "Flat ball" district the negro residents practice shooting at any wbite man that passes. The negroes have beeo heavily armed by the mine operators. Last night tbe resideoces of several white miners were shot into by Winchesters in the bands of the colored men. A wbite widow's cottage was pierced repeatedly by bullets, several charges bare?y m?96?Dg her three children. The militia say they cannot apprehend the culprits. Capt. Butler, in command, is apparent? ly aotiog entirely under orders of Sheriff Cobourn and not following tbe instructions of Governor Tanner, giveD before election Capt. Butler, wheo asked to disarm tbe negroes, said it was useless, for the sheriff would arm them agaio. It is reported that a large contingent of outside union white, miners will soon arrive io Pana A?, consignment of 100 rifles was receivecV here to day for citizens who intend protecting their property and families,., olaimiog no protection is given them by the sheriff or troops. ROVAL Baking Powder Made from purs cream of tartar. Safeguards the food against abm. Alum baking powders arc tin: greatest menacers to health of the present day? _ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO.. NEW YORK.