Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-05
ourRAGEs UPON NORTHERN MEN.


The steamer Alabama from Savannah, Geor-
gia, reached New York a few days since, hav-
ing among her passengers Mr.. James Sinclair,
native and lifetime resident of that City.
Mr.. Sinclair says that, being out of employ
ment at home, he went to Savannah about the
Sth of November intending to go on to Au-
gusta, where he had brother, in the hope of
obtaining work in his regular line of business.
He took up temporary lodging at the City
Hotel in Savannah. Numerous inquiries were
made as to himself and business, which not
being satisfactorily answered, eyentuated in
an order from the Vigilance Committee COM
manding his immediate departure. Not
complying instantly with the order, he was
called upon by a man who asked few minutes
private conversation. On stepping the
sidewalk Mr.. Sinclair was Immediately seized
by about 80 men, who dragged him along the
street, brandishing all the while revolvers and
bowie knives, using blasphemous and obscene
epithets, and throwing quds of tobacco in his
eyes, accompanied by blows from the butt Of
a pistol and threats of instant death. On
reaching the City Park, he was completely
stripped, compelled to PROSTATE himself with
his face to the ground, and, amidst vain APP
peals to the police, was lashed brutality with q
cat o. -nine-taiis, larcerating the flesh in a
frightful manner. After this he was told that
he must run for his life, which he did, and
leaping a fence, evaded his pursuers. He
staid over night but was told it would not be
safe for him to remain, for the landlord to
keep him there. The iiltreated man applied
to the Captain of the Alabama, who refused to
take him on board; but after remaining Sc
creted until the vessel was about sailing, he
managed to conceal himself below and to keep
hid until the vessel got far out to sea. To
corroberate his statement, Mr.. Sinclair exhib
tied the yet unhealed sores on his back made
by the lash, the boots and pistol of the Vigi-
lance Committee. Another victim of these
outrages, who was arrested at the same time
and treated in the same Inhuman manner, al
SO escaped with his lite, and reached the home
OF his widowed mother in New York On the
9th. h s
Mr.. VIM. T. Reynolds, the son of a respec-
table New York merchant, states that, while
boarding at the City Hotel in Savannah, he re-
ceived, on the 2Sth Nov, notice that he was
suspected OF being an .sAboitioHist," and
that he must seleave town or before Tues
day next, or else suffer the consequences. -
Mr.. Reynolds, with a Savannah gentleman,
called upon the Mayor, who told him toi pay
no attention to the notice and to defend him
self if attacked. On Thursday the 22d, the
Vigilance Committee waited on him and told
him unless he could give ssgood reference as
to character,' &C., they would give him a
slight jacket.'' The next day he presented
the following sspass,' which saved his life -
edge of Mr.. Reynolds is concerned. (and prob
ably have seen as much of him as any man
in the City of Savannah.) } he has always con-
Quoted himself as becomes a gentleman, and
that of good and orderly citizen, and never,
in my hearing or to my knowledge, has he ut
tered one word derogatoyy to Southern insti-
tutions or Southern rights.
Yours respectfully, JAMES BILBo.
Savannah, Nov. %, 1860,
Endorsed by z. G. Thomas and CIV. Lawton.
After being discharged from custody on the
strength of the above ssPasS," he was assured
by the President and officers of this Vigilance
Committee that hereafter he could consider
| himself sstheir brotber." Two hours after
gard he learned that they were in search for
| him, having determined to hang him.
Mr.. r. t. Sherman of New York city, and
| recently clerk of the Pulaski House, Savan-
nah, and one of the Minute Men of that city,
| gives the following account of the brutal treat
| ment and subsequent death of respectable
grocer of Savannah whoes crime consists of
being native of the State of New York -
ssThe Vigilance Committee, which is compos-
ed of wealthy and respectable members of
society, having learned that Mr.. John Byler,
a grocer in West broad street, was a native of
New 7 ork, determined to get rid of him.
An accusation of tampcrlng with slaves, and
of allowing them to sit at his table, was trump
| ed up against him, and he was ordered to leave
the city. He did not obey. Consequently,
on Saturday, the 18th of Nopember, the Com
miItee called on him, took him at some little
distance from the city, stripped him, and then
applied coating of hot tar and cold cotton.
| They then started him on a run, and he fear
ing that his life depended upon his legs, ran
| to so good purpose that he had nearly reached,
tired and exhausted, place of safety, when
brutal policeman struck him heavily up
on the back of the head with his pistol, fac
turing his skull and forcing him upon the
| ground This was en- the 18th of Novembe
and on Saturday, the oath, he was buried.