Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-20
DIR. Thayer's Expulsion from Georgia.

To The Editor Of the Massachusetts, Spy AS
much has been said in regard to my late expul-
sion from Augusta, Ga, it may be interesting
TO your readers, to have the facts, from one
who was a participalor in the scene.
| had been resident there for five years,
previous, to the last, which spent in Lowell.
l had a very large practice both in the city and
country, and my health had become so much
impaired that was obliged to leave my bust
ness.
l left here on the 31st of October, per Bos-
ton G. Charleston steamer "South Carolina"
and arrived in Augusta on the 9th of Novem-
Der. Met numerous friends who gave us IA
most cordial welcome.
Everything passed pleasantly until Friday
morning at six O'clock, when note was sent
to my room, Il being ill, which my wife opened
and read as follows
"Dr Thayer, you are hereby notified to leave the
city at the earliest possible time abide the
Quences. - tHILIPs,
l. NJ. HILL.
l sent the note to the mayor at once. He con-
ferred with the council, judges, and grand jury,
anu CdlGu Oll ilie anu oulu llluI GNGl1 DOSSlUle
means should be used to stop it here, and
thought there would be no trouble. A cur.
riage was sent for me to go to the court house
where an affidavit was issued and the parties
brought into court. They asked for time to
prepare, the Judge gave them until four o'clocl
p. NJ | was then conducted back to the hotel
and my room by friends, when l remain
ed until hall'past three O'Clock P. M, when a
carriage came Tor me to take me back to
court. AS | stepped upon the sidewalk
three wretchcs, who looked like tiends, attack
ed me- and did their best to force me into Il
carriage and take me to Hamburg, s. G.,
where my fate would have been sealed in half
an hour,
My wife and daughter, hearing the noise,
came to my rescue. They caught me, one ON
either side, and begged them to release me,
which, after using many oaths and threats,
they did, saying MADAM, you being a wo-
man, we will give ill.," She thanked them,
and we went back to our room. From this
time the mob began to increase, and friends
came to our relief in great numbers ; from this
time the excitement increased rapidly, and \
large crowd had gathered around the house.
Speeches were made by the most influential
men of this city, and every effort made to dis
perse the mob, but all to no effect. At 81 p.
NJ IL WIS lHdiGu lilNy NOull HltdCh LllG ilOuSC,
and our friends decided that our only safety
was immediate flight as there was no possible
way to dispense the mob land defend us which
then amounted to some five hundred or MOI e..
Accordingly, Il carriage was brought to the
rear OF the house, on the back street To which
we were conducted, and driven rapidly away,
leaving our baggage behind. We were accom-
panied by some OF the most responsible men
of the city, who took us ten miles down the
Savannah road, where we arrived at p. NJ.
| Here we waited until one O'Clock, when we
| took the cars tor Savannah arriving there at
| y A. NJ. We went directly to the boat, and
took our room, where we remained close till
the sailing OF the boat at 4 p NJ, when we
| again breathed free air.
In regard to the cause Of my expulsion,
many ask il had expressed any abolition
| sentiments No. | have no doubt that two
northern men, both from Massachusetts, were
| the instlgatOrs OF the trouble. One OF them,
Frank Holman, crock"ry dealer, some two
years ago took solemn oath, that il | made
him pay his bill he would ruin me, and make
it 50 that | could not live in Augusta His
bill was settled by third parties, who gave me
$50 more than ! offered to settle Tor The
other one, G. A. Williams, a bacon and wills
ky dealer, whose wife had been restored from
the borders Of the grave bv my treatment,
A"'tNi az hHu ldhtu,J WAS very lluCn
eXaSperated at my charge, (which was less
til II the fee bill Of the city J and has since
done all in his power to injure me, by circu.
lating various reports without any foundation.
lie name was given in court as AN evidence
against me, TO prove my abolition sentiments.
Such are the characters OF many northern
men who go south, and the north suffers by
them. They are taken for what they are, and
are not respected by the respectable portion
Of the community Let me here say that Wig.
lance committees and mobs are composed Of
the low, drunken, irresponsible class of the
community, and the insdgators are northern
| men,
That no blame may be attached to The re-.
spectacle and law abiding portion of the eli.
zens, | will say they acted well their part
They extended the hand of sympathy and
friendship, and volunteered their services and
lives to defend me from an inturiated mob
They have my sympathcs, and ever shall