Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-01-12
From the New York Independent
AN IRISiIMAN'S SUFFERINt:S IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.

The Northern newspapers have recent
rfiy repubiished brief paragraph from tn
Charleston Mercury, announcing in YER
nonchalant style, that a workman engage,
on the State House, in Columbia, S. G..
/, was recently seized by mob, on accoun
as was alledged, of holding anti-slaver,
opinions, and that he received twenty-nin
. lashes and was tarrel and feathercd an,
escorted out of the State.
1t took few lines to tell the story ae
cordlnS to the style of the Southern press
for it is trait of Southern chivalry. frs
10 practice cruelty and then to suppress tn,
: facts.
We have seen the unfortunate man, auc
heard his story. and looked at his wounds
His name IL James Rover. He is an in
teiligent young man, about twenty -thrc,
years OF age, a native Of Wexford, Ireland
and stone cutter by trade. He went
from Philadelphia to the South, and OBJ.
tanned employment in Columbia, where
he had worked for nine months.
The only opinion he ever expressed
against slavery was that it caused a white
laoorer N the South to be looked npon as
an inferior and degraded man. But this
was enough! The remark was reported to
the Vigilance Committee, composed of
twelve members, who imme lately order.
Ell the police to arrest him. He was seized
two miles away from the town in attempt
ing to escape. He was brought back and
put in cell, where he remained for three
days. during which time nc was denied the
use OF pen and ink, and all communication
with his friends outside.
AT length he was taken before the
Mayor. -Four persons appeared and bore
testimony to the remark which he had
made. The evidence was conclusive. He
was returned to prison, and kept locked
M tor SIX days. During this time he was
allowed only two scanty meals day, and
the food was carried to him by negro
He was taken out of Jail in the custody of
two marshals, who said to him.
"l on arc SO fond oc niggers, we are 60
ing to give you niger escort"
lie was led through the main street
amid great crowd, hooting and yelling.
the mArshals compelling two negroes to
drag him through the puddlcs and muddy
places in the street. and Of the State House
yard! AS he was taken past the State
Rousc, three members of the Legislature
including the speaker, stood looking and
laughingl The crowd gradually increased
until it numbered several thousand persons.
headed by troop of horse.
After march of three miles out of the
city. TO place callel "the junction." the
procession was stopped, and preparations
were made for the punishment The pop
uIacc cried Brand him." "Bnm him.
"Spike him to death.'' And made threats
against his life by pointing pistols at his
head and fiourishing sticks in his face.
The Vigilance Committee ordered him
to strip himself naked and forced negro |
to assist in taking off the clothes. A cow
hide was then put in the negroes hands,
who was then ordered to lay on thirty-nnc
lashes mot twenty nine, as rcported) and /
draw the blood at every stroke. Orr in /
forrnant describes the pain of this infliction
as exceeding in severity anything which
he ever suffered before His back and low
er limbs are still covered with scars of the
the wounds.
a bucket Of tar was thea brought, AMI
two negroes were ordered to rub it upon
his bleeding skin, and to cover him from
head to waist. His hair and eve brows
were clotted with the tar After this part
Of the ceremony was concluded he was COW
cred with feathers. His pantaloons were
then drawn up to his waist, but was not
allowed to put on his shirt or coat. He
was conducted in this exposed condition,
amid the shouts of the populace, to the
raalroad train, and was put on board the I
iegroc's car The engineer blew contin-
nous blast on his whistle to signalizc the
c
A citizen Of Charleston on the train. S
Who saw the poor fellows unhappy con- t
iition, stepped into a neighboring hotel, c
'efore, the starting Of the cars, and brought t
cup Of coffee and some biscuit to relieve t
he.suferer's fantness. 1t was a timely gift, /
md gratefully received. But the South e
I'm chiyalry gathered around the Southern ID
Gentleman, and threatened him with sum- b
nary vengeance if he repeated his generos- Q
ty. The exasperated crowI detained the $
rain, and called for more tar and feathers, IL
OF Iurtner lnlictlon upon their bleeding C
'ictim. More tar was brought, but more h
gathers could not be found; and after fresh e
ar was applied, cotton was stuck upon it "
nstcadt a
When the train started for Charleston. g
he mob babe him goodbye and told him
hat when he reached that city he would s.
eceive $50 lashesl AT every station be- $
wcen Columbia and Charleston, the engi- s.
eer blew prolonged whistle. and gather \
Il a mob to add fresh insults to the wonnd- a
man. At length on arriving he was p
let by the police. conveyed to Prison, and "a
etaincd in his cell for an entire week. G,
ierc he received for tho first time SOAP and Ell
'ater to wash off the tar. and oil to soften al
is sores. "A mob several times threatened A
, break into the prison to carry him into W
nc street, and make pnblic spectacle of tt
i'm a second time. But he was kept
osely confined. A physician called to ii
,e him. to examine his wounds. who told IL
i'm that his case was mild one. compar-
lg it with that Of man who was then q
ing in the city Hospital from the effect Of W
o0 lashes, which had almost put an end N
, his life. llo
On Safur,1,v N, orninr lasf M en,-o.. N,