Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-12-20
New York Outraged In savan-
nah.

The mountain of iniquity which the
Southerners are heaping up against them
selves is fearfully large, and growing high
er day BY day. We have to-day the par
ticulars of brutal outrages, inflicted upon
New Workers in Savannah, which the panic
making fusionist in New York City should
be proud Of
Mr.. James Sinclair, a native and life
time resident of New York City, having
a brother in Augusta, Georgia, and be-
ing out of employment, went TO Savan-
nah, en- route for Augusta. The Vigi-
lance Committee waited upon him, ard
ordered him to leave the City forthwith.
Not obeying the demand, be was called
upon by man who desired to have some
private conversation with him. Mr.. Sin
clair stepped out upon the sidewalk. He
thus describes his treatment after doing
this:
About thirty men surrounded me-each
man drew revolver and bowie-knife-
each man 7ehemau,ly demanded my COM
pany, and each man made it bis duty 10
see that l complied the united demand.
Powerless, and indignant, l was dragged
along the street. On the way to the place
of torture, l was constantly assailed by the
most blasphemous and obscene epithets,
the mob dwelling particularly on the fact
that was New York Yankee. Guilds
of tobacco were thrown into my eyes,
binding my sight and causing intense pain.
My efforts TO relieve my eyes brought
blows from tie butt of pistol and threats
of instant death.
They took me through the streets, on
and on, till we reached the City Park
There they ordered me to undress, and as
| did rot deem it desirable to obey their
indicate suggestion, they forcibIy remov
ed my coat, my pants and even my un-
dercothing. In vain did 1 appeal to the
police, both mounted and on foot; they
dared hot interfere, and indeed, just prior
to our arrival at the Park, one of them
told me he would not do it for bis right
arm. then appealed again and again, to
the leaders of the gang, who were to all
external appearances gentlemen, to know
why they were thus dealing with me, and
the only and unvarying replies would be
that had iampered with slaves-a charge
utterly uufounded in truth, and incapable
of proof. Having torn my clothes from
my body, they compelled me first to kneel,
aud then forced ME to lie upoa the ground
my face being turned downwards-
wherelpon they lashed me with exceeding
~ toll hrui
the skin, lacerating the flesh and causing
sensation such as never before experienced.
This treatment was varied by all occasion
al kick in the face from heavy boot, or a
rap on the head with the butt end of pis-
tol. After they had finished the castlga-
ton they permitted me to put on my torn
and tattered garments, and then told me
to run for my life that they would give
me ten yards start, after which they should
fire upon me. l started-I ran-they
pointed their revovers and shouted-I
jumped fence and they yelled with rage.
Frantic with pain, half stunned and body
sore, returned by side-paths TO my hotel
the proprietor of which told me it would |
not be safe for him to retain Inc. l stay
ed all that night with him. and the next
(Friday) applied te Cap;. Schenck OF the
Alabama, which was to sail on Saturday,
for permission to pay my passage and 20
on board. He declined to receive me, say
ing that if he did, the mob would tear. his
ship to pieces. did not know what to
do. was not safe at the hotel; l could
not remain in the streets; knew no friend,
and had it not been for Mr.. Sherman,
who took me to sailors boarding house,
l don't know what would have become of
me. On Saturday, Invent 10 the Alabama,
and the purser told me Capt. Schenck had
given orders to put me ashore if went on
board, as he was afraid the people would
do violence to the ship if l was allowed to
remain. Notwithstanding that, went be-
low, and was hid until after the steamer
had got far out to sea.
Another victim of similar outrage bare
ly escaped with his life and reached home
in New York so badly injured as to be con-
fined TO bis bed.
Mr.. R. T. Sherman of New York, and
recently clerk of the Pulaski House, Sa-
vannah, and one of the Minute Men of
that city, gives The following account of the
brutal treatment and subsequent death of
a respectble grocer of Savannah, whose
crime consists of being native of New
York.
The Vigilance Committee, which is COM
posed Of wealthy and respectable members
of society, having learned that Mr.. John
Byler, grocer in West Broad stseet, was
native of New York, determined to ge,
rid of him. An accusation of tampering
with slaves, and, of allowing them to sit al
his table, was trumped up against him, and
he was ordered to leave the city. He did
not obey. Consequently, on Saturday, the
18th OF Nov, the Committee called on
him, took him off some little distance from
the city, stripped him, and then applied a
coat of hot tar and cold cotton. They
then started him on run, and he fearing
that his life depended upon his legs, ran
10 so good purpose that he had nearly |
reached, tired and exhausted, place of
safety, when brutal policeman overhauled
him and struck him heavily upon the back |
of the head with his pistol, fracturing his
skull and forcing him upon the ground.
This was on the 18th of November, and
on Saturday, the 24lh, he was buried.