The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-14
We have seen this unfortunate man and heard his
story, and looked at hs wounds. His name IL

we nave seen this unfOrtunate man ana neoru us
story, and looked at hn wounds HIS name IL
jones Power. He is an in geut young man
about Nv enty.t three years Of axe, native Of WEEK
ford, Ireland. and stone cutter by trade. He went
nom Philadelphia to the South, and obtained en-
ployment in Columbia, where he ha worked for
nine months.
The only opinion he ever expressed against slave
ry was that il caused white laborer in the South
to be looked upon as an inferior and degraded man
But this enough The rem ,rk was re ported u
the Vigilance Committee, (couposed Of twelve
members) who Immediately ord red The police 10
arrest him. He was seized two miles away from
town, in attempting to escape. He. was brought
back, and pus in a cell, where he remained for
three days, during which time he was denied the
use Of pen and ink, and all comm lnca,ion 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 evideace was conclusive.
He wss returned to prison, and kept locked up for
six days. During this time, he was allowed only
two scanfy meals day, and the food was carried TO
him by negro. He was then taken out Of jail
In the custody Of two Darshals, who said to him.
You are so fond of niggers that we are going
to give you Niger escort"
He was led through the main street amid great
crowd hootiDg and yelling, the marshals compelling
two niggers TO drag him through the puddes and
muddy places Of the street aud of the State House
yard As he was taken past the State House, three
members of the Legislature, including the Speaker,
stood looking on and laughing. The crowd gra
persons, headed by a troop OF horse.
After march Of three miles out of the city, to a
place called the Junction. the procession was
stopped. and preparations were made for punish
mept. The p0pulace cried Brand him." Burn
him" "spike him to DEATH and made threats
against his life by pointing pistols at his head and
fourishiDg sticks in his face.
The Vigilance Committee ordered him to strip
himself naked, aud forced u negro TO assist in TAX
ing of the clothes A cowhide was then put INTO
the negro's hands, who was ordered to lay on thir
tynine lashes (not twenty-nine. as reported). and
to draw blood with every stroke. Our inf 'rmant
describes the pain Of this infection exceeding
severity anything which he ever suffered before.
His back and lower limbs are still covered with the
scars Of the wounds.
bucket Of tar was then brought and two ne
grOes were ordered TO rub it upon his bleeding
skin and to cover him from head To waist. His hair
and eyebrows were cotted with the tar. After this
part of the ceremony was concluded he was cover
ed with feathers. His pantalooDs were then drawn
up to his waist but he 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
railroad train and was put on board the negroes
car. The engineer blew q continuous blast on his
whistle TO sgnalize the performance.
citizen Of Charleston on the train, who saw the
poor fellows unhappy condition, stepped in,o q
neighboring hotel before the starting Of the cars
and brought cup of coffee and some biscuits 70
relieve the sufferers iaintness. It was q timely
gilt, and gratefully received. But the Southern
and threatened him with summary vengeance If he
repeated his generosity. The exasperated crowd
detained the train, and called for more tar and
feathers, for further nfction npon their bleeding
victim. More tar was brought, but more feathers
could not be found and after fresh tar was applied,
cotton was stuck upon it instead.
When the train started for Charleston the mob
babe him gOod-by, and told him that when he
every station between Columbia and Charleston the
engineer blew prolonged whistle, and gathered
mob to add fresh insults to the wounded man. At
length, on arriving, he was met by the police, con-
veyed 10 prison, and detained in his cell for an en-
tire week. Here he received, for the first time,
soap and water to wash OF the tar, and oil to soften
his sores. mob several times threatened to break
into the prison TO carry him out into the street. and
make public spectacle of him second time; but
be was Kept closely confined. A physician called
TO sec him to examine his wounds, who told him
that his case was mild one, comparing II with that
Of man who was then lying in the City Hospital
from the effects of five hundred lashes, which had
almost put an end to his life.
On Saturday morning last, at seven O'Clock, the
poor workman was taken from prison and con-
dscted quietly on board the steamer for New York.
he arrived in this city on Monday last, where he Is
treatment and looking for work, which we hope he
may find.
We have only one comment to make on this case.
This man informed US that. in common with the
great mass Of irishmen in this country, he had al
ways voted with the democratic party. He had
long known in Philadelphia that the democratic
party upheld slavery, but he never learned, until
he went to South Carolina, that slavery crushed
the white laborer, and that the democratic party
in upholding slavery, is therefore the enemy
Irisbmen who are q nation OF lab0rers. In the
Southern States work is looked upon as dishonor.
able and workmen as degraded This is what au
Irish stone cutter learned while cutting stone in
South Carolina. We hope the lesson Of his expe-
rience may reach the ears of his counrrymen.