Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-27
An lrishman's SufFsrings In South
Carolina.

T.
Mercury, announcing in very noncbalant style
that workman engaged On the State House,
in Go!umbis, s. c., was recently seized by a
mob, on account, as was alleged, of holding
anti-slavery opinions, and that be received tbir-
ty-nlne lashes. ard vas tArred aud feathered
ahd escorted ont Of the State
/ took very few lines 10 tell this atory, ae-
cording to the style Of ybe Southern press; for
IT Is trait OF southern chivslry, frst TO prac-
lce cruelty, and then to suppress tic facts
We have seen this unfortunate man, and heard
his story, and looked at bis wounds His name
IL James Power. He is an intelligent young
uan. about twenty-tbree years of age, native
of Wexford, Ireland, and stone cutter by
trade. lie went frpm Phiadelphia TO the South
and obtained employment in Columbia, where
he bad worked Ior hiDe mouths
The opiy opinion he ever expressed against
slavery Was that ii caused white labofer in
the South to be booked upon as an inferior and
degraded man. But this was enough The
remark was reported to he Vigilance Comuit-
tee. composed Of twelve n,embers,) who in,uis-
diaieiy ordered the police TO arrest him. lie
was seized two uiiles away from town in al,
tempting to escape tie was brought back an
put In cell, where be remained for three days,
turing which time he was denied the use of pen
and Ink, and all communication with bis srienos
outside.
At length he was taken before the Mayor
Four pefsous appeared aud bore testimony to
The remark which be had made. The evidence
was conclusive. lie was returned to prison,
ahd Kept locked ap for six days During this
line' be Was allowed only two scanty meals
aay, and the food was carried 10 him by ne
geo. de was then taken out of j4l n the cus>
;ody OF two marshals, who said to him.
''fcu are so teDd of niggers, that weere 60
ing to give you nigger escort"
lie was led through the main street amid
greet crowd, hootiug aud yelling, tue marshals
compelling two negroes TO drag him through
The Puddles and muddy places of tue street,
and ot the State House yard AS be was taken
past the State House, three members of the
Legislature, including the Speaker, stood look
ing and laughing The crowd gradually in-
creased until 1T numbered several thousand per-
sons, headed By troop of horse.
Alter a march of three miles out of the city,
to place called the ''Iunction," the procession
Vas stopped, aud preparation made for punish
menl. The populaoe cried Bran him. sBurn
him. Spike bin to DEATH aud made threats
against his life by poiuting pistols at his head
aud foarlsbiug sticks iu his face.
The Vigilauce COMMITTEE ordered him to strip
himself naked, and forced negro to assist in
taking off his clothes. A cowhide was then put
| ioto the negro's hands, who Was ordered to lay
Oh thittY-nlDe lashes mot twenty-uine, as re-
ported } and 10 dIaw blood With every stroke.
Oar informant describes the pain of this afic-
tloD IS exceeding 10 severity any ything which be
ever suffered before. His back snd lower limbs
are still covered with the scars of the wounds,
bucket OF tar was :hen brought, and two
negroes ordered to rub il upon his bleed
iug SKIN, aud TO cover him from head to waist.
lila hair and eyebrows were clotted With tar.
After this part of the ceremony was concluded
be was covered with feathers. His pan.aloons
were hen drawn np to bis waist, but be was not
allowed TO put on ais shirt or coat He was
conducted III this exposed condition, amid the
shout OF the populace, TO the railroad train, and
was put on board the negroes car The engi-
neer blew q continuous whistle to signaizs the
performance.
citizen of Charleston on the train, who saw
the poor fellows unhappy condition, stepped
iUto neighboring hotel, before the starting of
the ears, and brought cup If coffee and souie
biscuit 10 Isi,ese tee sufferers ta,ntness Il
was a timely giit, anG gratefully received, But
the Southern ehlyairy gathered around the
Southern gentleman, aud threateued him with
summary veugeanee if ne repeated his geDeros
lty. The exasperated crowd detained the train,
and called tor more tar and feathers, for fur
ther iuflctlon upon their bleeding victim. More
tar was brought. but more feathers could 90.
be found; aud after fresh tar was applied, cotton
was stuck UPON it instead.
When the train started for Charleston, the
mob oade him good-bye, and told him il be
reached this city he should receive one hundred
aud thirty lashes. At every station between
Columbia aud Charleston, the engineer blew
prolonged whistle, aud gathered mob to add
fresh Insults to the wounded mau. At length,
on arriving he was met BY the police, conveyed
to prison, aud detained in his cell for an entire
week. Here he received for the first time, soap
and water to wash off The tar, and oil to soften
his sores. A mob several times threatened to
break into the prison to carry him out into the
street. and make public spectacle of hun
second time But he was kept closely oou6Eed
A physician called to him, to examine bis wounds
and told him that his case was q mild one, COM
pared with that of man who was then lying
in the City Hospital from the effects of 500
lashes, which had almost put an end 10 his
life
On Saturday morning at seveL o'clock, the
poor workman was taken from prison, and oou-
Quoted quietly on board the steamer for New
York. He arrived in this city on Monday last.
where be is still staying, recovering FROM the
effects OF his il-treatmcht, and looking tor
work, which We hope be may fnd ~. Y. In.
dependent.
Rev. Alexander Clark, Editor of the school
Visitor says:
owe have had ample opportunities to know
that the entire faculty Of the Iron City ColIeae