Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-29
The Riot in Augusta.


Our city was intensely excited yesterday
afternoon, and but for the cool courage and
undoubted bearing of Mr.. Jno. A. Christian
and the patience and self.possession OF the
whites, there would have, been scene Of
bloodshed that might have suficed the insati-
able thirst of the rankcst Radical in our midst.
The day had passed eff quietly up to about 8
O'Clock, at which time there were about three
hundred negroes and about seventy-hve whites
in the Court House yard, crowding around
the steps, waiting tie; closing of the polls, all
peaccable and orderly. About this time the
military Mayor of this unfortunate cty-the
man appointed by Gen. Pope as chief conser'
vator Of the peace-came out Of the Hall and,
standing in the porticc, Aourishing roll Of
ereenbacks, offered to bet one thousand dol
lar lars that Bullock was elected. This Lrag
from the chief Loyal Lacquer, enthused TIE
negroes, who cheered Justify. The white
then cheer,d for Gordon and others.
One irreverent individual cried out: You
Id peljured son Of a b, you had be-,
ter pay off your police with that money
From this time to the closing OF the polls there
was consi lcrablc chafng. When the polls
wel closed -Br4Ant we earRsaa Idtiese Viii hi
given by Mr.. Christian and Major Crump to
the white citizens present. This last named
gentleman had just left the Court Yard il
company with Mr.. e. A. Snead, when the
row commenced.
a general fight would have ensucd, but for
the reasons stated atcTc. The negroes bran
dished thei. clubs and threw showers Of bricks;
the whites standing firm and cool. Soon, at
the suggestion of Major Crump, the military
squad was put in motion, and the bayonets
dispersed the negroes. ipjuring several, and
we hear running one entirely through. The
officer in command very wisely ordered his
troops not to fire.
About seven o'clock another serious disturb.
ance occurred in Bread street, occasioned by
mulatto, who is said to have assaulted a
young gentleman who is, and Las been for
years, a cripple. Immedia ey afer Il i, LIE
same negro struck a lady-tbe wife of an EN-
inent surgeon of this city--felling her to the
ground. There were several crowds Of peo-
pie ON the streets talking over the incidents
of the riot at the City Hall, and chase was
made by several persons for the offending ne.
gro, while couple Of gentlemen raised the
lady from the sidewalk and conveyed her into
the store of Mr. w. c. Jones. By this time
there had collected in the vicinity of Hans
bergcr's corner about two hundred people.
Several pistol shots we're fired, one of which
tool; effect in The thigh of the fleeing negro
Deputy Sheriff Crump at great personal risk,
in arresting the negro and protec.
ling him from the rage Of the incensed multi
iude. A number of prominent citizens ar
rived at this juncture and seconded Major
Crump in the preservation of the peace. They
afterwards assisted two policemen in getting
he negro to the guard-hous The negro was
very much excited and did not seem to real
re that he was Among his friends. We learn
hat he is subject TO fits of lunacy, and this
may account fer his strange deIneanor. His
lane is Alfred, and was formerly the slave Of
dr. j. E. Mcdonald, of Summerhill, S. c.,
,ut has recently been in the employ Of Mr..
Eheelock, of this city. His wound is not Sc
ious.
Just as the negro was started 10 the guard
louse as above stated, some other negro threw
billet Of wood in crowd of whites, when
ew more volleys were fired without any re.
ult.
we shall not moralize on this affair. There
'erc several we'll disposed co,ored poople
tho endcavorcd to persuade their race to
ut the streets. These men also witnessed |
be successful efforts of the gentlemen refer
ed to in saving the mulatto: Alfred.
The Chronicle It: Sentinel, noticing the
.iot, says:
The whole blame of this unfortunate and
issraccful affair rests upon the perjured
'retch who, by Pope's order, is acting Mayor
this city. The cowardly miscreant having
reused the passion Of his black crew of infu,
ated Hyenas and melted them to bring on a
ollision, coward like failed to appear at the
,ene of the disturbance, or to use, so far as
e have been able to learn, the slig htest ex-
.tion to quell The outbreak.
The people of this city know who is respon.
BILE for this outrage. The evidence of Blodg.
tie guilt is clear and damning, His organ
ere had announced but two days since that
lie lines were drawn between the races"
I'd had, in ar inccndiary and Infamous arti-
e, attempted to encourage the poor negroes
act upon his proposition that peace could
1t bo preserved between the two races. The
nHict yesterday was but the elimination of
e bitter feeling engendered by these insidi-
Is and treacherOus teachings.
The lines haue been drawn--we accept the
sue. The blacks, not cortent with voting i,
solid phalanx agains. The whites, have gone
rther in their mad md reckless career, aud
vited o resort 10 force. In such conflict
e issue will not be doubtful. We exbo:t |
g white people to hold themselves with ps-
nee. Every good citizen should exert him.
# to prevent, if possible, a recurrence of
Q sickening scenes of yesterday. Thepoor :
groes are the dupes of che wicked white
etches who are urging them on to ruin.
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