Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-07
THE SAVANNAH RIOT.
Terrible Results Of Radical Re-
construction.
Four Policemen and q Citizen
Shot.
Two Negroes Killed and Many
wounded.
The Radicals Defeated.
The Radicals Defeated.
Ernm the Savannah News, Al

-
ever be remembered as q memorabl. day
in the history of Savannah, Since the
wear 1860, Georgia has not participated in
an election for President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States but yesterday,
with the State radically reconstructed, her
citizens were allowed to exercise the priv
ilege of casting their ballots, and declaring
their choice for the Executive head OF the
nation. Never before IN all the history OF
Savannah was an election held under such
circumstances az was this one and never
before was election day marked by such
scenes of excitement, riot and bloodshed.
We had hoped tha. the day would pass
in peace and quietness /; but with the Radi-
cal teachings working ID the minds OF an
ignorant, prejudiced and excited race, such
a result was impossible. Believing that
the white men were cowed, thoroughly IN
undated, and could be easily whipped
out, the Radical voters could not let pass
so good an opportunity for a disturbance.
THE RADICAL PROGRAMME.
Taught by experience, the fact that with
ANYTHING like fair election, the people of
Georgia would vote against them in solid
mass, the scalawag wire.pullers had ar
ranged everything beforehand, and laid
their plan, which they faithfully executed.
We are informed that it was determined On
the part of these negro maBipulstors to
send their trained and drilled bands Of
blacks to the polls early in the morning to
block the entrances and prevent the whites
from voting. Knowing that such action
would certainly breed a riot, they could
then leave the polls, and through their
Radical Congress have the vote thrown
out on the ground that The whites drove
the colored voters away, and prevented
them from exercising their privilege OF
suffrage. Or if the plan failed in other
portions Ct the State, they relied upon
Bullock to have the vote of Chatham set
aside. This was evidently the intent and
purpose of their whole courae of pro-
ceeding.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTION
OPENING OF THE POLLS.
All the arrangements for the election
were made On Monday night by the Ordi-
nary. In the centre of the lower hall OF
the Courthouse a platform was erected,
with a fence extending into the hail, to
divide and keep separate the voters at the
respective boxes. Outside Of the door on
York street fence was erected, 50 that the
crowd in the street could not create coafu-
sion at the polls, there being but sufficient
room inside the inclosure Tor voters TO ap-
proach in single file. Three tally clerks
were provided for each poll and a: each
one of the boxes stood a Justice Of the
Peace and TWO freeho!ders, who superin-
tended the election. Justices Marsh, Z.
NJ. Russell, Sr., Dixon, Morris, Cornell,
P. NJ. Russell, Jr., and Nerdy, ofhciated at
various timez, relieving each other IN turn.
Freeholders we're selected from among
citizens present, and sworn in according to
law. .ChalleDgers we're On hand, agd at
their posts; and all being in readiue55 the
polls were opened az siE o'clock II the
morning. The Sheriff had a number Of
deputies posted about 10 assist him IN pre-
serving order, and two OF three policemen
were stationed at each -ltrance TO prevent
disturbances and to secure free ingre57 fl
the voters.
A GRAND RADICAL RALLY.
The Radical LEADER, disregarding the
establishment Of country precincts, haC
caused their hordes and s8arms OF negroe:
from the country to come into the city
They rallied at the opening Of the polls IL
great numbers, outnumJeriHg the whites
| present more than twenty to one. When
| the Courthouse doors we're opened the!
rushed NJ and completely blocked tht
! entrances. White men who came up Il
vote werere FIRST pushed and showed away
and they stood no chance It all against tht
swarms of blacks.
THE CROWD GROWS MORE VIOLENT.
Streams of negroes KEEP, pouring in to thr
polls and depositing their tickets. They
| held entire possession Of the place for up
wards of an hour; while the number o
| whites on the ground WAS slowly beiD!
augmented. Finally they grew more VIC
lent, and white men who attempted I
reach the Courthouse GoOrs were aciuall
clubbed away BIZ the insolent and excite
blacks who, while insisting on their owl
right to vote, refused 10 allow any othe
persons to do 20.
THE COTdENCEMEST Of TROUBLE.
Sheriff Dooner being called upon TO in
terfere in behalf Of the white citizens, wen
out with his deputies to The main door
The Courthouse, facing the Square. II
smoke to the crowd, and endeay ored &
make them clear the entrance. They di'
regarded his words, and the Deputies move
forward to enforce the orders Of the She
if They met with resistance from tn
black, and blows from heavy clubs 500
we're falling thick and fast Mr. kiilnI
nv, deputy, was struck in the head ~
a club, and very badly wounded.
Mr.. Fred. Myers was also badly beatef
and citizens who went 10 the assistance {
the Sheriff and his deputies, shared d
t same fate. The shock Of the encoUnte
however, caused n break IA the solid PHI
lanx of negroes, aad the whites con
menced to 90 in 10 the polls. Sheri
Dooner finding h.s force insufficient
preserve order, called upon the polit
force of the city, (which was stationed
} reserve in Armory Hall. under commar
of Lieutenant Howard,l Tor asslstanc
! | Lieutenant Howard with detachment
tea men, promptly responded to the ca
and moved forward into the crowd
! ouell the disturbance.
THE RIOT PROPER.
The arrival of the police bat added fu
TO the flames. The negroes rushed fl
| ward to regain their ascendency at t
Courthouse door, and a desperate light e
e sued. Each negro was armed with a blu
n geon or stick. Pistols and raz1rs We
=. drawn by the blacks, while the whites US
II only the clubs which they took from {
g negroes, The police went into the fig
u and their heavy CLUBS did fearful exec
: ton; but they RETAINED from drawi
V other weapons, knowing that the rest
i would be dreadfnl. But this state of
D fairs could not last long; whites 6
, blacks, officers AMI citizens were excited
e the utmost pitch by the coniIic. in viii
:, they had been engaged; and, at last,
sharp crack Of . revolver was heard, ii
u two more in quick succession; then tn
&c was a lapse of minnie IT TWO, dur
d which almog perfect silence prevailed, &
lie then the air resounded with the reDt
e. of hundred pistols For from five
Id ten minUtes the firing wes continuous
y unbroken, like the rafting Of I cart Loaf
with iron bars over 4 stOae-Paved s.r
! and then Il ceased altogether. At the
u, of the shooting the negroes stood but t
NC had awakened a storm whose fury I
u could not resist, and they broke and RAJ
ty every direction. Across Courtho
by Square. I'D Ball street 80 far "a Hull d.
er Bull street and around Broughton, up
sy down State and York streets they '
Mt pursued by officers and citizens. Bu
eft filed the air in every direction the VII
to fred, and the negroes turned, sent /
he answering shots, and then continued I
Ne retreat. Many Of our citizens beh!
h. with uncommon bravery aGd fought
,se men who kneg their rights and d.
do | maintain them. The pursuit of the
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