The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-02-05
The Fracas in Charleston.

of an assault by son of DR.. Mackey upon
the reporter of the Charleston Mercury.
The following account of the affair is
copied from the Meas:
The convention yesterday had scarcely
adjourned, before the hall was scene OF
wild excitement, resulting from an assault
by E. w. Nj. Mackey upon Roswell I. Lo
gan, Esq, assistant editor of the Charles
ton Mercury.
AS the events transpired inthe presence
of. the writer of these paragraphs, we
speak of what We know, and not from il-
formation of any other person.
Mr.: bogan was in convention with the
reporter Of the NeUs, relating the action
ofthe convention on the report of the Fl.
nance Committee, and,in the act OF rolling
up his papers, when Mackey approached
and enquired: Are you the writer ofthe
article iu the Charleston Mercury concern
ing my father?" Mr.. Logan replied, 81
am.n
Then said Mackey, drawing back with
curse, take that" and delivered q
blow. Mr. Logan threw up lis arm as q
fence and struck back, and at the same
moment was seized by one or two perrons
nearest to him. Mackey, being more pow
erfnl, although the attempt was also made
to hold him by Mr.. Whittemore and 9th
ers, was not SO easily restrained, and he
succeeded in striking and kicking once or
twice, but only one blow took effect, and
that was upon the forehead OF the assault
ted party. a9ss
By this time-in less than minute
delegates, white and black, were pitching
frantically forward towards the reporters
table, and scene of affray, and in the pres
ence ofthe crowd which followed Mr.. Lo-
gar, held in the arms of F.. N. Moses, jr.,
(white,) Of Sumter, was forced down the
kall, nearly to the middle, and against one
of the windows The excitement now be.
came lnteuse. Cries were heard kill
him p" cut the Williams throat -"throw
him out of the window" "No! let him
alone the dignity of the convention is
at stake -" don't lct him be hurt =
keep back -" keep back -" order =
Glands of" &c. Mr. Moses meanwhile
still, claspetl Mr.. Logan, and. declared that
if "anv man struck the reporter they
would have TO strike him. doing all that
lay iii his power to qnell the now fairly
aroused passions Of the crowd. At this
liuncturc, the president of the convention
pushed his way through the crowd-tit Is
said with horse-whip in his hand. which
was. taken from him by some f.the colored
delegates but the writer saw nothln: OF
this)-and while Logan was thus sur
rounded, by forty or fifty persons, standing
on tables, chairs, and filing every space
that could be occupied by human body,
DR.. Mackey opened "battcry" on him,
and as an old lady would say, gave him "a
piece of Ills mind:'' He said that be did
not lold,him responsible for his abuse so
much as the persons who employed him.;
that lie was engaged in mean, contemp-
tible and dirty business, and that it any
retribution was to be 1neted out, 1t be-
longcd to those who paid him his salary
to come there and defame tile characters
ofmenbers of tile convention, DC, &c.
We do notof course pretend to give the
exact language, but the above, strongly
infused with adjectives and expletives,
expresses the opinion OF the ebulllition OF
DR.. Mackey.
During this address, which occupied
perhaps two minutes, the excitement with
in the bar among the members Of the con.
yention and without among the colored
spectators, many of whom climbed over
the bar, reached q dangerous pitch. Cries
were heard of "throw him Out Of the
window ''-s. cut his throat -" kill him,
il serves him right and the most bitter
and yengeful threats, indicated disposl-
ton to commit murder on.the spot.
The behavior of Mr.. Logan, thus SUR
rounded, was most commendable. Calm,
cool, and perfectly enquenched, he held
his tongue and waited for the excitement
to suBsdh During this period,:it is but
Just to say, the leaders of the convention
of both races did all in their power to pre-
serve order and prevent what was most
feared -boodshed. Among these may be
mentioned G. c. Bowen, who, like DR..
Mackey, was the subject of description in
the Mercury of Yesterday; &. i. White
more. DR. Newell, r.. G. DeLarge, J. j.
Wright, w. E. Johnson, W. j. Whipper,
c.. NJ. Wilder, 7. Hurley, and others.
The counsel of these parties aud their
associates finally prevailed. 1t gradually
stole over the minds of members that the
1dignity ofthe convention" was at stake,
and Mr.. Logan was permitted to retire
again to the vicinity of the reporters ta'
Bile. Here, a policeman made his appear
ance. Mr. Logan requested his company
to the Office of the Mercury and protection
from the mob.
At this point DIR. Mackey again came
up, and hearing the request OF the repre-
sentative of the Mercury. saidthat he him
self would accompany Mr.. logan fioni the
hall, and afford him protection. 3. f.
Whittemore, Hurley, j. ]. Wright, Ran
dolph and others, likewise offered their
escort, whereupon the parties left the hall
l. !. IL. L a +,a.,,