The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-31
BLOODY APERAY In UNION DISTRICT

THE CAUSE OF THE QUARREL-THE NEahoLs
FIRE FnsT-BATEs, AS USUAL, THE RING
LEADER.
The Unionville Times gives the following
particulars of the bloody affray which took
place at Santuc Depot on Wednesday last:
We regret that serious affray occurred
Wednesday o. -. ntuc Depot, in this District,
between negro anu Wnltes. II seems 'raS S
several arme n groes had assembled at the
depot to meet II negro, John Bates, who was
expected to arrive upon the train from Column
bla, whittier he had gone, as was said, to pro-
cure bacon for the negroes. During the tore-
noon O quarrel arose between white man and
negro, which resulted in the cutting OF the
white man by the negro with knife. This
produced excitement, but the white people,
anxious to avoid collision that would be
perverted 10 their prejudice, refrained from
hostile acts and prevented an afray at that
time. When the train arrived, John Bates
was on board, end body OF armed negroes
advanced to meet him, and informed MIN mat
difficulty had occurred there during the days
when Bates went to his carpet-bag, took out
pistol and reioined the armed negroes. Bates
was approached by white man, sho asked
h1m by what authority he organized military
companies. What Bates answer was we are
not informed. He was then asked whether he
was for peace or war, he said he was for peace.
He was then told il he desired peace, 10 take
these armed negroes away. The body OF ne
eroes moved away from the depot at SLOW
pace and had gone few scores OF yards, when
they halted, and one negro named Frank Hob
son. armed with double. barrelled gun, turned
and fred at the group OF white men, The shot
struck two white men, who thereupon hred with
pistols in return. Several shots were then
fred by both parties, when the negroes ned.
4t,c4~ IA hIQ
broken and some few others we're shghtly
hurt. No whites were seriously hurt. as We
said at the beginning, we regret this occur
renee: and at the same time we know DOW the
people in that section have been provoked and
harassed by these bands OF armed negroes
Going about the country, boasting OF their
strength, neglecting their work and destroying
the at ock en- the plantations. John Bates has
induced the negroes to believe that the white
people we're at their mercy, that when they
chose to make the effort, they could appropri-
ate oil the land and other property IN the coun.
try. BE claims to be Commander-ln-ch!et OF
the military forces in Union District, and e1-
ercises despotic control over most OF the ne
yroes IN that section Of the District. The ne
gro. Frank Hobson, was arrested by the
Sheriff, yesterday, and committed to jail.
The additional information given below is
taken from letter published in the Columbia
Phoenix:
Bates, the ringleader, lives on the premises
Of widow lady; keeps his armed guard; has
his public meetings on her lands, where armed
negroes congregate, contrary 10 her wlshes.
To these meetings his men gather, passing
through cultivated fields.
Last Friday he marched out with about sixty
or eighty men. q portren armed. 10 noio D
meeting in another portion Of the district.
They marched through cultivated fields, con-
trarY to the orders Of the owners. When re-
monstrated with, replied, what can one man
do with hundred?
They took possession Of church. used by
white people, on the way, where the night
WINS made hideous to the neighborhood Dy
their loud noise and boisterous conduct.
On their return next day, their behavior
was such, in passing houses, as to be amenable
to the criminal courts for riot, II we had law OF
judges.
white ladies' were riding along tue highway,
week or 80 since, when one OF them was .pelted
by stoues thrown by q negro, and received a
severe blow on the side Of her fac.
Bates is preacher, as well as a pohti clan,
and military officer. Says he is to receive
$500, if the Radical ticket is successful in this
District Visits Columbia very frequently, aud
and power, by the general orders he gives and
reads from the Executive Department OF the
State, (as he says and other important papers
which he distributes.
The writer has heard negro say that he
Joined the League, because Bates said that II
he didn't he would have his head.
Yesterday Bates was expected to arrive fIom
Columbia and about sixty o. eighty negroes,
many Of them armed with guns, we're at Santuc
Depot, in this district, awaiting. his arrival
During the day, and some time before the arr-
val of the rain, a difficulty occurred between
whit man and negro, in which the former was
cut with o knife. The "hite pc. sons present
succeede in stopping the fight and restoring
order. When the train arrived, the negroes
were close nv he armed ones with their guns
at "a shoulder"