The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-21
ORIGIN OF THE RIOT.

| ORIGIN OF THE RIOT.
Tm NEWS of Saturday last gave some parti-
culars of riot among the negroes on Edisto
Island the Thursday previous. Since then we
have learned from Sheriff Z. ". II. Mackey full
particulars.
It appears that some time ago, q number Of
the planters on the island told the negroes
that if they would work for them on Monday
and Tuesday Of each week, the planters would
give them quantity Of land-about five acres
each. A large number Of negroes agreed to
the proposal and commenced work. The plan
operated finely until the Fourth Of July"
came, which, as is WE'LL known fell upon Sun
day. The negroes being determined to cele-
brate the day waited until Monday and did so.
All or nearly all Of the planters who made this
contract with the negroes are from the North,
and strange to relate were 30 unpatriotc as to
object to giving holiday upon the day Of all
days" to their section, AM told the
negroes that they must work another
day in the week to make up for the time lost on
Monday. The negroes claimed that as 1t was
general holiday, and should have been observ-
ed by all American citizens, the planters should
be willing to lose the day, and said they would
have been willing to lose it under like circum-
stances After much discussion on the sub
ject, mai ority Of the negroes agreed to
snake up" the lost day, but number posi-
lively refused to do 80, aud against these the
planters sued out, before Magistrate Christie,
(who is q Northerner, and employs North
erner, Marstella, as constable) writs OF eject
ment. Several negroes were elected from the
plantations under the authority Of these writs,
among them one Cyrus Haywood. Cyrus, like
the rest Of the negroes, thought the planters
were very unreasonable in turning them away
from their little farms, on which they had
spent 90 much time and labor, and went back
ito his place.
SHOOTING OF CYRUS HAYWOOD.
Another writ Of ejectment was procured
aesint Cyrus, and Marstela went on last Mon
day week to execute it. He states that Cyrus
refused to leave the place or togo with him
to the magistrate. and found it necessary to
use force aud to tie him. Cyrus states that he
was perfectly willing to 60, but would not con-
sent 10 be bound hand and foot and thrown
into cart and carried of, as the constable
and his assistants proposed to do with him.
However, Cyrus reslsted aud was shot through
the hand, and then while wounded was tied
like cali, thrown into cart and carried to
the constable's house, where he was kept IN
solitary confinement for three days and with
out having any attention paid to his wound.
On Wednesday night he, with assistance from
outsiders, managed to escape.
CIVIL OFFICERS IN DANGER.
AS soon a. the arrest of Cyrus was reported
the negroes became very much excited, and
on Thursday about one hundred and fifty OF
them. portion armed with guns, appeared
around the houses Of the constable and maeis-
trate, and demanded the release Of the pris-
oner. Some of the crowd threstened to hang
the officers if they did not release Cyrus, and
seemed disposed to carry their threats into e1-
ecution anyhow. The officers were very much
alarmed, and used every art to appease the
angry crowd; but they would not be quieted
until they were assured that the prisoner whom
they sought to rescue had escaped.
TIRED OF THE NoRTHERNERs.
During the dlsturba several Of the South
ern planters went among the negroes' and en-
desvored, by reasoning with them, to persuade
them to return to their work. The negroes
told them they were willing to listen to them
patiently, but their talking would do no good
then as they had nothing against the Southern
planters, but were tired OF the Northerners and
would have them driven off the island, as ever
since they came they had been unjust to the
negroes.
ARREST OF THE R1NoLEADERs.
On Monday last Sheriff E. W. II. Mackey, &C.
companied BY two detectives, Washington and
Reed, went over to the island to arrest the
ringleaders, aud found everything quiet and
most Of the negroes at work as usual. He in
qulred for Peter P. Hedges, Alfred Smith. Mo-
ses Brown, Boston Jenkins, Moses Gadsden,
for whom he had warrants charging them with
releasing Cyrus Haywood, and with being the
ringleaders of the riot. They came forward as
soon as they heard that they were wanted. The
Sheriff told them to meet him at the boat, as
he wanted them to 90 with him to the city,
where they would have to undergo an e1ami-
nation. At the appointed tune all came to tbe
boat, and tho sheriff brought them over yes
terdsy-Cyrus being among them. Shortly
after their arrival they were a,raiened before
Magistrate DeLarge, colored, who postponed
hearing Of the case until the S0th of this
month.
SETTLEMENT.
Sheriff Mackey advised the negroes to make
up the day lost, which they consented to do il
the planters would Withdraw tn Dir writs OF
ejectment. The planters have agreed to do
thus, and affairs on the island may now be re-
ported as quiet, and likely to remain 80 for
some time. =
ATTEMPTED Observation-Disclosures By CMR
ENaMHER NATHANs.-Y morning,
Chief Engineer Nathans had several parties
before him, with view OF investigating the
origin OF fire at house on the west side OF
Kirkland's alley. inhabite: by whites and
negroes.
The testimony showed that colored man,
named Henry Bentord. while passing the house
about one O'Clock, yesterday morning, saw
smoke issuing from the glbles. At the same
time colored woman looked out Of the win
dow up stairs and asked him to see where the
l., k.JL II 90 o