The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1869-08-04
Riot In Charleston.

vi SdInc VI DdS6 Dali, engaged IN
by company from Savannah and
a Charleston club. The annexed
particulars are gathered from the
Ne,cs of the 9th:
During, the game the police ex-
perienced considerable difficulty in
preventing the crowd from tres
passing npon the ground allotted
to the players. Immediately after
the close of the regular game the
crowd rushed around the scorers
to ascertain how the score stood.
The clubs then concluded to have
a little game of pitching anG catch
ing and commenced it, before do
ing so, however, requesting that
the crowd should be made to move
back. The police commenced to
perform this unpleasant duty, but
their force was too small. Major
Ogilby, of the United States Army,
was requested to send some of his
soldiers to the aid OF the pvlice.-
He consented, and six und7med
soldiers came up. The work of
forcing the crowd back over the
rope stretched on the Meeting-st.
side of the Green commenced
During this movement, q mulatto,
named Rafe lizard, became very
d'sorderly and insolent to a police
man, who, after requesting him to
behave, arrested him, whereupon
leafe struck the policeman and en-
deavored to get away. Then en-
sued general melee, during which
the police resisted the efforts of
the negroes to rescue Rafe, strik-
ing them over the head with their
Clubs. The six soldiers seized the
base ball bats lying about and
rushed to the assistance of the po-
lice. Major Ogilby endeavored
to stop the melee, but his efforts
were, of course, futile. The ne
groes were rapidly reinforced and
were about to overpower the police
and their six soldier assistants,
when squad of armed soldiers
came mp, loading their muskets as
they came. The negroes gave one
look at the bristling bayonets, and
then fled precipirately from the
Green into Meeting-street. The
soldiers did not pursue. The ne
groes then commenced tearing off
the pailir gs of the fence for use as
clubs. They also pulled up the
paving stones. On learning of the
action of the negroes the soldiers
were ordered to advance upon
them. The police and detective
forces also advanced, before whom
the negroes retreated to the cor
ner of Calhoun and Meeting-streets,
throwing bricks and other missiles
as they did so. The soldiers fol-
lowed, keeping inside of the fence,
while the police went into the street
, and endeavored to arrest the ring.
J leaders. Two or three men were
arrested, but during the rush and
excitement were rescued. During
all this time the soldiers were most
anxions to shoot, but were restrain
, ed by their officers-Major Ogilby
at one time remarking: "The man
who shoots without orders I will
60 for" In twenty minutes after
this riot commenced everything
was quiet. A squad of soldiers
= were stationed at the corner OF
3 Calhoun and Meeting streets, and
t at the gate on Meetings street. Two
, of the policemen were slightly in
jured during this affair.
. The cessation of the disturbance
4 caused by the appearance Of the
!, soldiers, was taken advantage o.
. by the two policemen who haG
Q Rafe lizard In charge, and they
d took him inside of the Citadel
8 where he used his hands, head
feet and teeth in his efforts to ge
. loose, all the while yelling as if ht
was being murdered, doubtlcs,
. hoping to incite the negroes out
? side 10 make further et orts to res
!. cue him. Rafe finally became 81
; disorderly that the officers on duty
q ordered him to be placed in tn,
gnardhouse, in which were con
fined several Irish soldiers for vi
olations of army regulations. Raj,
= bad hardly been thrust inside of tn,
L prison before the soldiers set npo:
d him and commenced to beat hin
J. most numerically, and most prob
}. ably would have killed him hat
), he not been taken ont.
The disturbance Of course put
8. stop to al further base. balling, ant
!; preparations were made to start I,
: the Vigilant Engine House, OF