The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-10-27
The Disturbances in Laurens.


Columbia Phenix Of Tuesday, and we have no
doubt presents truthful picture Of the whole
affair. We will endeavor to epitomize these
particulars for the benefit of our readers
The prime cause of all this trouble is the
arming of the negro militia, aided by the in
cendiary language and outrageous conduct Of
their political leader, Joe Crews At Laurens
Court House, Crews occupied an old, dilapida-
ted building, opposite the court house, famil-
iarly known as "Tin Pot Alley" as an Office
for himself and an armory of guns. 1t is
thought he had thousand arms, with accou-
trements and ammunition of the most approved
pattern. Besides, there were quite number
of guns at his house, a few hundred yards dis
tant, and his barn, which commanded the
main street, was regularly fortified and loop
holed, and also stored with arms and guarded
by band of negroes at the expense OF the
county This was the condition of affairs on
election day, when Crews peremptorily sum-
moned the negroes from the remotest corners
for the purpose of voting them at his will.
Many bold and infamous frauds were commit
ted, such as voting boys under age and repeat
ing" It is estimated that not more than 1900
negroes were present, and yet the Radicals
claim 1900 votes at the Court House. The
people were constantly apprehensive that the
armories would be opened, and every white
man be compelled to fight or fall in defence of
his own fre-side. Once during election day,
the negroes without provocation, but influenced
by the appeals which had been addressed to
them, commenced arming, and the white peo-
pie formed in small but compact mass to re-
sist attack A bloody rencontre seemed immi-
nent, but it was prevented by the prudent and
iudicious course of Col. Alfred T. Smith, in
command of the United States garrison, who
went in person to where the negroes were arm
ing at Crews home arsenal and ordered them
to put down their arms 1t is unfortunate, we
believe, that Col. Smith left with his command
on Thursday morning. But there was no al
tentative, as his regiment had been ordered
away from the State, and he was hurried off to
rejoin it. The remainder of the story, relating
to the actual affray on Thursday, is succinctly
told in the annexed paragraphs from the Her.
AIDS extra:
This is but feeble outline of the condition
of affairs and the state of public feeling pro-
duced thereby on the morning after the elec-
ton when the disturbance commenced. The
armed negroes and constabulary about the low
er arsenal at "Tin Pot seemed to be exultant,
and some white men were standing about in the
square opposite, when one of the cOnstabulary
and citizen were seen to be engaged in fight
! near s'Tin Pot" The crowd began to gather
| around, when some mans pistol in his breast
coat pocket went off accidentally, and imme-
diately there was received volley from the
doors and windows of the headquarters at "Tin
Pot" The cry ran like lightning that the ne
groes had begun the war. Seeing the crowd in
the arsenal, both at the lower and upper win
dows, opening fire upon the people in the
public square, the citizens who happened to be
near the place at the instant returned the fire
with pistols, and rushed upon ''Tin Pot, broke
down the door, routed the armed negroes, and
took possession of the arms there deposited.
The armed negroes delivered several volleeys,
shooting through the weather-boarding as they
| retreated. The occupants of the place, how
ever, made off as rapidly as possible through
the back yards and streets. This is all that is
certainly known. The Court was then in ses-
sion, Judge Vernon presiding. All this occur
red in full view of the Court room. Some of
| the balls fred from "Tin Pot" struck the Court
House. Judge Vernon instantly ordered Sheriff
Jones to raise posse and coramand the peace,
| to take the public arms and deposit them in the
Sherif7s Office for safe keeping, and to appoint
hundred or more special constables to keep the
peace. This was done, the arms taken posses
sion of and quiet restored.
In the affair at "Tin Pot" two white men and
little boy of the citizens were wounded; and
of the armed negroes, one was killed instantly
and two wounded-one mortally.
We have not heard full particulars, but it is
stated that some miles below, on the railroad,
the bodies of Bill Riley, colored, and of Volney
Powell, white man, member of the constab-
ulary force and candidate for Probate Judge,
who was in the afray, was found with their
arms some time after. We have also heard
that two or three other negroes were killed at
different points The people of the County,
hearing of the affair at the Court House, and
doubtless hearing exaggerated accounts of it,
came in great numbers, probably 1000 or $500,
to the scene of the conflict, but the Sheriff un-
der the orders of Judge Vernon, sent them to
their homes. The grand jury, then in session,
made presentment as to the affair in Tin
Pot" and urged the authorities to remove from
! the County the public arms--the presence of
NulCu utVS No uOuog VOAo iO'he oCoi VI Aii III
in suggesting violence on oneside, and creating
anxiety and apprehension on the other. The
| grand jury, in the most earnest terms, depreca-
ted the consequences of arming one race in the
community and leaving the other defencelcss,
and urged upon all persons, white and black, to
abstain from violence and return quietly to
| their homes.
1t will be observed that the name of Crews is
ot m iopad NO haipo cop ocf ad with tho firbt
He made good his escape, and we have no
doubt is safe and sound to-day. After instiga-
ting the riot, he left the poor, deluded negroes
to !ake care of themselves. The Columbia
Pheni9 states that Gov Scott has been inter-
viewed by several citizens, ard after expressing