The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-17
THE REFORM CANVASS.
MASS MEEz1Ne 1T 1AURENs G. n
The NIiIitfa-Do they Mean Fight!-The
Leaders of the NIilitia-General Butler
and the X. X. .K.-specimen Radicals.
rFRoa OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
LAURENs G. f., August l3.
THE LAURENs RAILROAD.

LAURENS G. f., August IL.
THE LAURENs RAILROAD.
Yesterday morning our party left Columbia
for Newberry G.. H., where we expected to
take train on the Laurens Railroad for this
place. But as there is only tri-weekly train
on that road, we were fortunately deprived Of
the privilege OF ride over it. 1t is true. that
Nr. Joseph Crews, who is properly believed 10
be the owner of the road, offered us hand
car, which we declined with thanks.
and when we saw the road we were glad
that we had done 80, and more than
one Of US suspected that Joseph must
have had designs upon our limbs when ne
made his profrer. However, we concluded to
90 to Laurens Courthouse by private convey
ance, and left Newberry at IL NJ. After ride
of sixteen miles, we arrived at Martins Depot,
where we were met by Dr. Wright, in charge
of two conveyances, sent by the committee OF
arrangements from Laurens Courthouse. 10
these we made the remaining sixteen miles,
arriving at the courthouse at P. NJ. Our
route was alongside of the Laurens Railroad.
For the first sixteen miles the ties were rot
ten, and sunk into the ground the rails jagged,
and many only fastened with four nails,
two at each end. The weight Of the
trains passing over the rails had made
them lay tolerably close to the ties, and
as these were at various heights, the
track presented wave-like appearance.
Within few miles of the Courthouse the road
is laid with T-iron rails; but the road-bed Is no
better than on the other portion Of the track.
Some of the trestles are very high, and in
dangerous condition. Frequently the trains
run off-oh, no, crawl off the track-but very
few persons have been hurt. At meeting OF
the stockholders, held at Newberry yesterday,
Major j. NJ. Baxter was elected assignee Of the
road. The people OF this section OF the coun-
try are very anxious for the road to be put in
order. The majority prefer travelling by pri-
rate conveyance to going over the road in Its
present condition.
THE MILITIA.
There is quite large force of colored mlt-
tia In this county. They are well armed, nut
poorly drilled. They are under the control OF
joseph Crews and y. j. P. Owens, the former
member ofthe House, and the latter State SEN
ator: but more Of them hereafter. Under the
advices of their leaders, the militia have COM
mitted a number of outrages, but none so out
rareous as firing into the Town of Clinton about
two weeks ago. On our route we passed
through Clinton and saw the marks OF the bull
lets on the houses and through the windows.
They had been drilling without Interrupt
ton during the day, and when the drill was
over marched to the top Of hill, about TWO
hundred yards from the centre OF the village,
and without warning fired. thus endanSerins
the lives of the Inhabitants. who were on the
street and in the houses. The leaders Of the
militia advised the colored people not to at
tend the Reform meeting held to-day, telling
them that 1t was plot to get them together,
quarrel with and shoot them. During the day
two companies of militia were drilled on the
edge of town, and in the evening. one company
under charge of Thomas Howerton, paraded
through the streets. A number OF colored
men who Joined the militia became disguised,
and will possibly withdraw from their COM
panies They state that when invited 10 JOIN
they were told that as soon as they signed
their names, they would be furnisned Wltn
arms, uniforms and regular army raLions and
pay, but that they have only received their
arms, and have been prevented from working
by the constant drilling which they have to
undergo. Several of the colored men are
highly indignant that the colored people should
be armed by Governor Scott and weapons re-
fused the white men.
ssDo THEY MEAN FIGHT ~
The action of the militia In this county has
had the effect of creating considerable un-
easiness In the minds of the white people, VINO
apprehend that they intend creating dis
tIlrbance. The whites, of course. have no fear
of the result Of any disturbance, but desire
that there should be harmony, and will bear
nf ha
week citizen met one of the, militia on the
road, and thinking to have jest, said: Have
Won heard of the fight at the courthouse be-
tween the militia and the white people? The
militia commenced the fight, and were
whipped, but many on both sides were Killed
and .wonnded;' to which the militiaman re,
piled that he had not hearG OF the fight, and
he was surprised that it had commenced so
soon, as he understood that 1t was not TO co M
mence until the 3Oth Of August.
THE LEADERS OF THE MILITIA.
AS we have stated, Joe Crews and ]. J. ?.
Owens are the leaders of the militia IN this
county, and the fomenters of all disturbances.
When we state that Owens was deserter
from the Confederate army, we say enough 10
make him stink in the nostrs Of all honest
men. Besides this damning record, he has
been engaged In numerous dirty tricks, which
seem to come natural to Scott's minlons. AS
q senator, he voted as he was told, not having
sense enough to know how to cast his vote.
Joe Crews Is shrewd, cunning man, ana, It
Is generally believed, does all Of the dirty work
for the Scott Ring. According to popular be-
lief. he and State Treasurer Parker were In
partnership during the last session Oh the Leg
islature. When the members would go to Par
ker for their pay, he would tell them there
was no money In the Treasury. Parker Would
then give the money to Crews, who would
lend It to the members at the rate OF Twelve
per cent month, they giving him warrants
on the Treasury as security. AS we are IN
formed by citizens, Joe was not IN the Conleu-
crate army, but he hired asubstltute, and gave
his note to the wife Of the suostltute. nHe sup-
stitute was killed, and the widow. still holds
Insenh,s note. OF HOwerton, who led the
militia this afternoon there Is little to say be-
yond the fact that while MEMBER OF Compa-
nv d First South Carolina Regiment, station
ed at Battery Marshall, on Sullivans Island,
he was nublcly flogged on his naked back for
Stealing watches, and that he spent number
OF days strapped to agIln TOR coWarulce, anu
''pure cussedness" generally
THE MEETING TO-DAY.
At II o'clock to-day, in q grove at the upper
edge of the village, Judge Carpenter, Genera!
BmfIer and the Hon. w. D. Simpson addressed
a crowd of over two thousand persons, IN
cluding about three hundred colored people.
The Brass band OF the village was III atten-
dance, and dlscoursed some eXceiienI hI1sie' II
On the stand were Colonel u: W. Ban, hEn 9.l
". y, SImpson, Hon. II. c. Young, rev. III:
Robinson, II. p Todd. ESD, tne can''iuaees VI
the Reform party, and others. ,,u nit.
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