The New York herald., 1870-10-29
COLUMBIA. Oct. 20. 1870.


Accounts Of The riot at Laurens Conft House on
Thursday last have been received here, from which
the following particulars rleaned.--t appears
That perfect rccn Of terror was prevalent In tho
county. owing 10 The threats Of violence and armed
organization of tue negroes, who We're under the
command OF one Joseph crews, notorious white
radical incendiafy. People during tho night were
IN momcntary expectation or bonsebreaking,
buichery and the torca, but tho presence of the
United Stotes troops had proved q protec-
lion untj TIC elections were over, when
they werc withdrawn. This eft the COM
munity wholly al the mercy OF the negfoes
and their unscfupulons leader, Crews who com
bncd In himself 'he oficos OF trial justice, census
tskcr, Deputy United States Marshal Commissioner
of Elections aud, to M the Dili he was candidate
Tor reelection ~ the Legislature This person oc-
cuped an Old building as an otilce opposite tho
Court House. where he had stored about one thou
sand stand OF arms, with the necessary accoutre-
ments and amlnun ton, belonging to the State and
used only by the negro militia. The office which
was hanked by negro tenemeuts ana rum shops.
was prepared for siege, beng regularly fortified
and pierced with loop holes Tor musKetry and AZ 1t
COMMANDED the laan portion or tho town made q
most formidable engine OF offence or defence.
Around this establishment were Consistently assem-.
olei large number Of drunken negroes, princi-
paiy belonging 10 the militia ana TO tie constapu-
larry, whose freaks Kept M continuous disturbance
during the day. aud created terror at night by the
discharge u hiearnrs aud the most md tou. npsas
An iScENpIARY nARASGUE.
TDls Crews made the mo inceaiary Appeals
and intamma tory speeches to the nsxroes Ne told
tnem arms were put Into their hands TO carry the
election, nDd thcy must use them Il noees-
hary; that thc torch aas their weapon
and matches wcro cheap; TIA, tney should
burn, destroy AMI slay, or keep tle control
& NEI mi
to vote ~ he himself had passed a law 10 that
effect: that they should dress the women IN monI
clothes aud bring them IL the polls ANA vote thel,
ana they must Keep the state government or lie,
u was the onIy way 20 re.ain ther n5e y. fns
OF arranging the boxes and tho disposition Of tho
roac prnincts ..ns n me o,os soanty Gnt ior con.
precincts ana consolidated the entre voting
at the Court House IN his own Ofce Such GagraDt
outrages have never before been perpctrtted any
civilized community, AMI tae forDearance or tho
people under such circumstances IN truly miracle.
The negroes thtonged into the Court House on tho
morning OF the eceicn accor Ing to orders IN I'M
mense numbers. 1hey yotei early and often. with
OUT regard TO age or SEX or any LEGAL provision
TO the exercise 0i the FRANCHISE and notwtnsf and
Ing the frauds that We're enacted there no dis
tur',ance. not even renlonstrance from tho ndig
NJ mt bat u. aceabiy incline whites.
A TnKEATENED OUTBREAK.
An account sass:---The people wecc constantly ep-
every white man would bs obIrea to snt or f.ii ir,
defence OF his own hreside. once during the eiec-
ton day the negroes, w.thoat proyocaton, out Ia,
nuenced by the appeals which mad been made tn
them seeing their numbers and ieens probably
tho pnde u power, commenced arming.
compact mass, TO resist attack. bloody
rencontre was imminent and was proba,iy only
prevented by The prulent aud ju1cious couts, OF
Colonel smith, si the United States garrison hcre
VINO went in person ta wbere the negroes were arm
Ing at Crews home arsenal ana oTiered them 10
put down their a,ms--that they wlre the weaker
race, and That u 'hey provoked a COLLISION they
would under.
Crews ollce was ranlliarly known b. the name
OF "itn Potn arsenal, around winch The negroes
We're assembled N large numbers the dry after
the election, mixing Win the con sttDuiary, aud all
oXultins over the triumph gained ~ such Infamous
frauds.
THE RIOT
Just at this Iuncure wiIte citizen and oBe cf
the cOnstabulary seen to DC engaged In a iQhs
near the Tin Pot arsenal, which created an excite
ment, and this, followed by tile accidental discharge
Of pistol which fell from u mans pocket OH tho
ground, brought on the melto. At once tnere came
. yoey from the doors, windows aud oophoIes OF
the arsenal. Tho account says:-Ihe ory ran Ike
lightning that the negroes nad begun the war. See
ing the crowd IN the arsenal, both 1T the lower ami
upper windows, opening hre upon Tho people IN
the public square, the cItzens who happened to be
pistols ami rushed upon ''1In Pot, broke down
the door, routed The armed negroes ana took pos-
session Of tue arms there deposited Tbc armed
negroes delivered several vollcys, snooting through
the weatnerboarJtng as they retreated. TIE occ-
possible through the back yards aud sIreeis. This
is all that is certainly known. The cou. was then
IN session. Judge Vernon presiding. All tcis oc-
Cured IN full view OF the Court room. ne ot the
balls tfei from ''Ia Pop' struck tile Court House.
Judge Vernon Instantly ordered Sheriff Jones to
raise posse and conmand the peace, TO taKe the
public arms and deposit them IN tile Sherrs ONCE
Tor So Keeping and TO appoint u hundred or more
special consIabes TO keep the peace. his was done,
the arms taken possession OF anl quiet restored.
CASUALTIES.
Two white men and boy were wounded and one
g the armed negroes was Killed Instantly aud Two
morally wounded IL - stated that miles be
low on the railroad tho bodies of bil Riley coioredJ
ana or Voiney Powell IA white man. member OF
the cons abulary force and candidate Tor Pro-
Dlte Judge, VINO Was IN tho aray, were
found with their aims soiae tlae afGer.
Two or three other negroes were Killed at diRerenE
points. Tne people OF The county hearing or the
AFFAIR at the Court House, aud, doubtless hearing
exaggerated accounts o. 1t, great numbers
proDubly TWO thousand or two th tussna I've nun
dred, to the scene Of the conf ct; bat the Sheriff
under the orders Of Judge Vernon, sent them to
their homes.
IN, m