The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-07-07
TROUBLE IN CAMDEN.
HOW TIE BLACK MILITIA CELEBRAT-
ED THE FOURTH.
Scenes of Excitement, Violence and
Outrage.
rrRoA QUE OWN CORRESPONDENT. ]

rrRoM QUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.
CAMDEN, 8. G., July S.
Tuesday afternoon, about o'clock, two ne
groes engaged in fight on Broad street, near
Mrs. Crosby's store. Policemen Lewis and
Smyrl attempted to separate the combat
ants and were resisted by one Of them. Po-
licemaa Smyrl thereupon used his club,
and knocked the man down. IN few min
utes the two companies of militia, who
had been marching about the streets
nearly ill day, came charging up the street,
demanding the blood OF Smyrl, with oathH,
shouts and threats They rushed at the
store of Mrs. Crosby, an aged and inarn widow
lady, sick at the time, and endeavored to
force an entrance at the point OF The bayonet.
They were calmly and firmly withstood by Mr..
Paul Wilson, young Mr. Crosby and Mr. Sin
gleton, assisted By few other unarmed
citizens. Some OF them succeeded In forcing
their way in, and not finding smyrl,
some went to his house, broke open the doors
and searched the premises. Others went to
the town hall and searched for him there,
breaking into the ice cream saloon OF. MIR. BIS.
sci in their search. For two hours this mob OF
blood-thlrsty savages rayed In insane excite
ment around the door Of Mrs. Crosby. holding
full possession of the main street, and employ
Ing the most violent and threatening language
towards the white people generally. IN the
midst of the excitement our worthy school
commissioner, that great eXemplar of the col
ored youth Of the county, mounted the morse
of one of the ril-shals OF tue day and rode
homewards at great speed. He was followed IN
q few mir utes by the chief marshal OF the day,
o1c mountain nDnD rho rpillrn of the school
commissioner, it was announced that the MILL
tia had been furnished with ten rounds OF cart
ridges, and some shouted, ''ifthe white people
want O fight let them come on now" &c. A
squad Of ten OF the militiamen went
to the house of Mr.. Capel, one OF
the police, called him out with oaths and
threats, and demanded to know If he was the
man that said he was willing TO stand ,l N
Smyrl's shoes? Upon being answered atir-
matlyely, they concluded he was not the man
they wanted. and went Off Other persons
were rudely and violently assailed during the
afternoon, and much anxiety was felt by the
citizens in the vicinity. Luckily, or unluckily,
the stores were mostly closed, and there were
but lew white persons in town at that hour, or
the consequences might have been more
serious. We can assure Governor Scott that
similar outrage on this peaceful and quiet
people will! not be repeated with impuntty.
Measures have been taken by the town au-
thorities to protect our citizens in the future,
and If he values the peace OF society, he had
better disarm this brutal mob which ne has
armed against the whites. Let 1t be remem..
bered thas this violence was all directed
against the lawful authorities Of the town, WHO
vainly endeavored to suppress It, Mr.. Davis,
our worthy intendant, and the aldermen of the
town, were on the ground, doing all they
could to ouell the, disturbance. Our people
are sorely outraged, and will never feel safe
until these savages are disarmed. 80 mote
it be. ,..-,
many contributed to the violence of the mob.
The white Radicals are believed generally to
have used their efforts in behalf of peace.
We hear one of them reported as Joining IN
the cry, hang him, kill him, sc. The authori-
ties and citizens have their eye on him. Some
of the colored people also behaved admirably.
81 CAMDEN