The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-03
An Incipfent Riot.

The call for the working committee to assemble
at the polish Ward 1 was promptly responded
to by the Citizens party, and soon after the polls
were opened strong body OF men were present
determined to see order preserved, and fair play
given to all. The Radicals also turned out 10 Sill
larger NUMBERS and the opposing parties occupy
Ing their respective sides Of the street, seemed
| ready for any emergency. The voting COM
mefced as soon as ST. Michael's clock struck Z,
and continued rapidly, with but few interrup.
tons, until 10 o'clock. Five soldiers were station.
ed underneath the porch. Of the Guardhouse.
They had quietly stacked arms, and were
sitting around them. A colored citizen
about this time went up to the polls
OF Ward /, and voted the WAGNER ticket
openly. This excited the Radical negroes around
and one OF them struck Captain Thomas Young,
who was near the voter and was accused OF In
nuencing him. Captain Young returned the
blow, the crowd pressed on them, and row en-.
sued. The shouts and curses announced to the
outsiders the commencement ofthe dificulty, and
the soldiers, fixing their bayonets, charged across
the square, loading as they went The portico
and steps Of the City Hall were packed with men,
but as the glittering baSonets came up the steps
on one aide, q rush was made for the other steps,
and the porch was cleared in an instant. This
Intervention put an immediate stop to the riot,
and strict order was maintained fo- some
time. The most turbulent were qsieted, and
the moral ;efect OF cold steel lin the
hands OF disciplined men was never more
perceptible. The police were utterly insig-
nincant and seemed to do more towards
keeping mp the disturbance than quelling
it. They stoad by and saw coloreds dsmen assailed
and failed to arrest the assaiants. In particular
henry Draine, cclored citizen. was assaulted
and followed by disorderly rutrian wltha club,
and though the police we've called upon to arrest
themsn they refused totake him to the. Guard.
house. Their action cannot be too severely rep
rehended.
In Ward things seemed quite as threatening
as on the other side OF the street. but the rot oc
CURED there nrst and the sight Of the bayonets
charging across the street to the City Hall had
most beneficial effect in keeping the Radical row.
dies within proper bounds.
At the first precinct OF Ward order was strict
" preserved, and the. voting throughout the day;
went on quietly. In the second precinct the Pal.
metto boys turned out In force to see the ticket
through. Early in the day large number Of
disort erly colored Radicals came over from In
specton street, and seeing 8 colored citizen vote
the WAGNER ticket they dumped" him. In
moment lively row was progressing, and the
four soldiers stationed in the engine house came
out with their bayonets. The crowd gave away,
and the riot subsidized under jud.cions Intrusion
Of cold steel. As usual there was tremendous
hubbub, but no one was hurt and no deadly
weapons were used.
Fatal ARRAY In sires Street.
The polling place in the iifst precinct OF Ward
was the scene during the afternoon OF q collision
between few disorderly Radicals and the United
States soldiers who were on guard at the place,
resulting In the killing OF Ralaam Grant, col.
ored man twenty-five years Of age. The polling
place was at the Niagara Eagine-hQuse, on Sires
street, between Spring and Begard streets. The
little street was filled all the morning with
large crowd OF people Of ell shades Of color, and
1t was evident that any slight occurrence might
bring about serious dlsturbahce. The military
guard consisted Of Sergeant Malony and three
privates OF Company D, Eighteenth Infantry and
Is was proposed BY them to clear the little street
as preventive measure. In this, however,
the sergeant was overruled by the special
deputy sheriff on duty at that point,
and the crowd remained. AS about 2 O'Clock, as
colored man was approaching the polls, the raj.
ly ers of both parties surrounded nic, soliciting
his vote. At this, o. jcolored man in the crowd,
named Balaam Grant, became ineensed, and
began deuounclng the rallyers OF the Citizens
party for attempting TO secure coored vote.
Not content with verbal denunclations, he raised
q heavy club, which he carried ia his hand, and
began laying about him on the heads OF every
white ma1 whom he could reach. At this time,
Sergeant Mallory and one private were stationed
at the polling place, the other soldiers being at
either end or the street. Grant was
ordered by Sergeant Malony and Roundsman
Bing to desist, and the order not being
obeyed, they started to arrest him. Grant tried
to run, and made his way as well as he could
through the crowd, until he had got nearly to the
end Of the street, when q soldier discharged his
musket and he fell, shot through the abdomen
and mortally wounded. A. scene o.. the widest
excitement ensued. The colored men swarmed
about the soldiers and swore that they would
have revenge. The few soldiers kept the excited
crowd at bay as we'll as they could, while the po-
lice remained passive spectators. Meantime
message had been sent to the Citadel, and one
company OF the Sd Artillery soon appeared upon
the scene, armed with muskets, and commenced
to disperse the mob. Starting from the ponlng
place, in about the centre OF the block, they
marched in both directions gradually pressing
the crowd back until the street was cleared OF all
except those whose duties kept them at the polls.
"A detail OF corporal and five raen.was then left
upon the scene In addition to the original guard,
and order was maintained during the remainder