The Republican journal., 1871-08-10

when one would find some fancc6 insult put
upon himself or comrade, ready to precipitate
| themselves pell-lncll, without a question, upon
the few white men who stood here and there
attending to The duties of the day, OF awaiting Il
chance to vote. In about the centre of the
block was the polling place, its approaches de-
fined by Il sort of triangular pen, built up to
| separate the incoming from the outgoing sutlr,-
| CANS. and here was the central point of the eX-
element. A policeman or two and the four
| United States soldiers stationed at the door
were pushed and jostled by the surging crowd
of hla Ks pressing towards the barrier TO look
with strained and boodshot eyes for an act of
| the managers which they could torture into nm
indignity and make pretcxt for deadly fight.
once when soldier pushed Il colorel man
away. in order to make room for the approach
! inc voters, the man jumped into the street,
threw down his hat, and shouted for his com
ra,cS to rally. FlouriShing huge club above
his head, he dashed himself into a fury of def
| ance shouting to the colored crowd, and show
erng profanity and obsccnitv upon the soldier.
The latter, quiet, determined German, had
his loaded rifle ready, and the bayonet fixed,
and most men in his position would have an
swered the foul taunts with touch of the cold
Steel which must have prccipitatcd bloody
conflict; but he behaved with great prudence.
quietly but impiacably walking his beat, and
gradually crushing the ,olorcd mass back so is
10 widen the little Scmi-crclc round the polls.
Every such incident caused rush III It's dlrec-
ton, tho negroes cursing ana bowling, and
brandishing huge sticks, with which each man
of them WAS armed, and on the outskirts OF
each such crowd would be seen black women,
fierce, perspirins and malignant, sloiching
along with barred arms and breasts, some hat
less and some with mems hats crushed over
their iorchca,ls each bringing a paying-stonc
and tossing it from hand 10 hand, while The
fingers were clutched nervouSy rs if longing
for Il battle. And SO the day Wore ON. and il is
safe to say that but for the quiet presence OF The
white men. u scene Of terrible turbulence would
have had to herecprdcd in Inspection street.
SCENES n COURT HOUSE SQUARE,
The disposition to a liot in Ward Two WAS
kept in check during The early part OF the day
by observing the summary manner IN which
the disturbance i'll Ward one was quleted; but
about O'Clock an absurd report was spread
that white man had dubbed another in the
hail of the Court House. The hall was thrown
in moment into confusion. and Il serious riot
appeared imminent. The soldiers again did
their duty and cleared the mob from the door,
and the matter WAS settled ls quickly rs ii |
begun. Soon after white man was assaulted |
on the sidewalk in Meeting street in front of
the Court House. and drew pistol to defend
himself As usual The crowd Siir%ea iii and
around, and %rntlcman's buggy which stood
i'll the centre of the row was threatened with /
utter demolition. sheriff Mackey jumped in |
aud arrested the white mtn. who was taken in |
to the gttaidhou>e. The charge, however. was !
not sustained. rs the drawce could not l,e found |
and the prisoner was discharged rms was |
the last disturbance, aud, rs Old st. Mehacl'> |
bells CHM, i the hour of >, the excitement of
the contest resolved itself into an VouS spccula- |
lions 10 the probable results. The ballot |
boxes came down one by one, escorted by the |
squads OF soldiers Stationed At the various pre- |
cmcts, and We're hailed With shouts by the
crowd. Tn, itizens' party felt a preNage of |
victory. and loud cheer were given for the |
Conservative cnndlle~. Thu boxes were all |
piled in the northwest corner OF The General
Sessions court-luoin and the committee APP |
pointed by each party 10 watch them took their |
stations in the rooms rs the hpYr, from their |
respective precincts came H. The guard WIS |
mounted, the fight was over, ana AL discus Sel |
tn, probable result OF HE election,