The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-03-01
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From the Unionvills Times.l
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THEs UNION
HORROR.

On Sunday night, about IL o'clock, a
large number of mounted men, estimat.
ed at from 500 to 700, in black gowns,
with masks fitting tight to their faces,
rode suddenly into town, placed strong
picket guard at each road entrance, aud
ordered every light to be put out. 1t
was very dark and raiD5 night, pecu
liarly suited to the dark deeds to be en-
acted. These men rode to the Jail, broke
through the outer door, and suddenly
presented themselves before the jailor,
Mr.. H. T. Hughes, and his family, AID
Mr.. L. B. Hill, deputy sheriff, who we're
all asleep, and demanded the keys to
the cells. This was refused, and resist
ance made By the officers, which so ex-
asperated the Ku-Klux that they
violent: threw down the officers and
tied them together to rock post in front
of the Jail. They then went to Mrs
Huges, the jailor's wife, presented a
pistol to her head and threatened to
blow out her brains if she did not tell
where the keys we're. In.her fright
she pointed to where they could find the
keys.
They then took her and her child
from the Jail and carried them to a
neighbor, assuring Mrs. H. that her
husband would not be injured. They
then took from the Jail Sylvauus Wright,
Andy Thomson, Ellison Scott, Bill
Fincher, Aaron Thomson, Amos Nc
Kissick, Barret Edwards and Tom
Byars, prisoners implicated in the mur-
der Of Matt Stevens; Mac Bobc, in
prisoned for the burning of Mr.. Estes's
house, and Joe Vanlue, who was in
prison for killing Mr.. Daniel Smith,
while acting as deputy sheriff, the night
after the murder Of Matt Stevens, tied
them and carried them, with the jailor
and deputy sheriff, out of town. As soon
as they were ready to start from the
Jail, shriil keen whistle was blown,
and in marvellous short time the
pivkets cane in, fell into ranks, four
deep, and all marched up the Spartan
burg road-the procession reached, in
close order, from the Presbyterian
Church to the Jail. On the way ont
some of them appeared to take delight
in insulting and tautalizing Mr.. Hughes
and Mr.. Hill. One of them crammed
the accompanying circular into Nr.
IIughes's pocket, and made him promise
that it should be published. When
they arrived near Sheriff Dunn's resi-
deuce, about half q mile from the Jail,
they told Hughes ano Hill to go back
they would allow them FIVE minutes to
reach the Jail. Ofcourse they tried to
make the time, but it was a diHicnlt
task, as they were still tied together,
with their arms pinioned behind them
by strong cord and on reaching town
were completely exhausted, but truly
thankful, even to the Ku-Klux, for
letting them off With DO greater punish
ment than a terrible fright. Poor
fellows, We learn they looked more like
ehoSts tnan nvlDS DelDSS. CarIy on
Monday morning the lifeless bodies of
Sylvauus Wright and Andy Thomson
were discovered suspended from a
hickory tree, about mile and a half
from town, while Tom Byars, Bill
Fincher, Ellison Scott, Joe Vanlue,
Barrett Edwards and Aaron Thomson
we're tied to small trees near BY, and
their bodies perforated vi:h rife balls.
The remaining two, Mac Boho and AWos
Mckissick have not been heard Of since.
The firing aroused the people living
around, ard. every order was distinctly
heard. As soon as the deed was ac-
complished, the band rapidly left in all
directions.