The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-05

RIOT AND BIooDsHED IN MAooN.-In
Macon, Ga, on Wednesday, the negroes
marched in q solid body to the polling
place at the Court House, and made such
demonstrations that it became evident to
the white men that if they were to secure
an opportunity to vote they must aot at
once. The Telegraph relates as follows
of the scenes that ensued:
number OF gentlemen demonstrated
with the negroes, and told them that
their conduct would cause trouble and
probably bloodshed, and urged them to
desist. assuring them that they should
have the right to vote without molesta-
ton, if they would be patient and take
their turn. They refused to heed this
wise counsel, and pressed forward more
vigorously than ever. They had come
there to control the election, and they
meant to do it. j. F. Long, the negro
incendiary, who had melted tho colored
men to this line of action, assumed posi-
ton in one OF the upper stories of the
Court House, where he could overlook
the scene of action. He was satisfied
the. the advice he had been giving his
them, and acutely took his CARCASS out of
u
the tempest, but meant that it should
pass without injury to his person. He
Is bully when it comes to stirring up
riot; but coward when it comes to
test of courage.
While the two forces, so to speak,
were massed in front Of the polls, several
white men were collared and roughly
handled by the negroes Thore were
scuffles for position, and on two or three
occasions the negroes made demonstra-
tions with brick-bats. This contest for
position lasted for more than un hour.
| The negroes were resolved to get tho
| polls and hold them, and the white men
were equally resolved that they should
not. There the two masses stood, grow
ing moro determined all the while, and
| the negroes more threatening and tur.
bulent. It WAS plainly seen that they
did not mean to yield an inch. They
had been drilled too we'll to back out
now. Thus matters stood, when J. F.
Long, from his sperch in an upper window
of the Court House, called out to the
negroes to take the polls ut all hazards.
This was the signal for the strife. The
negroes pressed forward with greater de-
termination, and the white men stood
their ground more firmly. Finally. a
brick was thrown by a negro, which
passed Immediately over the heads of
the white men, striking the wall of the
Court House. very near the door where
the ballots were being received. This
was closely followed by pistol shot
from negro, and the battle was begun.
The special police used. their weapons
freely, and between fifty and hundred
shots were fred. It was lively skir-
mish, lasting about three minutes. No
shots we're fired by the whites except
those who were on duty as special police.
These were sufficient. however, to route
the negroes and send them scampering
in every direction. They stood not
upon the order of their going. but went
at once, pell-mell, hurry -skurry, all
madly bent upon getting out of the way,
leaving their wounded upon the field.
It was impossible at any time during
yesterday to obtain an accurate list OF
the killed and wounded. Different ru-
mors were afoat, oil more or less exag.
gerated. Only one white man was killed
VIM. Corkle, worthy mechanic, fore
man of the blacksmith shop of the Ma
con and Brunswick Railroad, was shot
through the head. nnd died before reach,
ing his home. He was unarmed and in
no way engaged In the disturbance, but
was standing some distance off, on Null
berry street. Another white man re-
ceived slight flesh wound in tho side,
another confusion on his arm. Shots
passed through the hat and coat of an
other, and through the clothing of two
others. Two others were severely in
jured by brickbats.
A negro, named Dennison Armstrong.
was shot through the heart, and died
Immediately. Another. named Edmund
Henderson, was shot in the back of the
head and in the back, the latter ball
lodging near the spine. He died before
reaching home. Another, named VIM
Day. from East Macon, was wounded in
the head. He was reported to have died
during the afternoon. Another. whose
name was not ascertained, was wounded
in the head. Another received q shot in
the heel, which passed to his instep, and
vas cut out by DR.. Mason. Other slight
wounds. of various kinds, were report
ed, none of which were of a serious ma
ture.
After the shooting was over, the ne.
groes made no further attempt to take
tho polls. They recovered from theil
fright. after awhile. sufficiently to assem-
Ia in, &c Ill