Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1872-01-05
Negro Outrages in York.

county last week by a gang under the leader.
ship Of a negro named Joe Carter This no.,
gro is originally from Kershaw county, aud
is represented as being desperate character,
having but recently been pardoned by Gov.
ernor Scott from the penitentiary before aerv.
ing out sentence .hst was pronounced against
him at Camden for stealing cotton.
II seems that the military authorities here
desired tho arrest of q negro named Henry
Glenn, and the fellow Joe Carter represented
that he could make the arrest, us he was fa
miliar with Glenp's lurking places; but he
required written authority, giving as reason
! that by acting under show Of orders, Glenn
could not be wresied from him by others be.
fore he should be safely delivered in York.
vile. The wrtton authority, or "commis.
sion," was granted him, and he sallied forth,
proc'aiming himself, when he arrived in the
Clay Hill neighborhood, as "Major Joseph
Carter" and subsequently, during the ex.
ploits of his brief career, announced tha6 he
was member of Troop L of the 7th Cavalry,
now, stationed here, and hailed from the State
of New York
Joe had no difficulty in obtaining adhc-
rents, and seven negroes at once enlisted them.
selves under his banner. Their names arc
Jefferson Jackson, Greene Hampton, Nick
Jackson, Jack Wallace, Rufus Rawlingson,
Silas Gillespie, and james McCaw. They
had all procured arms of various kinds-dou-
bic barrel shot guns, old fashioned muskets,
and pistols and on Tuesday night, the 18th
instant, proceeded to the residence of Heury
Williums, at Wrights Ferry, on Catawba
River, l33 miles north east of this placo. .
MIR. Willioms was absent from home, of
Which fact the negroes were aware Ap.
preaching the house, they demanded admit
| tnnce, when Mrs. Williams called Cayburn
Smith, young man who had charge of the
ferry, to ascertain what was wanting at 80 un.
usual all hour-it then being neur 2 O clock
in tl:e morning. Young Smith arose and
opened the door, when six Of the above named
eight entered, Joe Carter ut their head, who
gave his followers order to cook their guns,
demanding of Mr. Smith at the same time
his name. On replying that it was CI"yburn
Sn'ith, the "Mnjor" contradicted it, asserting
was the man they were after. Their conduct
themselves in turbulent manner for some
time, they proceeded to search the house for
arms. They found two pistols and shot
gun, which they 'captured,' and compelled
young Smith to load. They thcu searched
his trunk, taking from it solno tobacco, and
demanded his pocket book, which under
threats of death, lie handed to them The
"Slajor" then forced young Smith to "hug"
him, and he manifested his own love for
Smith by kissing him. Taking possession Of
Smiths hat and suit of his clothes, they
left Mr.. Williams house making prisoner
Of Smith, whom they compelled to follow with
them under the strictest duress. l3
| They next proceeded in the direction of
Clay Hill, stopping at tho house of a negro
man named Alcxdander Wallace, near the
residence of Mr. Leroy Barrou's, at which
place they arrived at about daylight on
Wednesday morning. Mr.. Barron having
occasion to visit Alexander Wallace, he was
met by this negro, who informed him of the
presence Of the desperodoes at his house, hav.
ing as captive the young man Smith. Mr..
Barron then started for the house aud express
sed desire to see Smith, when he was met
by the "Major," who gave orders to "thrn
outthe guard" Mr.. Barron was at once sur.
rounded by the negroes, presented gums in
| hand, and his nearer approach to tho house
efectually interdicted Realizing the "situa.
tion," he exhibited the better part Of valor
| by prudently retiring eH,h 'a..
The negroes then proceeded along tho pub.
lie road, by way Of Sahm's mill, to David
Watson's, where they left the road and went
| across the ffeldsto Ebenezcr, and from there
went to Rock Hill, leaving Smith concealed
and under guard short distance from tho
! village. Their object in Waiting Rock Hill
is supposed TO have been to procure a supply
of whiskey. nr''' i7.I b'iit@ ~ q"
| They next visited the house Of a negro
| named Harris, who lives on Avery's "BlaGk.
jack" plantation, about five miles north east
Of Rock Hill, which place thoy reached late
in tho evening of "Wednesday, and remained
there all night. Horo the "Major" was quite
communicative regarding bis future plen of
operations, and among other items in his pro.
gremme, he asserted "ttat it was his intention
to whitewash all the houses ia South Carolina
with the brains Of the white childron." at,t
Leaving Harris house early Thursday morn
ing, they next called upon another negro
named David Barron, where breakfast for the
entire party was ordered, in payment for
which an "order" was given on the Omitted
States Government" 1d~a H .aaia"
| Their next movement was up Catawba riv-
er to the McCaw river plantation, they hav.
ing, in the rneautime, pressed into thoir ranks
several negro lmen-te-some of thep entering
ppwillipgly and compulsorily-rtill their nurl.
her now reached fifteen and the Mcgaw
place they attempted to makeoa prisoner Of q
youth, the son Of Mr. Jpab Price. Price,re
monstrated,a and the youth being partially
deaf ho was left, not, however,, until several
be!ligerant demonstrations were made. tho