Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-16
~ A.


We have been careful to get a full and accurate
account of the disturbances at the Athens pre-
cinct on election day. The details are given by
an eye witness, and will be found TO corroborate
the hasty account we gave in Tuesdays paper,
and 10 exhibit one OF the most cold-bloOded, un-
justifable and cruel attempts at massacre, and
denial OF the right TO free ballot that has ever
occurred in this state-rivaled only by the
bloody massacre IN this city in 1871.
The polls at the Athens precinct were opened
about half-past six in the morning, Mr.. Oldham
being detained a short time from unexpected
causes. A proposition was made about the time
of opening, by an outsider TO erect partition
at the polls, giving the blacks one side and the
whites the other. This was declined by the Of
ticers as being unauthorized by law. The cleo
ton then progressed quietly until about nine
o'clock-the blacks having one side of the polls
and the whites the other, and the Votes being
taken alternately. The blacks were conducting
themselves in peaceable and quiet manner,
several times giving way and clearing the polls
at the request of the officers Of the election.
There was no quarreling, no disurdefly conduct,
but everything passed Oft with good prospects
of quiet day,
About nine o'clock there were some decara,
tions, on the part of outside democrats, that the
blacks must give way and let them have the
polls. They were informed by one of the officers
that everybody should have chance to vote,
and nobody would be obstructed or hindered. A
utuiOCldl WIS drought up WHO Odu btcll SlCh ,
and some one on the democratic side ordered the
colored voters TO give way and let him vote.
They moved back at the request, and were Civ
ing room for the sick voter, when several rocks
were hurled into the crowd of blacks followed
by pistol shot, from the white side. yoiley
OF shots were then poured into the blacks as
they ran from the polls and three were wound
ed, according to the best accounts. Henry
Hunter, (coloredl was shot through tue thlghi
Simpson tceloredl was shot thr0dgh the finger,
aud Jos, Bryant tcolored) was reported as nav
ing been shot in the arm. The blacks did not
attempt any resistance, nor was any white
democrat injured.
AS the blacks aed to esfate the tiiurderous
shots of these friends of Horace Greeley, the
firing at the polls was echoed by similar shots
in the vicinity Of the cross street in Athens, the
determination being evidently 10 make complete
work of the bloody assault. The voting on the
republican side ceased for a time, thobgh shbse-
quentiy some CAME back and cast their ballots.
There was no attempt at justification of the
brutal assault, those respectable democrats in
the vicinity admitting that there was no excuse
or reason for its preparation. The Irishman
who came from the scene of action, declaring
that the "nagers were croNdihg the polls, and
we fired into them to clear them, being of itself
d case of guilt confessed.
This outrage upon peaceable citizens simply
had its origin in that unconcealed hatred of the
colored race for exercising their rights Of free
ballot, antagonistic OF democratic instincts, and
is but a spark of that fearful fame of passion,
lawlessness and violence that would engulf the
entire south in case Horace Greeley should be
elected president of the United States. No sac
ri6Ce is too great on the part Of the republicans
to avoid such calamity.