The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1874-08-27
RIOTING IN GEORGETOWN.
Open War Between the Bowley and
Jones Factions.

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On Saturday last we published brief
account of the beginning Of a riot between
the opposing negro factions in George
town. Since then additional particulars
have been received. The town at last ac-
counts was entirely at the mercy and in
the possession of mob of mad negro sava'
ges who were shooting at each other with
the greatest possible gusto. A few words
of explanation will enable the people of
this civilized country to understand the
situation and to..appreciate the beauties of
Radical reformation in this State. The
Republican party in Georgetown County
is composed of ignorant negroes. One
faction is led by W. H. Jones, noisy
negro, who holds the position of State
Senator until 1876, but who seems to be
desirous of perpetuating his political pow
er with prospective eye to the Office of
acknowledgement of the State, which Office
is to be filled in the coming election
The opposing faction is led by James A.
Bowley, a member of the last House of
Representatives and chairman of the ways
and means committee, who, in two years,
made handsome fortune of $50, 900 or
100000 on salary of six hundred dol
lars year. Bowley uses his money in
the campaign, and Jones, who seems not
to be quite so flush, but who is colonel of
the militia, uses his guns, so that the
sinews of war seem to be about equally
divided. What position the two leaders
occupy in relation to the gubernatorial
canvass does not seem to be very clearly
understood. Both have been believing
very loudly for reform, but which one
wants to reform with Moses, or which one
TO reform with Chamberlain, has not yet
been ascertained. Ever since the CAM
paign has been opened these two lights
of South Carolina Republicanism have
been making things hot for the decent
people of the county. On Wednesday last,
as has been stated in this paper, con-
vention was called to meet at George
town to nominate delegates to the State
Republican Nominating Convention. The
Georgetown Times explains that "two
calls were made for this convention-one
by the Bwoleyites at II o'clock, the other
by the Jouesites ut 2 o'clock. The Court
house was the place. The object of one
party was to forestall the other. The Two
O'clocks were determined to break up the
Twelve O'clocks, and the Twelve Oclocks,
if defeated, to completely annihilate the
Two O'clocks. So, at the roll of the drum
and loot of the fife both parties assembled
at the ancient seat of justice, and enter
ed into a meeting, or a miserable apollo
gy for one, drunken broil or brutal row,
whereby the same seat of justice was pro-
famed, the public peace invaded, and de.
cency violated. The riot that ensued
has already been described in these COL
umns. The bullets of the Bowley REFORM
ers proved to be too strong for the Jones
reformers, and the latter incontinently
fed, after several of them had been wound
cd. In the melee an unfortunate negro
who was bystander was mortally wound
ed by pistol shot. The BOwley REFORM
ers being now masters of tho situation,
re-organized the meeting and nominated
the following delegates: George Pawley,
Peter Woodbury., Thos. Jandon, William
Brunson, Paulus Jandon, Ben Myers,
Philander Brownfeld, Frank Penny, An
thony Jandon and Planet Reynolds.
In the meantime, says the Times, pump
water had relieved the wounded scalps,
old demUohns had fortified slackened cour-
age, and the Jonesites went "to the res
cue." But too late. The flush Of victory
had rendered the Bowleyites doubly
strong, and the Jonesites were compelled
to beat retreat, hurting back in defiance
the words, "Beware and wait"
This was the situation at the close Of
Wednesday, and the following letters will
give the reader an idea Of the pandemo-
mum which now began. 1t may be stated
here that the population of the Town Of
Georgetown consists Of 74S whites and
2,772 colored. The population Of the coun-
ty is 2,773 whites and 1888 colored
persons.
GEORGETOWN, August IA.
Last night was enacted one Of the most
disgraceful scenes that has ever occurred
in this State since the war. The rival
factions of the Radical party in this coun'
ty have long been at enmity, w. Fl. Jones,
our senator, being the acknowledged lead
or of one party, and James A. bowley,
one of our representatives, the leader OF
the other. The Bowley crowd last night
| o,,Jod Jonos's bouse and fred at it