Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1876-07-15

i " go go Ao"i = AVuouy appear
ing but Gardner, with whom I had
some talk as to tile necessity of some.
thing being speedily done, and that I
thought the best solution of the mat
ter was that these people should de-
liver up their arms MS means of set
Ting the present difficulty, and a
guarantee against future rccur
renee. He said he knew nothing
about il, and waiting. us I thought,
long enough, got i'll my buggy and
wont over to Augusta OH business,
having no relation. to the Hamburg
matter; and while there was question
cd by number of people as to the
status of affairs i'll Hamburg, to whom
[ replied that I thought collision
between the whites and blacks i'm
mincnt and likely to take place.
After dispntching my business, l was
returning through Hamburg on my
way to spend the night at Mr.. Robert
Buffers, two miles in the country,
and leave for home early next morn
ing. When about half way across
the bridge I met delegation Of four
negroes, Pixlcy, Edwards, Spencer
and Sims, who stopped me and said
that ifI would 60 to Spcuccr's Office,
the officers of tho militia would meet
me and endeavor to stop the impend
ing trouble. | agreed, went directly
to the appointed place and waited
there some twenty or thirty minutes,
but one Of the officers, Cartledge ap
pcaring. He said he would do all in
his power to induce the militia to dis
bnnd and give up their guns, and 1
believe he Gid. Whilst I was in
Augusta body Of men rode into the
town cf Hamburg mounted. went
around the street to look for Butler,
and had not been gone long before 1
received n message from Prince
Rivers asking me to meet him. I
declined to do SO, saying that we had
made about four appointments which
were observed by myself only, and
that he must come to me. I, however,
did 60 to meet BIN and lie asked me
if the men would give up their arms
would I guarantee the safety of the
town. 1 said had nothing what
ever to do with the town, and could
give no guarantee Of any sort, ms had
NJ command or authority; but would
say as citizen, that, in my Judgment,
if they would do that there would not
be the slightest trouble; and lie said
silt that ha though. that right, and would
go htad advise them to tiiaI course.
In about ten minutes hereport was
circulated that the negroes refused to
give up their arms, and intended to
fight, md few minutes thereafter
the fight dill ensue The negroes
were fortified in their drill room III a
brick building, known as Sibley's
corner, and they raised veil and
fired from the windows which was re-
sponded to by the whites, and & gsi1er,
al firing took place. Not very greet
while after the firing began, Mr.. Nc
Kie Dlerriwether, a most cstimable
young man, was shot through the
head afd killed.
Not n negro had then been touched,
and Merriwethcr's death naturally
infuriated the already excited crowd,
and they were under the leadership
of no one. During the firing, SOME
parties. unknown to me, brought over
piece ofartillcry, and fred four or
five times Mt the building, and return
ed. The firing Of the negroes from
their position then ceased. Ilef the
crowd arrcsting the negroes. How
many were killed / do not know.
This collision was the elimination
of the system of insulting and out.
raging of white people, which the
negroes had adopted there for several
years. Many things were done on this
terrible night which of course cannot
be justified, but the negroes sowed the
wind and reaped the whirlwind.
did not attempt to accomplish by