The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-10-26
The Butchery at Cainhoy.

hoy, in Charleston county, almost makes the
blood curdle to read it. Intbe beginning of
the canvass in Charleston county, there
was an arran9 ement entered into between the
Democratic and Radical parties to have joint
discussions at all their public meetings, at
which neither party was to go armed. This
condition was proposed by the Republicans
and accepted by the Democrats. AT The first
meeting held under this arrangement, which
was on Johns Island, we believe, the Radical
negroes, in violation of the agreement, ap
pearcd armed in considerable number, but
the Democrats said nothing about it. Cainhoy,
where this terrible outrage on life was cons
mittcd, was the second place of meeting, and
the Democrats in good faith repaired to the
place unarmed. About enc hundred and
fifty Democrats left Charleston city on n
steamboat, which they had chartered for the
OCCASION, and by request Of Bowen, the Rad
ical leader and County Cha irman of Charles
ton courty, he, and other Republicans were
extended the courtesy Of accompanying the
Democrats on the steamer. The Democrats
had no arms with them except few pistols
which the owners carried in their pockets,
and with which they amused themselves rs
they passed up the river, shooting at such
objects as would afford them sport. BY the
time the boat reached its destination, the pis-
tolls were oil empty, and they had no ammu-
milton with which to reload. This fact was
known TO the Radicals on the boat. and it
seems as soon as the party landed, Bowen
jumped in buggy and drove rapidly to the
place Of meeting, which was some three miles
distant, and reached the place at least half
hour before the Democrats arrived, and had
organized the meeting and was ready to pro-
ceed with the speaking. According to the
programme, Mr.. w. st. Julien Jervey, the
Democratic candidate for Solicitor Of the
Charleston Circuit spoke first, and it is said
made fine effort, moderate md conservative
in tone. lie was to be followed by Mckinley,
a colored Radical, who it is said got up in an
excited manner and had spoke about two
minutes in very violent and abusive Ian
guagc, when the difficulty commenced. It
seems that the negroes intended to create q
riot, when Col. Delaney, colored Democrat
attempted to speak. The negroes had not
kept fa ith with the whites. They had brought
their muskcts to the meeting, and had secret
cd them in the swamp, and in an old out
building near the church, leaving guard
ovcr them. They evidently, it seems mistook
Mckinley for Delaney, and as soon as he
started to speak they began to carry out their
programme. The account in the News and
Courier says, that company of armed blacks
Immediately marched out of the swamp, with
their arms aud opened fire upon the whites,
who were unnrmed, and portion of whom at
| once made q rush for the old frame building,
in which about forty muskets were piled
Then the rest Of the negroes rctrcated to the
| swan p where their guns were concealed, and
seizing them opened a brisk and inGiscrimin~
nte fire upon the whites. Bowen attempted
or affected to attempt to interfere and preserve
the peace, but was told by his black heuch-
man, Cyrus Gaillard, TO stand ont of the way,
that they intended to get the damned white
men now. Both Bowen and Mckinley dis
appeared soon after, Bowen telling the white
men that they would have to look out for
themselves, and that he was powerless to
the grav eyard under heavy fire, such of
them had pistols, returning the fire. A
few old men took refuge in the church, when
the negroes charged out of the swamp, sur
rounded the house and attempted to beat
down the doors. Failing to do this, they
broke open the windows and pointed their
muskets at the occupants who started to re.
treat. All Of them escaped, except Mr.. Sim
mons, an old crippled aud silver-haired man,
who upon emerging from the door, was knock
ed down by the black savages and literally
beat to death, not satisfied with this, they
fired load of buckshot into his PROSTATE
body, which was horribly mutiated The
whites retreated to the village, making sew
erai stands Gil the way, keeping back the
infuriated savages. AT the village, the white
women and children were all collected at one
place and guard left over them, when the
steamer returned TO Char eston for reinforce.
ments One hundred men, under command
of Major Bust return ed TO the scene of action
but TO find that the negroes had oil retired.
There were six whites killed, whose bodies
were hacked up by hachets and horribly mu-
tilated. The bodies were also robbed of tho
clothing and boots, and the pockets rifled by
the black fiends. The following is list of
the killed Mr.. VIM. Simmons, Mr.. Alexan-
der Mcneil, Mr.. VIM. Daily, Mr.. Thos Whita-
ker. NJ. j. King and Mr.. Walter Gradick.
There were sixteen others wounded, amongst
them several colored Democrats