Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-21
Official Report Of the
Riot at Cainhoy, S. G.
THE DEMOCRATS ENTIRELY TO
BLAME FOR THE TROUBLE.
The WHITES Fire the First Shot ard
Kill n Negro.

WAsHSGToN October 20. The following off
cial report OF X. M. Wallace, L. ). Marshal, for
South Carolina, addressed to Attorney General
Taft was amoug the other papers on the cond
ton OF the South received at the Cabinet meet
ing to-day
CHARLESTON Oc', h6rt-.
Hon. A. Taft, Attorney General, Wtshn On,
DC.
Sir-I have DELAYED giving you a report of the
recent unfortunate political riot at place near
CtnhOy IN this county, until could get con-
nerted statement Of facts. The meeting at the
brick church near Cainhoy was called by the re-
pubcans and was largely attended by the men
who were present at the first meeting ut which the
democrats mad enforced their demand 10 speak
but ha not attended to any of the suspicious of
the democrats carrying arms. The democrats car
RED such guns as each man had at his home, con
ssting OF ola muskets, shot guns and fowling pie
ces. No militia men went there with State arms
and ammunition as the democrats claim, and the
best evidence of that fact is that all the dead men
were shot with buckshot and not with rifle balls
When the colored republicans arrived at the
place of meeting their leading men told them
that they were violating an agreement by coming
| armed, and that they must deposit their arms at
some place away from the grounds. The colored
men complied with the request aud some saw Is
were placed in an old dilapldated build NJ, some
% yards from the stand, and others were placed
across ravne in the woods. About 80 demo
CT ats accompanied their speakers from the city
vi 5tthiuDOat anu soon appeared at the meet.
ing. The first speaker was democratic candi-
date for prosecuting attorney of the circuit. lie
was heard through very pat emily.
lie was followed by W. j. Mckinley, colored,
who was a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention
from this State soon after Mckinley commenced
speaking, a comm tlon was observed in the crowd
on the side next to the dilapitated building and
Mckinley jumped oil the stand aud said "Those
white men in that house have guns and are going
to shoot The white men who had secretly slipped
INTO the house and seized the guns, then red and
the hrst shot killed an old COlOred man about 20
years old, who was standing leaning on a stick
and this is the only colored man who is known 20
have been kill-d The colored men attacked the
party at the old house and then commenced q
general hre on the democrats who were genera lly
armed with pistols, but had to retreat rapidly to-
ward the boat under heavy fire. The colored
men became furious when they saw that some oil
their arms had been seized and one of their old
men killed.
Sheriff Brown, whom they recognized as their
| personal and political friend rushed among them
and tried to stop the firing, but they did not cease
until all the white men were driven away frou
the church. Six white men were killed or hav,
died and one colored man. Several white mel
are wounded, but none seriously 1t is not We
known how many negroes Gie hurt. As soon a
the fight ceased the steamboat returned to tn
city for arms and endorsements, aud over l0
! men went back on her on two hours notice, witt
arms for themselves and for their 100 men slesd,
there.
Next morning about 200 more armed men wen
upon the same boat which had returned These
armed men were the military companies or a por
ton of the companies which Governor Chamber
| lain ordered to dsband two weeks ago.
On the night of the riot telegraphed to Sum
merville, to the officer in command of the troop
for company to 90 to Cainhoy. He replied tn,
next morning that he had only one artillery com
pany which had no small arms. then telegraph
ed to Governor Chamberlain to know where
could get troops, and he referred it to Genera
Kruger at Atlanta who has ordered compan,
from Columbia which will arrive tomorrow morn
ing and will proceed with them at once to Cain
hoy. | will require the armed men there to dis
perse, and will see that no further rioting take
place.
Respectfully,
r. NJ WALLACE L. s. Marshal.