The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-11-02
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THE CAINHOY AFFAIR.
A True Account by an Unprejudiced
Eye Witness.


South Carolina have given to the coun-
try their version of the massacre by the
negroes at Cainhoy, s. c., and very nat
urally the Democratic portion of the
community believe it. A Republican
United States marshal has given his ver-
sion oft, and very naturally the Repub-
lcans believe him. Now let us ask the
attention of all fair-minded men to an
bipartisan report-from a disinterested
spectator.
The following letter was written by
son Of Her Britannia maiesty's consul in
Charleston and addressed to his brother
in New York.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Oct. IS, 1875.
l have just returned from Cainhoy,
slightly wounded and have just Witness
ed the most barbariC brutalities inflicted
by black demons on defenceless old men
and children and on the wounded who
fell into their hands.
Both Political parties agreed to hold a
meeting at Brick Church." near Cain
hoy, and it was further agreed, on the
suggestion of the Republicans, that neith-
er party should carry arms. How the
negroes kept their faith when they got
the Democrats into trap you will see.
The Democrats chartered the steamer
PoOosin to take them to Cainhoy, and
courteously took Bowen and the Repub-
licans with them, the beautiful day at
tracing large numbers of boys, who did
not even own weapon. At Cainhoy we
met the whites from Bell Hope Swamp,
with no other weapon than here and
there cattle whip, such as they usually
ride with. The music started the ne.
groes dancing the celebrated "Too-la-loo,
Too-la-loo," and as we moved off from
CainhOy everything seemed so peaceful
that the men from that village left all
their arms at home.
Mr.. William Venning rode ahead of
the procession. (Father knows well his
father, William L, Venning. On his ar
rival at the church he found large body
of negroes, we'll armed with muskets and
rifles. G. G. Bowen had also arrived in
advance. Mr.. Venning heard the ne
groes say that they would not suffer De-
lany, colored Democrat, to address the
meeting. G. G. Bowen then said, Hide
your guns" and they did 80. The pro.
Cession arrived and the speaking began,
and now state what saw, unless l ex-
pressly state that it is on information. A
colored man named McKenlay was put
on the stand by the RepubliCans-he |
was mistaken by the negroes for Delany, |
and the row began. ....
1t was discovered that the negroes had
concealed weapons in the chimney of an |
old house near at hand and news of it
was brought to me on my arrival. | am
sure that it was part of plot to make
the whites seze these arms ae an excuse !
for bringing on row; but at the same
time l advised that the guns be watched |
but not molested. Suddenly the whites
by the old house saw emerging from
pines and swamp at the back of the |
Stand" detatChments of negroes armed |
with muskets which they pointed toward
us. At the same moment confusion |
was raised on account of the supposed
Delany taking the stand, this commotion
probably being the signal for the detach-
ment to appear.
l give the respectable Republicans
credit for believing truly that the whites
began the row by seizing the guns, for
they were mostly behind or on the
stand facing the church and had their
backs turned to this detachment and did
not see why the whites seized the guns.
Mr.. Duane tells me that he directed |
the guns in the chimney to be seized,
but not until the negroes were advanc-
ing toward him with guns at full cock.
Then the whites made a rush for the
chimney filed with guns, loaded, as |
am told by all, with powder only. Mr..
Venning, Mr., Boyce and Mr.. Lamble
have sworn to me las notary that they
saw the negroes pouring volleys into
these unarmed boys, though | cannot
from personal observation say who fired
fret
Bored by the political speaking, was
standing alone by the church. The ne
groes were between the stand and the
old house, and the whites were between
us running for the ''vestry." A few cour-
ageously returned the fire with small
pocket pistols, but, of course, against vol
leys of buckshot, slugs and broken pieces
of lead fired from muskets. The negroes
retiring behind the pines the pistols we're
useless, Imoved over from the church
in front of the vestry through hail
storm of bullets 80 that my example
should encourage the whites to stand
and defend themselves. had, may say,
no weapon; for though was lent an old
pistol it would not shoot, and | did not
fire a shot. John Ficken, though armed
with only slight cane, did the same.
When got between the "vestry" and
the stand" saw Abram Smith, a negro
trial justice, on the stand firing at some
boys and men who were running away
and defenceless. did try to stop him,
but the old iron had could not smack
cap. | moved on to the vestry, having
first wal med Smith that would kill him
if he fred again (though ] had nothing
to do it with), and he stopped while
was looking at him. ~.
At the vestry l met G. G. Bowen. The
negroes, having fred their volleys, had
run back among the pines to reload, and
there was a cessation or lull for few
minutes. Bowen called out for a white
to 20 with him to make peace. Iv0lun-
teered, and he said, Stop the Democrats
firing" There was about corporals
guard of them only left, said:
Democrats, reserve your fire while 1
90 with Mr.. Bowen" and they strictly
obeyed me. l walked arm.in'arm with
Bowen into the ranks of the negroes. l
here wish to render full justice TO Mr..
Bowen, and, therefore, though have no
doubt of his original responsibility THAT
is merely my opinion), yet the fact is, he
did endeavor to stop the negroes renew
ing the attack. The effort was for some
minutes crowned with complete success,
but suddenly Cyrus Galliard, an incen-
diary negro, pushing Mr.. Bowen and my
self aside, called out to the negroes,
"Masler Bowens, we can't listen to you
now. Come on, boys; we've got 'em,
now let's kill the sons OF D." and,
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