Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-11-16
FIRST EDITION.
Condition OF south Carolina.

to us an0ther letter, winch r6laIeb 10 bOIue
scenes at the election, and as the writer has
sent letter over her own name to the New
York Tribune, (Which was published on the
18th, there can be no harm in saying that
she is Martha scho6eld,a "a lady Of high intel
ligence, and perfectly trustworthy character,
well known to hundreds of the best people
Of Philadelphia, and elsewhere. The ex-
tracts are as follows j
AIKEN, S. O., Nov. 10, 1876.
The election is over, but the cheating ex-
ceeded anything imaginable. Many colored
men whom know were clerks or mana
gers at some of the polls. One of them
was about six miles from here, in the coun-
try, and says the whites were well armed,
and said the polls should not be closed at
six o'clock, and forced the clerks to keep
the box open until nine o'clock. One Of them
attempted to shoot him, when he escaped
to the woods. He was on the ticket for the
Legislature. Another, who WAS manager
at Miles Mills, says they brought numbers
of boys not more than 13 years old, and
swore they were 81 and should vote. There
were no soldiers at either of these places.
Many came from Augusta, and plenty voted
here and then rode rapidly to some other
place.
Will ia young gentleman, white, teach
in Miss Schofeld's school,, was made Dep
uty U. S. Marshal, and sent to Silverton.
Seven or eight colored men from here went
with him. That night they stayed in house
where all the family had been driven out by
fear. Armed men, mounted, rode about it
the whole night, yelling, screaming, and
firing, but as the troops were encamped q
hundred yards away did not make an at
tack, though no doubt they would have
burned the building but for the pouring rain
which continued the whole night The next
day there were 173 white voters and only
one of them cast a Republican ballot. The
colored men would not have dared to go to
the polls if the soldiers had not been there.
The o. s. Marshal would not allow any one
to vote while armed, which they did not
like, but had to submit to or be arrested
As the Lieutenant said afterward, the
men down there were
DRESSED IN PISTOLS AND RIFLES"
The votes were counted, and about ten
o'clock they started home with ballot boxes
well guarded. AS they could only get con-
veyance for part Of the party they took
Turns in walking, and reached here about
daylight next morning. At all the polls
where it was known there would be a Dem
ocratic majority there was no disturbance.
Silverton is where the so-called riot took
place in September, but the horrors OF that
massacre were worse than the Modocs or
Sioux ever perpetrated.
know young woman who is the widow
of one of the men murdered at Ellenton.
Her evidence is needed at Court, and she
dare not return home, for they would
kill her to prevent her appearance
at the trial She is not yet
twenty, and was only married five
months, to young man who was about
to be licensed as preacher. They made
special efforts TO kin the most intelligent,
and told him they would kill him if he
voted the Republican ticket. He said he
would live and die a Republican, and
added, ''Massa George, you wouldn't shoot
me We we're boys and brought up togeth'
er." With fearful oath he was told
they would.
After the skirnish at Rouse's Bridge,
which he was not in, he went to the
swamps, but said, "My wife, 1 feel death
near l am not tafraid to die, but must
pray God to make me willing to part from
you" Next day they went to her and told
to use her own words, sWhen
they read has name, I was so hurted
couldn't remember the rest so we'll" Hum
| dreds were there, mounted and armed
they rode away, and in few hours came
back and told her they had done it, and il
she did not believe it to go and look in the
cotton field by an old log and persimmon
| tree.
She FOUND HIS BODY,
with neck broken and other bruises made
| with rifle butts after the shooting. He was
| unarmed. The oman whose husband die
| it told her il she dared to come to Aiken
and tell, she would have her killed, adding,
"you are spotted, now"
| No pen can give an idea of these horrors
The poor woman is fortunately in safe
place until Court shall meet il
Columbia, and if judge and jury do not
convict such fiends, we need not call our
selves a civilized people.
have known U. S. District Attorney D.
T. Oorbin many years. He says many who
come to court to give evidence dare not &c
back. One tried it, and found five meI
hunting him. Major Corbin went to Col.
umbia last evening to see the Governor, al
the troops here have been ordered away
and he thinks we are not yet safe without
them.
Did thee see Rev (?) Mr.. Egerton's let
ter in the N. Y. Tribune of the 1st or I'd
inst? 1t was sent to me to know il it was
true. had often thought perhaps I ought
to write the truth, and chat decided me, sc
if the Tribune means Justice it will publish
my letter in reply, which sent on the 9th,
Such statements over my signature may dc
me harm, but am willing to suffer for the
truths sake. My only dread is that
THEY MAY BURN MY HOME
or kill my friend who is boarding with me
and teaching in the school. He is cursed
every time he goes on the street, and is of.
ten threatened. Our greatest safety is in
their fear to do it, lest it will keep away
Northern boarders this same fear pre-
vents many from wanting to know the
truth.
Last week, DR.. Rockwell went to Angus
ia he noticed he was watched closely
and in the evening slipped out of {
side door in order to escape OBJ
sevation, but as soon as he reached dark
place in the street five or six men begar
beating him over the head with canes. 4
thick hat saved him; he screamed " Muir
der !" and one man, brother of the Mr.
Chaffee who lives here, was arrested, but le
off on his "parole of honor" and of coursl
nothing will be done about it in Georgia
The father of two of our pupils was freC
at while picking cotton between here and
Rose Cottage [about three miles from
Aiken.-ED.1 The ball passed within few
inches Of the girls heads. Several house