The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-11-09
Riotous Republicans at Rock Hill.

BY advertisement and handbills, freely
circulated, the Republicans Of York were
notified that meeting would be held at
Rock Hill on Friday last, in the interest
of the Republican Presidential electors
and the candidate for Congress; the pre-
tended character of the meeting being
for the purpose of securing the presence
of United States Marshal. A. S. Wal
lace and the county nominees of York
we're present. The Democrats asked q
division Of time, which was granted
Though not entirely satisfactory to all
the Democrats, thesjpint ldscussion was
entered into.8 Tie meeting wass held
about half a mile from town, and Hon.
D. Witherspoon, candidate for the
Senate, with eight other Democrats, at
tended. About 500 colored men were
present. Nelson Davis, colored, candi.
date for the Legislature, spoke first, fol-
lowedbY A. S. Wallace, both being bit. !.
ter. Hon. I. D. Witherspoon came third.
AS soon as he began to speak, the negroes
on the outskirts of the crowd became
turbulent, and directly young whites
man and colored man became involved
in q difhculty-the result of the free use
of liquor. The negroes massed so deep
around the combatants that the whites
present could cot prevent the fight. At
ter clubbing and kicking the white man,
one negro shot him in the thigh. The shot
alarmed many of the negroes, who then
scattered. This gave Mr.. F. Barber an OPP
portunity to rescue the white man from
his assailants, and thus, in all probabili-
ty, saved his life. Mr.. Barber and
friends were followed by large part Of
the bowling mob, and it was with much
difficulty that a renewal of the attack
vas prevented. The young man, how
ever, was safely escorted to Rock Hill.
Subsequently the negroes became de-
mons, rushed to the fence, made clubs of
the rails, warned their women and chill
dren to leave, and declared that now was
the time to clean out the white people.
The Democrats present were calm and
forbearing, exhibiting no symptom Of
alarm, while Wallace became very un-
easy. The Democrats endeavored to
qalSG tltc luUO, Oue WAGuOuG dSdu. LII 'ViAO
meantime, accounts of the riotous pro-
ceedings and incendiary threats had
reached the village, which created the
impression that riot would soon be in
progress. Some fifteen or twenty citi-
zens, armed with pistols and guns,
marched toward the scene. Being seen
coming, messenger was despatched, ad-
vising them to remain away or return to
Rock Hill; but seeing the surging mob
in such terrible excitement, and expect
ing the fends to break all restraint, these
men rested at about 250 yards from the
meeting. Shortly after Wallace and 9th
er Republican speakers slipped away by
sback road and went to the village. The
meeting then dispersed, after an hours
terrible excitement. Hannibal White,
colored candidate for the Senate, if he
did not encourage the riot, did nothing
to quell it; while Colonel Witherspoon,
on the contrary, used all his power to
preserve the peace. The calmness and
forbearance of the whites alone pre-
vented bloody riot during the exciting
hour. No politics were in the affair in
its origin. The Intendant of Rock Hill
persuaded many white men from going
to the scene of the excitement. Register.