The New York herald., 1876-07-18
How Defenceless Negroes Were
Shot Down in Cold Blood.
TERRIBLE RESULT or "NIGGER lNPUDENCE.
Condemnation and Punishment for the
Dastardy Murders Demanded
WASHINGTON. July II. 1876.


torney General and Secretary of War have asked
ernor Chamberlain to come 10 Washington this week
for consultation. Prominent republicans in the House
are determined TO ask the democrats what, IL they
should come into power, they propose TO such
case, and there is among sensible democrats belief
that such treatment o; 1t as Mr.. Cox attempted
Saturday Is the reverse OF judicious. Meantime the
more fully the matter is investigated The more
clearly the leading and most horrible and dis
kusting details OF the story established
The following letter from Governor Chamberlain
to Senator Robertson gives recital Of the facts
developed by testimony 1t appears here that the
whites the aggressors in every stage of the event
AS the details become more certainty known is ap-
parent here that this affair is likely to have i'm.
portant influence upon OF republican antecedents
who were moved to vote the democratic ticket Such
people ask what would happen in such case if Gov
ernor Tiden were in the While House? The federal
power now does very little, but 1t at least exercises
restraining influence. What people ask, might not
happen II the democrats welded federal
tons 1t is probable that leading Southern
democrats may answer this question the House If
the Hamburg affair comes up tomorrow and there may
be a lively debate. The following Is Governor Cham
berlain's letter.
GOVERNOR cHAMBERLAiN's LETTER.
STATE OF SourH CAROLINA
EXECUTIVE CnAMBER, COLUMBIA, July IL, 1875
Hon. 7. J. ROBERTSON, United States Senator Wash
ington, d. c.
DEAR SiR-Your request for statement from Of
the recent boody affair at Hamburg In this
duly received l have waited before replying until
official reports and statements should be received.
There are now before the official reports OF the At
torney General and the Adjutant and Inspector Gen.
era, the testimony taken at the Coroncrs inquest
and the written statements OF several other persons
mn " n cd fhc PIC of
tho affair will present to briefly possible
the leading facts they appear from the evidences
which have referred.
STATEMENT OF TIE AFFAIR
On the 4th OF July inst. company OF the State
militia coorcd) marching along of the
Of Hamburg The street 100 feet widc and
the company marching in columns OF four. While
30 marching they were met by two young white
In buggy, who insisted keeping their the
street without regard the of the militia,
and drove against. the head of the column, which
thereupon halted. Some parleying took place. which
resulted in the company yielding, opening their ranks
and allowing the young men to proceed their
course On the following day the young referred
10 took out warrants of arrest against some of the
officers OF the militia company, who brought be-
lore trial justice for trial. The trial was aferward
adjourned till four r. NJ. OF Saturday. the Sth inst
Before nat hour arrived Saturday many white cit
Gems from the country around Hamburg began to
gather in the and armed themselves with guns
and pistols The militia company IN tho mean while
had assembled at their armory in the village and at
the hour for trial the defendants did not appear
Al this point has been stated IN dispatches and
newspapers that the militia officers having dehcd the
authority OF the trial justice the citizens called
to assist tho trial justice by acting his posse
Nothing of the kind in fact occurred The militia
tailed appear because OF their fear OF injury tho
hands OF the armed white men, and the trial justice
after formally calling them, took further steps
cause ther presence in his court account OF the
ritement and the evidences Of impending conflict
While affairs this condition, there being.
eordng all accounts, from 200 800 armed white
IRON the surrounding country in the town, de-
mand made by the whites for the surrender to
them OF the arms OF the militia. An hour two
passed IN negotiations concerning this demand, the
whites informing the militia company that if the arms
not given up in short timc-most OF the
nesses say in a hall hour-,he whites would open fire
the militia The militia refused to deliver up their
arms saying that the demand wholly unwarrapted
and illegal and that they had to fear Tor their
lives II they gave upt their arms
then opened by the whites upon the building 10
which the militia assembled and after Of
the attacking party was killed by shot IRON the
militia In the building. piece OF artillery there
upon brought the bridge from Augusta loaded
with canister and fred several the building
which were the militia This had the effect cause
tho militia to endeavor make their escape from the
rear OF the building The Town Marshal of Ham re-
= colorcd man, who living In the building was in
stanty shot by the attacking party while thus cndea
voring to escape from the building. Twenty twenty
five Of the militia were captured by the attacking
party aud kept under guard for several hours Finally
about two O'Clock the morning Of the 9th of July
Sunday after consultation among their captors and
with complete apparent dcbcraon five OF the captured
lnItiamcn called out by one aud shot to death
In the presence of large body OF their captors The
the captured party either turned loose
broke loose and They fred upon they
ram and three OF them severely wounded. OF them
probably mortally. Attorney General Stone thus
cinctly reports this part OF the AFFAIR.
DETAILS Tlg KILLING
Six men took A. T. Atiaway out of the ring. He and
his mother begged for his life, but in vain. He
told 70 tusn around and shot death by the
crowd
David Philips was next taken out and was similarly
killed.
Pompey Curry was next called out He recognized
among tho bystandcrs Henry Gctzcn and Dr. Pierce.
Butler called on them keep The other from KILL
ing him. He ran and shot as he ran, bullet
striking him on tho leg below the knee
Aflcrward Albert Myniart, Moses Parks aud Hamp
ION Stevens were killed Stevens dld not belong to the
company
rHg ATTORNEY GENERALS Eyroxr
The Attorney General, who has personally visited
Hamburg thus concludes his ofliclal report to mel
Making duo allowance for errors in MINOR details the
facts show the demand the militia To give up their
arms was made without lawful authority TO
such demand or receive the arms had they
been surrendered; that the attack ON toe milta 10
compel compliance with T. u demand was wthout
ustuca:ion or excuse and that after there had been
some twenty twenty-five prisoners c-viurcd ana
ronplecy in the power OF their captorS sd without
means OF making further resistance i've OF them were
deliberately shot to death and three more severely
wounded.
Such was the affair at Hamburg IL you can hnd
words to characterize It's a,rocy and barosrsm tho
irivlaty OF the causes, the murdcrous and inhumsn