Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-26
SPECIMEN OF SOUTHERN CIV
aat8 AIRY. SOP 1szH
Barbarous Butchery OF Ten Negroes in South
Carolina.

because of Their Refusal to Give =
Up Their Arms-Seven of
Them Captured and
Shot in Cold 49sa s54i
Htt4 Blood.
Dispatch of July 9 to the Charleston News (Dem.)
There was q bloody fight in Hamburg,
S. O., last night, resulting in the killing
of three negroes and one white man
during the engagement, aad of seven
colored men after the fight was over.
Hamburg is in Aiken county, s. c., and
opposite Augusta, Ca, on the other side
of the Savannah River.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
The origin of the affray Was the inso-
lent behavior Of colored militia com
pany at Hamburg On the 4th of July.
On that day Messrs. Thomas Butler and
Henry Gettsen were riding through the
town on their way home and were de-
tanned by the militia company which
INSTRUCTED the highway. Three days
after the young men applied to Prince
Rivers to have the matter explained
and to determine whether the militia
had the right to block up the public
road. Rivers is or was general officer
of militia, and is likewise trial justice
The examination was had, and the cap.
tain of The military company, Doc
Adams, was so insolent as TO induce
Rivers to commit him for contempt OF
court and continue the case. The ne
groes swore in advance that they would
submit to no punishment inflicted by
the magistrate, and were loud and
threatening in the expression of their
views. At o'clock, the hour designa-
ted for the trial, after waiting some
time, Gen. Butler, counsel for the
plaintiffs, informed Rivers that this sort
of thing had gone on long enough. The
negroes must give up their arms at
once, and he would give the names of
twenty of the best citizens in Edgefeld
as security that they would be turned
over to Gov. Chamberlain. Gen. But
Ter soon after had conference with the
negro leaders. He told them that the
arms must be given up; there was no
necessity for them in that place, and
they had no business with them. AS
for the Adams case, Gen. Butler would
be satisfied if Adams would make an
apology.
This conference accomplished moth
ing. The negroes still hesitated abont
giving up the arms. In the meantime,
however, number of white citizens
had assembled in the town, and matters
began to look squally. Gen. Butler
rode over to Augusta, and told several
young men that he might need their
services in Hamburg during tile after
noon. He then returned to the town..
Just after crossing the bridge he was
met by Prince Rivers, who ssaio he
would make one more effort to induce
the negroes to give up their guns, and
if they would not yield they must take
the consequence. Accordingly he con-
ferred with the officers of the company,
and shortly returned to General Butler
with the announcement that the negroes
said they would not give up their guns;
they intended to fight. In the mean.
time the news of the trouble had spread
in Augusta and caused much excite.
ment. A large number of young men
hastily procured arms and ammunition
and fastened to the scene Many
others waited at the foot of the bridge
anxiously awaiting the result. By 7
O'Clock there was large crowd at that
point.
OPENING FIRE.
Upon learning the result of Rivers
efforts, General Butler determined to
accomplish by force that which could
not be done by peaceable demands. The
negroes had intrenched themselves in e
large brick structure, known as Sibley's
building, on a corner, and defied the
whites. The latter surrounded the
house, and half-past seven O'Clock
{ pened fire upon it. This was returned
by the negroes, and constant fusilade
was kept up for over two hours. ID
EIkJ u FATAL SHOTS.
About eight o'clock q young man
named T. Mackey Merriwether, who
was standing near the front of the Char
lotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad
bridge, was struck in the head by a
Minnie ball fred from one of the win
dows of the Sibley building, and almost
instantly killed. His body was placed
on litter and brought to the city by a
number of young men.
Soon after the death of Merriweather
several men were sent over to Augusta
for piece of artillery. This was pro
cured and carried to Hamburg as soon
as possible. The piece was stationed
on the river bank, short distance from
the house where the negroes had taken
up their position, and a fire opened
with anister. -Four rounds were fred.
Little damage was done the building,
but the fire had the effect of completely
silencing the negroes. During the
evening eight negroes were captured,
two of them members of the company.
About half-past or 9 o'clock, party
of FIVE negroes escaped from the build
ing and ran across an open field. They
we're fred upon by the white men, and
two of them returned the fire, but with
out effect. About 10 O'Clock negro
jumped over the fence in the rear of the
house, and attempted to escape, but he
was Instantly fred upon, and fell dead,
riddled by bullets. It was then ascer-
tanned that he was Jim Cook, the mar
shall of the town, who had been one of
the chief promoters of the difficulty.
His head was almost shot to pieces.
Soon after this another negro, named
John Thomas, first lieutenant of the
cOmnanv was eauoht whi1o ok%oYo ,,tino