Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-07-21
The Hamburg Massacre.
A BURST OF THE OLD REBEL ELEMEN'
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

A BURST OF THE OLD REBEL ELEMENT
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
1t has now been ascertained that what
was announced as negro riot at Ham
burg, S. c., on the Sth of July, was sim
ply a scrofulous outburst Of rebels who
still hope to make capital for their " lost
cause"
The attorney General of that state
has been to the scene of the massacre
and reports that military company of
colored persons was formed there some
years since, and that on the 4th day of
July they were out on parade same as
similar white volunteer companies in
other states.
This company, previous to May, 1876,
had for some time but few names on its
rolls, drilled rarely, and scarcely kept
alive its organization. But in May of
this year the number of members in
creased to about eighty, and one Doc
Adams was chosen captain. On the 4th
of July the company drilled on one of
the public streets in the town of Ham
burg. The street on which they drilled
was between one hundred and one hun
bred and fifty feet wide, but it was little
used, and was overgrown with grass, ex-
cept in that portion which was used as a
carriage road. While the company was
thus drilling Thomas Butler and Henry
Getzen, his brother-in-law, came along
in carriage and demanded that the
company should make way for them.
Adams halted the company, remonstrat-
ed with Butler and Getzen for thus seek
ing to interfere with the company, and
called their attention to the fact that
there was plenty of room on each side of
the company to pass. Finding them un.
willing to turn out of their course, Ad-
ans finally opened ranks and allowed
them to drive through. This incident
seems to have angered Butler and Getzen,
who made complaint before Trial J us
tice Rivers against the militia company
for obstructing the highway.
On the day following warrant was
issued against Adams and the case con-
tinued till the 9Th of July. On that day
some 200 rebel whites, some from Geor-
gia, also assembled there under com.
mand of Gen. NJ. C. Butler and demand
ed the surrender of the arms belonging
to the colored company within half an
hour. Rivers, the justice, went to the
armory of the company and told them
the condition of affairs and advised sur
render of the arms. To this Adams re
piled that Gen. Butler had no right t.
the guns that the company held them
and he proposed to hold them unles:
Gen. Butler showed some authority tC
take them.
After some parley by the whites tC
gain position on the building, they be
gan to fire on the armory building. The
negro company had but little ammunition
but returned the fire and one of the at
lacking party was shot dead. TIL,
whites then brought up a piece of artil
lery which they had obtained at Angus
ia, Ga. The negroes then fled and til,
slaughter by the white chivalry began.
The first man killed by the whites
was james Cook, town marshal. He
had been in the armory, but was not
member of the company He had gone
| into tho STRAIT from tha raor ~ ~ Oh
ley building, and was at once fred upor
and fell dead instantly, pierced by five
or six bullets. Afterwards the white.
began their search for the members o
the company. They succeeded in get
ting about twenty-five colored men a
prisoners, some of whom were neve
members of the company. As fast a
they were captured, they were taken t,
a place near the South Carolina railroad
where large party of armed men stoo,
guard over them. None of those thu
captured had arms in their hands Sub
sequently, and at about 2 o'clock A. NJ
six men took A. t. Attaway out of tn
ring. He and his mother begged for hi
life, but in vain. He was then told {,
turn round, and was then shot to deatl
by the crowd. David Phillips was mex
taken out, and was similarly killed.
Pompey Curry was next called out
He recognized among the bystander
Henry Getzen and DIR. Pierce Butler
and called on them to keep the othe
men from killing him. He ran, and wa
shot at as he ran, one bullet striking hin
in the right leg below the knee. After
wards Albert Myniart, Moses Parks an,
Hampton Stevens were killed. Steven
did not belong to the company. NeIde
John Parker, who has been commonl,
referred to in the newspaper reports a
John Thomas, was corporal in the com
pany. When he was arrested and taker
to the spot where the other prisoner
were, he recognized among the party tw,
gentlemen of Augusta, named Twigg
and Chaffee. He appealed to them fol-
protection. They said he should not b,
hurt. He states that Gen. Nj. c. Butte
asked if he was one of the id rascals
The reply was in the affirmative. Ii,
was then shot in the back. Messrs
Twiggs and Chaffee then said if he wa,
shot again they would shoot the one.
who did it. They took him off and had
him taken to Augusta. He was shol
before Attaway was killed. He NAV re