The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-26
- .. s'.:.;,aTHE CAINHOY RIOT.
,Unproyoked Attack Upon White Men
Two Men; Probably Killed and Thir-
-'steen Wounded.

From, as Charleston Nsv, and Courier, 17A 'n'fdns
1,Early III the present political canvass
In Charleston County the Democracy e1-
pressed desire to meet the Republicans
In Joint discussion. The request was
promptly acceeded to, the only condition,
and one entirely satisfactory to the De-
mocracy, being that no guns should be
taken to the meetings by either party.
Under the arrangement so made joint
discussions have token place at Straw
berry, On Johns Island, on Edisto Island
and at other points. The Democrats
conformed strictly to their agreement,
but the Republicans, on some occasions,
as at Strawberry, were armed with mus
kets and shot guns. On SEdisto, on Sat
.urday, they were well provided with
bludgeons and knives. No uneasiness or
distrdst was, however, aroused, and the
Democratic speakers would have willing
ly gone alone, and without escort, to any
part of the county. This was the condi-
tion,of affairs when the steamer Pocosin
left the wharf Monday morning, having
aboard the Democratic speakers appoin.
ted to attend the joint meeting to be held
at Brick Church, about three miles from
Cainhoy, in the parish of st. Thomas
and ST. Dennis. I
The Pocosin was chartered for the ex-
elusive use of the Democratic party, and
had between 100 and 200 Democrats
aboard. Among them were the speakers:
the Hon. M. p. O'Connor, candidate for
Congress; Mr.. ST. Julien Jervey, candi-
date FOR Solicitor; rMessrs. Ficken and
C. White, candidates for the Legisla-
.ture; Mr.C.C. Leslie, colored, candidate
for County Commissioner; Col. Nd. n.
Delany, colofed, and Others. Before the
Pocosin left a large party of negroes
made dash and 5endeayored to secure
passage. They cwere very noisy and
threatening, declaring that they intended
ito 90 anyhow" and that they wanted
chance ssto clean out the d ~ Demo-
Gratis &c, tBomei of them are believed
to belong to the Hunkadori Club, whose
members were the leaders in the riot OF
the 9th of September; when the co!ored
Democrats were attacked and several cit
izens were wounded. As many OF these
men as could be ;accommod odated were,
however 9 taken aboard. One man
threatened 'sto raise h--lla On that boat"
He did not go. Just as the steamer was
ready to start, word was received that
County Chairman Bowen was on his way
down, and would like to accompany the
Democratic party. This courtesy was
extended: to Ihima and his companions,
and. sit lnst the steamer getaway.
There was no incident worth noting on
the run to Cainhoy., The Democrats
amused themselves by firing with their
pistols at such objects in the river as
attracted their attention, and before the
Journey was over many of the few pistols
were empty. This fact was. known TO
theIRepubicans who were aboard. Da-
zingthe trip, Mr.. O'Connor and County
:Chairman Bowen conferred tose ether, and
itAwas agreed that each side should be
allowed, two hours during, the meeting,
each aide dividing the two hours, as might
be,thought proper, among its speakers.
The steamer reached Cainhoy at about
half.past two O'Clock, and the Democracy
were most Hospitality received by the
villagers, who had provided wagons and
other vehicles to convey them to- the
Brick Church, the place Of meeting, about
three miles distant. Bowen started off
in buggy as soon as he could land, and
must have reached the Brick Church half
an hour or more before the arrival of the
Democrats. ,s-w ~
The place of meeting WAS on rising
ground, small hill. In front of the
speakers stand; and forty or fifty yards
distant, was the church, with the small
building used as q yestry on its right.
To the. left of the stand was an old brick
building, with only part of the walls
standing. Bowen called the meeting to
order, and James Stuart, colored, was
appointed chairman for the Republicans,
and Mr.. Samuel Sanders, the precinct
chairman, was chosen chairman for the
Democrats, A. lively; air was played by
the Entaw Band, which the Democrats
had brought from town, ana the speaking
began. Mr.. w. st. Julien Jervey was
the first speaker, and, as, much as he has
spoken; ;ueyer spoke better. The speech
was listened to with deep attention, and
there was no sign of trouble.
WI. McKinlay, cplored WAS to; follow
Mr.. Jervey. The band was playing, and
some of the negroes shouted out that
they did notwant any mdsic; they wan
ted to hear their people talk. Assoen as
the air was finished, the hand stopped,
and Nick Kinlay, who seemed nervous and
excited, began very yiolentspeech. He
had not, however, spoken more than two
or three minutes when there was Slight
disturbance, such as might be caused by
runaway horse, on the left Of the stand,
This attracted very little attention, but
wasifolloyed by musket shot. Instant.
" the colored men at the meeting darted
to the bushes and seized their guns which
thefhslag hiaden.s From the bushes and
from ahe further side of the erayine yolley
aftef VoIley was fired into the. surprised,
betrayed and almost defenseless Demo-
Gratis. Go..,cs 49, 3fA
Many different and conflicting accounts
of the 6igin Of the fighting have been
giyenJ One statement is, that while Nc
Kiplay was speaking, some negro women
ran into the crowd, crying out that "the
whites had taken the muskets of the col
ored men," and that the firing impedi7
ately followed. Another of our inform
ants says that there was a fight, and a
pistol drawn, and the negroes then began
firing. Comparing the several accounts,
which have some points i1-common, and
insoms, respects corroborate EACH other,
some general conclusions can be reached.
Before the meeting some of the Demo-
Gratis walked over to the ruined building
off to the left of the stand, and found
that large number of loaded muskets,
some forty or fifty, were hidden in q
corner, or in the fireplace. They. did
about them, but the fact thatthey visited
the building may have given rise to the
report fSthe calculations of the negro
women. The guns we're found some time
before the firing commenced. Itistoler-
ably. certain that somewhat later there
was quarrel between two men-a col
ored Republican and white Democrat.
One informant asserts that the Republi-
cans had denounced what Mr. Jervey had