The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-10
THE CHARLESTON RIOr.
An Attack on Coiored Democrats By Mob Of
COlored RepubItcans.

An Attuch on COtored Democrats By n lob Of
Ooiored Republicans.
From the Charleston journal OF Commerce Sept 7.
For over an hour last night the upper
portion Of King street was In the possession Of
a mob OF Infatuated negroes, armed with Are
arms, oaken clubs, and other weapons. The
difficulty grew out OF the determination on the
part Of the colored Republicans that the colored
men, Isaac II. Rivers and ]. W. Sawyer, who had
renouncor Republlcansm and allied themselves
to the Democratic cause, should not enjoy that
freedom OF speech which Republioansm has
been boosting 10 an essential feature OF It's doc
trlne.
The disRraceful AFFAIR began, properly speak
ng, at Archers Hall, NJ King and George streets,
where the colored Democratic club was holding
n meeting. Rivers and sawyer were present.
The determination Co break up the meeting was
not carried out. because, perhaps, of the pres-
ence OF so many white men. IL was evident,
however, that the black and coloted bulnes had
premeditated something, as will hereafter be
shown.
he meeting had ended. the white men saw
plainly that trouble was brewing, and believing
that Rivers ana Sawyer would be the OBJECT Of
the venom which the NOISY black Republicans
had manifeeted at the meeting, determined to
escort these two colored Democrats home. A
hollow square was formed around them, and the
march homewsrd begun and continued until the
escort got into KiuR street, little beyond
point opposite the old picket guardhouse. on
the Citadel Green Here the escort WIS swarned
with clubs, and crying aloud for vengeance
against Rivers and SAWYER.
The white men esCurtinR them forbore doing
anything In retaliation, although the aggrava-
tiOn was amply sufficient TO have caused them o
nave resented the insults heaped upon them.
Presently colorcd man la the rear of the es-
cnrt struck white man with club. and tho
blow was returned. Immediately the negroes
hegah hiring INTO the whites. aud then the whites,
losing their fOrbearance, returned tue shots.
he hiring was continued rapidly for some time.
vafiousiy estimated at from a quarter to haIf N
We ~
brandiehed Ia every direction. The white men
never forgot Rlvets and SAWYER and cIunp TO
them with praisewOrthy tenacity. until, II was
said, they got them safely landed In tho Citadel.
Inc scene at this stage OF the row resembed a
al the top Of their voices, aud striking right aud
left. By this time Cap. Hendricks. the Chef of
Ponce, learned what WIS gong on, and, head
ing squad OF about tlirty men. ne hurried To
King street near NlndCrhOrst, where the blacks
were SIN demonstrating. and drove them Oh "a
best he I'D. Bot what could SIN II "A force
Of uolictm n do with such a formidable crowd,
numbering many hundred, ana armed with fire.
arms ANA heavy clubs. Tue policemen were
drntd. aud tue arrest ~ any one was utterly
impossible. Tue important matter was to save
the wnltc and cOIored men they were protecting
from the fury Of the MOI, and several we'll
known young gentlemen ana colorou Demo-
crat had to bs escorted bv the policeinen To The
upper guard house. Ii was tnsn asc, rtdlned
TINT several persons had been shot and beaten,
ana these were either carried or assisted to the
upper guard house. As soon "a possible Drs.
AIdrich anu Yates were called on. and TX inI-
med tLose hurt. Tho following 10 the list Of
Charles Green. colored policeman shot dangerously
IN the aOcOneht j. NJ buckner, buokDiuacr, shot In
the abdomen, and supposed attY james Lloyd. col
Ored ponce mat. severely injured the head by
cluoi y = Holmes sOn ~ Fruf b. ;. Holmes. beaien
WIN cubs H. VI. keedcr, strucs on tue forehead and
crown ~ tc head AID seriously hurt. George Shrrw.
puts. Of the detective force. eighty hur. Oh IN. head
D. W. Iced, tri Jusu stiucA by spent bali uI the
arini thates Bchrc badly iIred on the head with
tluni d. n. hackran, reporter u the Ncifg mt
tOtf. struck uu he head WITH brick ana painfully
hurt. W. \. uerfuan shot lu the leg Mi 1arnus.
scherc, severely cut about the head Richard McKcu.
diy struck STA club and painIuhy hurt. A woman
Ma al-u hGrt.
FIR over an hour the crowd Of negroes filled
King street, yelling at the top OF their voices,
wavlng clubs. breaking windows, anu acting
white man was allowed TO show his zee even at
hi- wind ". white face VAS the signal fura
general "a Nv TO wnere he might appear, and in
stsntiy he WAS brutally beaten. Mr.. Iiehrs was
beaten alter the row pruper had ceased. and
would have been killed tut for TIE policemen.
Nutuiug was allowed to pass up King street.
when the quad Of pohcemen were returning
To the lowe gu I'd house several pistol shuis
were nred IA King street, near Ruuhs lot. The
mounted uolicem1 IA Immediately dashed after
the crowd. aud soon dispers, them. But the
readiness win winch negroes WIN clubs aud
pistols gathered from tue side streets and al ia.
cent lots, showed That they were wide awake
fora row.
Ata late hour tho mob had dispersed, and
quiet Ia measure was re-toIod