The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-15
THE NAM URIC RIOT.
Details Of the Bloody Conflict between Two
Armed Mobs in south Carolina.

CHARLESTON, s. c., July 10.-The city OF
Hamburg is situated opposite the city OF Au-
gusta, Ca, on the west bank Of the Savannah
river, in the corner Of Edgeneld, Aiken, and
Barnville counties OF this State. II s an ancient
town, and before the war Wed with Augusta as
the market for that region Of country. 1t COM
prised some twenty-five hundred Inhabitants,
and was money-making and wealthy place.
Since the war, however, II has become den Of
turbulent negroes, and scarcely a half dozen
white families remain. There are some hye
the gateway from the counties above mentioned,
across the only bridge into the CITY OF Augusta,
an eyesore and a nuisance. The negroes elect
their own Mayor and Council, and have charge
OF all the civil Offices. The ebony head OF this
er OF the soutb re IL s mean
a member Of the Legislature, and while there
was the President OF that notorious gang Of
thieves, the United Brotherhood. He was Mayor
OF Hamburg until he wearied OF the honor. IL
y one Of Cham9erlnin's appointees as rial JUS
tce, having Jurisdiction over all misde eanors
and civil causes under 500.
In the city was negro military company COM
manded by Capt. Dock Adams. During the
arrnistice agreed on by the whit and the bl cks,
and the orders Of the Governor, the company
have never complied. On the Fourth of July,
as tw' young white gentlemen were returning
IRON Augusta to their homes IN EdReneld, they
were confronted by Dock Ad imss militia
blocking up the highway, and made to await its
maneuvring. They we're told they should be
Kept there all night, and very offensive language
was used TO aqRravate them. They pOcketed the
nnront and determined to resort to the law NJ
Trial Justice Riverss Office. rney employed
Gen. NJ. g. Butter AZ their lawyer, and Saturday,
Juiy7, was set for the trial.
Capt. Dock Adams declined to attend the
Court, and when ordered under arrest for con-
tempt refused TO obey. file called out his COM
pany aud provided them With ammunition.
Inis attitude Of defiance TO civil law by tho
militia placed the corporation and the vicinity
In the hands OF an armed mob q dangerous
rioters. The whites who had assembled de-
handed the dsarming OF the company Trial
Justice Rivers, seeing they were In earnest,
valnly endeavored by persuasion and orders To
have tho guns given up The whites being re-
enforced from Augusta and the South Carolina
neighborhood, the militia reIired to bricK
building, and soon Hfterward the hiring COM
menced. A white man named Mackey Merry
weather was the first kiled-ov a ball from the
militia. Augusta then sent forward piece OF
artillery, when, after four shots, dislodged the
negroes One was killed ana one was wounded.
The city was then searched for the militia, ana
some tweDty-nine prisoners were taken. Iney
were given In charge OF q detali o. tMenty.nve
were shot, four wounded. and the rest released.
During the nght white man named morgan
was shot In the leg. THIS and the tatai shout-
ing of Merryweather were the only casualties
| on that side The loss OF the negroes during the
| fight three killed, In addition to the four
| prisoners who were afterward shot.
Gen. Butter left the scene of action before the
| killing OF the prisoners. The detail who had
| them In charge seemed to agree that II they
| took their prisoners to Aiken JAN they would be
| tried and acquitted by the new Radical Judge,
Virgins. Besides, there was no telling but whHt
| when they arrived at the Jail the detail itself
would be incarcerated upon some counter
| charge made by the prisoners to the X dical Of
| ncials. Major Gen. Prince Rivers took refuge
| In Augusta. The Democracy OF that city gave
| him the protection he sought and took care OF
as many OF his followers as applied to tnem'