The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-09-14
BLOT IN CHARLESTON.

bloody and disgraceful riot was inaugu-
rated in the city Of Charleston by mob
of injurious Republican negroes, who
we're determined to kill some colored
Democrats who had organized a Demo
cratic Club, and were having meeting
on the night in question. The white peo-
pie were informed of the plan, and for
the purpose of escorting the colored men
home, formed procession with six white
men around eaeh .eoleFed Democrat, and
marched up King street in safety, until
they reached the German Church, where
they were attacked by q mob of about
$50 Republicans from the Live Oak and
Hunkadory Clubs, who came yelling, for
Hayes and Wheeler, upon them. The
advance of the, attacking party came
upon the column, and knocked down the
first white man they met, and shot into
the procession, declaring :, they would
have the colored men if they had to kill
every man in the crowd to do so. The
whites returned the fire, but overshot the
mob. a portion of the escort, however,
took the colored Democrats safely to the
United States Troops in the Citadel, and
thereby rescued them from the impending
death. The mob had by. this time in
creased to fully three hundred, and fell
upon the forty whites with perfect fury.
The whites retreated up King street, re-
turning the fire from the mob to keep
them off. ,,;,a. ...,e.-
At John:street they were attacked by
another crowd and thus surrounded.
The fight here was fercest, and the four
or FIVE policemen could do nothing, as
the blacks were shouting 'bloodp Po-
liceman Chas. Green, colored, got be-
tween the crowd and for a moment SEEM
ed to be pacifying them, but a skirmish
on the outside renewed the fight, and
Green was shot through the abdomen by
one of the mob, it is thought. A young
white man named J. M. Buckner, an ex-
ce]lent young gentleman, was also shot
through the abdomen. Both of these
men have since died. At this stage OF
the fight the whites only numbered fif-
teen, numbers of them having been
knocked senseless. by the clubs and
palings with which the mob was armed.
The blacks soon became undisputed mas
ters of the field, and stationed themselves
at the street corners in squads of about
forty. Every white man who came along
was assaulted and badly beaten. For
| while no white man dared show his face
| on the streets of Charleston. A portion
of the wounded weie carried to the station
house for protection during the night.
They were fearfully battered up. Lloyd,
colored policeman had a huge cash
from a brick bat in the back of his head.
John Holmes, son Of Prof. Francis
Holmes, was badly beaten over the face
and head, and spit up quantities OF
blood. W. S. White was shot in the
back by pistol. E. M. Reeder was ter,
ribly beaten and his clothes saturated
with blood. Charles Behl, young Ger,
man, was caught while going peaceably
home and beaten almost to a jelly. An
unknown white man was picked up in
an insensible condition. Several of the
detectives and policemen were badly
beaten up.
The City authorities have arrested
about fifteen white men for shooting pls,,
tolls, but have only arrested two colored
men. The City authorities, who are Re.
publicans, proclaim virtually that it is nc
offence to kill men who are protecting
colored Democrats. The Mayor has is
sued a proclamation it is true, but the
rioters are not arrested. The jury of in:
quest over the bodies of the murdered
men was 1ls' unlike the Hamburg jury. Its
session was shot, and its verdict impiica'
ted no one, but said in substance that
the deceased came to death by Academia
pistol shots fired during a riot. This II
simply an outrage upon justice.