New-York tribune., 1876-10-25

to Chavis's Store, where the Republican club
was supposed to be assembled. They found
only about 10 Republicans present The
rife club leaders demanded to see the
leader of the Republican club. Columbus Roun-
tree, the Chairman of the Republican club, being
absent, Samuel Darby acted as spokesman The
chief spokesman of the rifle clubs then told the
colored members of the Republican club that they
must not meet again, " that they would all be killed
OFF if they did, Seeing one cOlOred man with
shotgun they took il from him, but finding it
worthless they retained his ammunition and gave
back the gun. The colored men were then informed
that "there had got TO he fight be-
tween the whites and the blacks" and the
rifle clubs then demanded that the coored men
| present should step out in line and fight it out"
This offer was naturally declined. Finally with
yellings and threats of vengeance the rifle clubs
marched Oft declaring they were going to Kill
Gloster Holland and Simon Cokcr two coorcd
members of the legislature that night. During
the night of the 10th several colorcd men were
killed in this section.
DECOYING TIE NEGROES.
On the morning of the 18th the rifle clubs APP
peared in large numbers at ROusc's Bridge near
which on the edge of swamp the coored people,
men, women, and children, panic-strickcn by the
murders of the previous night, had gathered About
9 o'clock on the morning of the 1Ith Sunday the
rifle clubs formed across field in front of RouScs
Bridge threw out pickcts, and assumed the posi-
ton of n hostile army. Before moving forward
they sent a messenger TO the leading colored
men, who had concealed themselves as
much as possible in the swamp This mes
seuger called for the leading colorcd men
and asked if they would compromise The colorcd
men replied that they had no quarrel and did not
know what compromise meant. The representative
.T. .I,o n. gluis hon "A
rant for the arrest of Alexander Pope and they
wanted him The colorcd men answered that Pope
was not with them, but that If the rifle club, had
warrant for any one they could come and search for
him.
The representative of the rifle clubs then proposed
a conference Of five men from each SIDE. such
conference took place and IL agreed that both
patrics should di,pcrsc and 70 their homes. lh"
white men who attended this conference. on their
way back to the lines of the rifle clubs chanc,d 10
meet three colurrd men retiring 10 their homes
In pursuance of the agreement now stated
They instantly fired upon them aud killed
Henry Campbell and wounded Alram Oycr,tret
IN the head and Nelson Bush in thc thigh This
demonstration convinced the coorrd people that the
conference was "a mere trick and that the purpose "i
the rifle clubs wa, 10 Kill them ln detail after draw"
ing them ont of tire swamp vc!l a- to learn thDr
numbers and whether thew were armed. During
the conference the colord men lod ir' j. stated
that they h.l only irv shoi-glu- aad uot q round
OF nxcd ammunition ol any kiud
COLD HOODED nrI,H.tN Al ritF>roN.
During the 18th n large pa,t ~ tIr rife cluh-
moved of from Rorsc- Bridge toward Uuiou Bridge
and E.lcutou, ou the Port Royal Railroad. aud
during the day shot and killed considerable num-
bcr of coorcd men. probably as many ~ -. ~ one
cabin they found six colorcd ur. who had crawl,d
out Of the swamp 10 et something 10 eat. The rifle
clubs surprised them. Killed Two Of thru go the
yard two more while running toward do" swamp
and wounded the remaining two.
Early ou the morning OF the 18th The rifle clubs
appeared iu great focc the Port Royal Railroad,
having been reinforced 10y whitcmrn from Augusta.
They moved up and down the railfoad, killing all
colorcd men whom they chaucrd to find. Among
their victims was an old man of 90 years. aud g
harmless deaf aud dumb boz.
About 10 o'clock the report was received that ~"
colorcd men hld assembled at Robbins station,
about II mile, below Ecutou. IhcrCulon, about
- mcu from the niic club, got into q boy-car aud
were taken down 10 Robbins Station Her" they
found simon CoAcr already named, an honest,
pcaccabc man, well known to me personally as a
member Of tie Legislature from Bamwcll County,
sitting on the railroad platform with his wife
and a colorcd female school teacher. COkcr
was then awaiting the train from Ellen
ton i'm order 10 - 10 Ycmmat-cc, whore hc
could telegraph me- the condition Of thing, IN hi- VI
entity The rifle club men forced Inn into the box
car took him back to Ellcuion and after brief
parlry shot him in au open field in full presence Of the
passenger. on the train and Of the rife clubs. rhbug
his dead body Of Eis watch, money, shirt studs, and
ring. 4 number of colorcd mcn vcT' also Killed at
and near Robbins Station 10y another detachment oi
the rifle clubs Oh the same day. bnt the number can
not yet bc fixed
FEDERAL TROOPS ARRIVE JUST ~ TINE
Late in the day on Monday, the lSth the main
body Of the rifle clubs, with large rcouforccmcuts.
returned To Rousc's Bridge, and during Monday
night completely surrounded the swamp ia which
the crowd Of colored persons were hiding 10 ia"
numbcr Of about 80 or 90 throwing ont line of
pickcts armed with brcoch-loading rifles. Early on
the morning Of Tuesday, the 10Th, Of the leaders
of the rifle clubs, prominent white man living ~
this vicinity, told his confidential colored servant
that they had got the niggcr- in bunch at Ruuscs
Bridge and got them surrounded. and by God they
intended to Kill the last oi them"
About o'clock the officers Of the rifle clubs gave
orders 10 therforce 10 advance and they had actually
advanced to within 100 yards of the spot where the
cOlOrcd people were huddlcd together in the swamp
awaiting their doom, one two Of them having
been actually shot by the skirmishcrs. when Capt.
Lloyd Of the 18th United States Infantry appeared
on the scene with small command of United States
soldiers. The guns of the rifle clubs were lcyclcd
at his command, under the belief, the rifle clubs
informed him. that black militia com
pany was coming to relieve the colored peo-
pie in the swamp. On discovering that
they were United States troops, "A messenger
dispatched to inquire of Capt. Lloyd what he pro-
Ia In Ihn nUi I,.I thnth had M