The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-21
SOUTH CAROLINA.
The Riot at & snsnbOy,
OFFICIAL, REPORT OF THE US.
MARSHAL,
The Firing Begun by the Whites.

WASHINGTON, Oct 20.-The following official
report of R. M. Wallace, United States Mar
shall for South Carolina, addressed to Attorney
General Taft, was among the other papers on
the condition of the South, read at the Cabinet
meeting today:
CHARLESTON. S. c., Oct. II, 1876.
Hon. a. Taft, Attorney General WashinotOn
Sir:-I have delayed giving you report of
the recent unfortunate political riot at a place
near the town of Cainboy, in this county. until
1 could get connected statement of facts. The
meeting at the brick church near Cainboy, was
called by the Republicans, and was largely at
tended by the men who were present at the
first meeting at which the Democrats enforced
theii demand to speak, but had not attended
any OF the meetings of the Democrats. They
carried such guns as each man had at his home,
consisting of old muskets, shot guns and fowl
ing pieces, but no militia men went there with
state arms and ammunition as the Democrats
claim, and the best evidence of that fact is that
all the dead were shot with buckshOt and not
with rifles.
When these colored Republicans arrived at
the pl CO of meeting their leading men told
them they were violating an agreement by COM
ing armed, and that they must deposit their
arms at some place away from the grounds.
The colored men compiled with the request,
and some guns, say fifteen, were placed in an
old, dilapidated building some fifty yards from
the stand, and others were placed across a ra-
vine IL the woods. About $50 Democrats ac-
III
steamboat, and soon appeared at the meeting
The first speaker was Democratic candidate
for prosecuting attorney of the circuit. He
was heard through very patiently. He was fol-
lowed by W. Mckinley lcolored) who was a
delegate to the Cincinnati Convention from this
state. Soon after Mckinley commenced speak
ing commotion was observed in the crowd on
the side next to the dilapidated building, and
Mckinley jumped off the stand and said,
"Thosa white men in that house have guns and
10 chonk H.
shout-"The Democrats have seized our guns
and made rush for the other guns. The
white men, who had secretly slipped into the
house and seized the guns then fired, and the
first shot killed an old colored man about 70
years old, who was standing leaning on stick,
and this is the only cOlored man known to haye
been killed.
The colOred men returned with their guns
very soon, and attacked the party at the old
house and then commenced general fire on
the Democrats, who were generally armed with
pistols, but had to retire rapidly toward the
boat under heavy fire. The colored men be-
came furious when they saw some of their
arms had been seized and one of their old men
killed. Sheriff Bowen, whom they recognized
as their personal and political friend, rushed
among them and tried to stop the firing, bu,
| they did not cease till all the white men were
driven away from the church. Six white men
were killed or have died, and one colored man.
Several white men were wounded, but none Sc
riously. 1t is not yet known how many negroes
are hurt
AS soon as the fight ceased the steamboat re.
| turned to the city for arms and reinforcements,
and over 100 men went back on her IN two
hours notice, with arms for themselves and for
their 100 men already there. The next morn
ing about 200 more armed men went up on the
steamboat, which had returned. These armed
men were the military companies, or a portion
of the companies which Gov Chamberlain or.
dered to disband some two weeks ago.
On the night of the riot telegraphed to Som
erville to the officer in command Of the troops,
for Company to go to Cainboy. He replied
the next morning that he had only one artillery
| company. which had no small arms. then
telegraphed to Governor Chamberlain to know
where could get troops, and he referred it to
Gen. Ruger at Atlanta, who has ordered a
company from Columbia, who will arrive to-
| morrow morning, and will proceed with them
at once to Cainboy. will require the armed
men there to disperse, and will see that no
| further riotlng takes place.
Very respectfully,
(signedO r. NJ. WALLACE,
United States Marshal.