Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-10-26
The GaanhOy A fair.


The following letter was written by >on of
Her Britannia Maiesy's Consul in Charleston
aud addressed to his brother in this city:
CHARLESTON, s. g., Oct. is, 1876.
have just returned from Calnhuy, slightly
wounded, and have ust witnessed the most
baroar.c brutalIli"s Inflicted by black demons
on detcncelcs- old men aGd children and on the
wounded who fell into their hands.
Both polit Cal parties agreed to hold meet
ing at Brick C"urch,' mar Caiohoy, aud 1t
was further agreed, GU the Suggestion OF the
Republicans, that uei her party should carry
arms. How the negroes kept faith wneu they
got The democrats luto Il trap y u viii see.
The democrats chartered the steamer POGO
sin to take them to Caio!oy, and courtcously
took Bowen aud the republicans with them
tn. beautiful Gay attracting large plumbers OF
bows who did not even own weapon. AT
Caiuh,y We met the whites from Hell Hole
Swamp. with 90 other weapon than here and
there cattle whip, such as they usually ride
wl:h. The music started the negroes danclng
the celebrated ''Too.Ia-oo, Too Ia-loo, aud as
we moved off from CaDhoy everything seemed
$, psac full hal the men from that village left
al their arlu- at home.
Mr. William Veuuiug rode on ahead Of the
procession. Father knows we'll his father,
William l.. Venniug). On his arrival at the
church he found large body oil uegroes, we'll
armed with mu>kcts aud rifles. Z. Z. Bowen
had also arrived iD advance. MIR. VennlDg
heard the negroes say that they would DOT SUI
f,r Dc.ny, 4 colorcd democrat, to address the
meeting. {. T.. Bowen then said, Hoe your
CUES" and they did so. The procession ar
iivrd and the speaking began, and | DOW state
what saw, uui. IS | EXPRESSLY state that II Is
ou information. \ culured mau named Nc
keulay was put % the stand by the rrpubl-
cans-he was mistaken by the negroes Tor De-
lAny-and The row began.
1t was discovered that the negroes had con-
cealed weapons IN the chimney Of 40 old house
near at hand and new, OF it was brought 10 NE
90 our arrival. am sure that 1t was part oil u
plot TO In Ike the whites seize these arms as an
excuse Tor bringing on row; but at the tune
advised that the guns be watched but not mo-
lcs,ed. Suddenly tue whites by the old house saw
emrryi ~ from pines and swamp at the back OF
the "staud" detachmenls OF negroes armed with
muskets which they l,olutcd toward US. At the
same momcut Il Confusion was raised Oh account
of the supposed Dclauy taking the stand this
commotiou probably being the signal tor the
detachment to appear.
civ. the respectable republicans credit tor
beilcviag truly that the whites began the row
by selZ,ng the guns tor they were mostly be-
hiud or 90 the stand facing the church, and
had their backs turned to this detachment and
did no see why the whites seized the guns.
Mr. Duane tells mc that he directed the guns
iu tne cn,uDcy to be seized, but not untll the
negroes We're advancing toward him with gus
a; full cock. Then the whites made rush for
| the chimney filled with guns, loaded, as | am
told bv all, with powder only. Mr.. Venniug,
Mr. Boycc aud Mr.. L,mble have sworn TO me
| las uo.ary) that they saw the negroes lire the
| first shot saw he negroes pouring voley;
,uto these uuarmed boys though | cannot from
personal observation say who fired first.
Bored By the political speaking, was stand.
Ing aoce by the church. The negroes were
b.twcru the stand and the old house, and th,
whites were between us running Tor the YES
try" 4 few cpurageouSly returned the fire witt
SUI all pocket pistols but, OF course, against
vo!ieys oi buckshot, s!ugs and broken pieces o
lead fred IRON muSk cts. the negroes retiring
behind he pines the pistols were useless.
moved over irom the church 10 trout OF tn,
vcstry through a hail storm OF bullets SO thai
my example should encourage the whites L
stand AMI defend themselves. | had, | ma,
| say, no weapon; Tor though l Vas lent an ole
| pistol, 1t would DOT Snooe, au2 ulu COZ urc
Shot. Juho Fick~n, though armed With DOL.
a slight cane. did the same. When | got be
tween the "vestry" and the stand | say
:Abram Smith, negro trial justice, 90 the
stand firing at some boys and men who wer
running away and deteucelcss. | did try t
STOP him, but the old iron had could not snal
a cap. | moved on to the vestry. having hrs
warned Smith that would kill him if he tire
asaiu, Though had nothing to do it with,
aud he stopped while was looking at him.
AT the yestry | met e. q. Bowen. The ne
groes, having fired their volIeys, had ruo bac
among tn pines TO reload, and there Was
cessatlon or mil for few minutes BOWe