Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-10-26

sklrtS eXCenQeQ IN IrOnC OF Ine uTo'placo W
conceal the guns, and as soon as they were
discovered by the whites, they rushed out.
This took place second or two before thepis-
tol was fired, which conscientiously believe
was a preconcerted signal. The very moment
this shot was fred the negroes rushed into this
house for the guns, but the whites having sus.
pected foul play, seized them first and told
them to stand back. The negroes on, all sides,
then dashed for the swamp and seemed to be
met there by others with guns. In an incred-
ible short space of time, they had formed into
line and advanced on US with their guns in
their hands and in STOPPING posture. The
whites at this time were about one hundred
yards from the negroes. was at this time
between the two parties and tried to restore
quiet. I did not draw my revolver. After
trying in vain to quell the disturbance, l
looked around and found the white men fall
ing back before the rife shots of the negroes.
They were armed only with pistols, and some
not armed at all, and they could not stand
against the rifles and muskets at such long
range. Mr.. David Marsh, and colored man
named London, were with me at this time.
Seeing the Democrats fall back, l wheeled
around to join them, and as did 80 was
fred upon by the negroes and struck just be-
low the left shoulder blade, the ball passing
round toward the right I was also struck by
another ball in the back, just below the collar,
but this ball was apparently spent, as it did
not 90 in, and another ball struck me on the
boot heel. At the first Of the outbreak the
whites and blacks separated, and Bowen was
with the whites and told them not to return
the fire and he would try and stop the fuss
But he had no control over the negroes, and
finally went over among them and disappear
ed. The firing then became general. don't
think over fifteen or twenty pistol shots were
fired by the whites, and the truth was they
had, many of them, shot out most of their car.
tridges into the river on the trip up. The ne
groes continued firing, and reloading and fir.
ing again. Largenumbers of negroes appear
ed to come from the swamp with guns, who
had not been at the meeting. The whites
then being unarmed and powerless, fell back
down the road towards the steamer. My con-
scientious opinion is that the whole thing was
a preconcerted plan, and that the firing of
the pistol by the brown man into the air, was
the signal for the onslaught. Bowen knew
known that the negroes had their guns con-
oealed, because, he was With them a-half bonr
before we came up, and was in the very house
where some of the guns were found. l was
rather inclined to give Bowen credit for try
ing to keep peace at these meetings until yes.
terday, but have decidedly different opin-
ion now. The negroes, after we retreated,
held complete possession of the field, and any
attempt on our part to 60 back for the dead
and wounded would have been suicidal, as we
were in no way prepared either with arms or
ammunition. The white men acted as we'll as
possible under the circumstances, but we were
regularly ambushed and en6laded and left
without the means of defence. Great credit
is due to Major Delany for his bravery during
the attack"
Up to Tuesday night there had been, in all,
six deaths. Sixteen persons were injured on
the Democratic side.
In addition to the above, which we copy
from the News and Courier, we present the
following accounts ofthe affair from Republi-
can sources. On Tuesday, c. G. Bowen, sher-
iffof Charleston county, telegraphed to Gov
ernor Chamberlain as follows:
"a fight, during joint discussion at Cainhoy,
was occasioned by portion of the Democrats
from this city attacking the meeting and kill
ing an old colored man. This was the first
shot fred afterward general row ensued.
c. c. Bowen, Sheriff"
To which the Governor replied:
II have no details of the Cainhoy affair, but
whatever they are, you must arrest and bring
to justice at once, every man engaged in the
killing, without regard to race or party. See
that the trial justices do their duty, or report
them to me. Warrants must be issued imme-
diately. Call on every eye witness, or person
having knowledge, to make affidavits.
D. H. CHAMBERLAIN, Governor"
R. H. Willoughby, Radical, telegraphed
the following from Charleston to Governor
Chamberlain, under date of the 18th instant {:
"GovERNoR CHAMBERLAIN, COLUMBIA, S.
c. Your dispatch received at half-past 4.
The following are the particulars of the Cain
hoy affair from credible eye witness To con-
vey the Democratic speakers to Cainhoy, the
steamer Pocosin was chartered, and she left
the market wharf yesterday morning, at 3
o'clock, having on board M. P. OConnor,
ESQ, Democratic candidate for Congress; j.
F. Ficken, ESQ.,, W. st. Julien Jervey, Esq,
and other Democratic speakers, and about two
hundred white men who had been selected to
accompany them, most of whom were armed
with pistols Sheriff Bowen, W. j. McKin-
Law, ESQ.,, and Mr.. C. Gaillard, Republican
speakers, with about twelve or fifteen of their
friends, went on board the steamer just as she
was leaving the wharf The steamer reached
the dock at Cainhoy about IL o'clock, and
the party proceeded to the Brick church in
wagons and on foot. Mr.. Bowen arrived at
the place selected, little in advance of the
others, and found there assembled between
two and three hundred colored people. They
had come from all parts of the parish, many
of them, as is their custom from travelling in
that region, bringing their guns. They put
their weapons in various places near by, many
of them being set in the corner of an old
building close to the stand, with no intention
of secreting them, but only that they could
find them when the meeting closed.
These arms were of different kinds, shot
guns, old muskets, etc., the private property
Of the freedmen. There were no militia guns
to be seen, and the statement that there was a
militia company on the ground is totally false;
The meeting was organized by the selection of
a colored chairman, named Stewart, on the
part of the Republicans, and Mr. Sanders.
by the Democrats. The arrangement agreed
upon was that each of the parties should be
allowed two hours for the speeches. At the
opening Mr.. Bowen said few words, request
ing the people to listen attentively to what
was said. and to be orderly and quiet. Mr..