The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-20
THE SOUTH CAROLINA RIOTS.
~ OmcisI Account OF the Disturbances In
Barnwell County.

DARNwELr, 8. c., Sept. %. 1870.
Ton PL. Wf10ir, Judge Second Circuit SOSh carolina;
SIR: Information having been received
~ this place alta \. N. on the 10TH inst that the
riot said 10 have originated In Aiken county
from the armed resistance OF negroes 10 the
arrest Of negro by c lOred magistrate upon
the charge OF brutality upon white woman,
had extended into thu upper portion OF tnle
county some thirty miles hence. and that Ger.
tain white cit zens riding upon the bighway nad
been bushwacked by negroes. one being KILLED.
court directed me with such men as could
control to proceed to the disturbed sectl9n anu
act as the posse comitatns under the orders Oh
Mr. James Patterson. the county Shcrln. IN sup
pressing the riot aud artestini the ringieaurt-,
1 at once despatched courtcrs TO the white
citizens nearest the scene OF the disturbance W
act i'm the matter. aud to Others from remote
sections OF the county to meet me 9t an np-
pointed rendezvous the shern accompanying
while awaiting the assembly Of these at tho
rendezvous, Mr.. Patterson, without my knowi-
edge or consent, but actuated by the laudable
desire to suppress the trouble WITHOUT RISK OF
bioodshed. went forward to the disturbed dis
trict While riding alohg th1 highway III DIS
buggy, some eight miles in advance OF me, ne
was fred upon 10y three NEGROES, VINO lmnedl-
ately He'd They were hid In the bushes 10y the
roadside and did not challenge him. Hts first
lntinatiOn Of their presence WAS Vlley OF
,ugs ragged anJ broken bits OF leail nred;
He Ii very seriously wounded, but trust VIII
recover.
At daylight next morning. the citizens whom
had directed to meet me having rep irted,
some of them having fid1en forty miles the
previous night, moved forward INTO the dis-
turbed district, and Thoroughly secured that
portion OF II In this cuuntv
found that the white citizens from the vlcin-
lty, together With those resident IN the loo iity,
had completed GeprVss for the present nt lie al,
the riot that the evil dlsp o5eG negroes had fl cd
TO the swamps, and were then dispersed and
Guaranteed. | made se,e,L arrests. out IN
every case became 4 ~ Il that the parties were
unJusty used Of PARTICIPATION In the riot,
and discharged them.
Deeming II undesirable to keep the country IN
All unnecessary state OF Ike TEN 4n', dismissed
the citizens who had acc impaired me to their
homes. aud directed NJ. ". Il. Wood and Nr. ".
a. Rounirce. reliabls citLcns r that s. elton OF
the county. at once to procure warrants against
four or 1--WE men whom | was aatt- He'd had been
ringlead-rs, ana arres' AMI send them to Barn
well jail for trial upon their emery nee from tho
swatnps.
-Four hundred and seventy n'e citizens OF the
county. mounted aud armed. resp de !, within
thirteen urs. t. the calls to preserve it. pe tcc.
among whom am uiess' 4 :. .entiOn the Is rn-
well Colored DeI ncrutic CUB.
So many exa-.cr1tCd Tuiu1rs have been rife
In this matter. that perhaps 10 u.y not he i'm
proper for mo to give you what til1k an ap-
prUxiination To correctness in the num Ier Of
casualties. Only two Wtitc uleh have bean
Killed one serOAa ly. and three slightly wlunrd.
The number OF negroes X He'd. including the
hghting In Aiken county. Is PROBABLY thirty.
There was some iutcn iiarism, and injury to
Tie railroad, committed ny tn rioters.
Respectfully, JOHNSON HAGOoD.