Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-10-26
From the New York Herald, October IL.
THE ELLENTON RIOT.


From the New York Herald, October H.
THE ELLENTON RIOT.
THE TRUE STORY OF THE RECENT CONFLICT
ELLENToN, AIKEN COUNTY, S. G., |
49,. 49," October 6, 1876. !
Your correspondent, pursuant to instruc'
tions, has given a patient hearing to every
man in Aiken county who desired to talk
about the late conflict in this county; has te-
diously evolved fact or comment from those
who did not want to talk, and has visited ev-
cry battlefield Of this guerrilla war, from the
de6le where the first rencontre took place,
past Rouse's Bridge, and the double bridge,
the Cowdon Swamp, Silverton, where the
brace of black villains committed the first
crime; Crown Mills, the point where the rail.
road track was torn up, and finds himself
this morning at Ellenton, the uttermost point
of the conflict.
What I shall write is the truth. 1t is
backed by affidavits, by concurrent circum-
stances, and it cannot be gainsaid. When
the official report is made, it must conform es-
sentially to what is written below. The story
is strange one, and its suggestions are valu-
able just now.
On the 10Th Of September, the house of
Mr.. Alonzo Harley, at Silverton, was entered
by two negroes with burglarious intent. Mrs.
Harley was sick in bed. Her son, little fel.
low of tender years, was her only companion,
her husband being absent. The negroes bold
" entered her room and commenced to rob,
at which she protested. The negroes then at
tackled her and beat her severely, striking her
twice or three times over the upper part of
the body with a. club. The, child then at
tempted to flee the house and was caught by
the negroes and severely punished, he receiv.
ing blow on the back of the neck which
may disable him for life. Mrs. Harley, in the
meantime had seized her husbands gun, which
she drew down upon the plunderers and fright
ened them off, although the gun was not
loaded.
Shortly afterward her husband arrived and
collecting crowd, started in pursuit of the
villains. A negro, Peter Williams, was cap.
tured under suspicion and brought back to
the house. Mrs. Harley at once and fully
identified him as one of the burglars. Pend
ing her testimony, the negro made sudden
burst for the door, reached it and fled precip-
itately. Several of his captors rushed to the
doors and windows and fired upon him. He
fell and was brought back to the house Sc
verely, and twas thought, mortally wounded.
He then confessed to having committed the
robbery and been privy to the assault of Mrs.
Harley, which, however, he claimed was COM
mitted by one Frederick Pope, colored. He
was then properly taken care of by his cap.
tors and his wounds dressed. Right here l
shall take issue with the published accounts.
Williams did not die, as has been reported,
but is now convalescent. Steps were then
taken by the friends of Harley and his wife
to capture Pope, the accomplice, if not the
principal, for the crime for which Williams
had suffered. The proper afidavits were
made and Charles Griffin, colored Justice
of the Peace, issued warrant for .the arrest
of Pope. In the meantime news had been
received, very general and exciting rumor
prevailing to this effect, that large number
of armed colored men had assembled and
were assembling for the purpose of avenging
the murder of Peter Williams, who was then
believed to be dead. Williams was extreme
ly popular with the negroes, and they pro-
tested at that time (the contrary having been
indubitably proven since and confessed on all
sides, that he was innocent of the crime i'm
puted to him, and that he had been killed by
the whites through pure wantonness.
Feeling that there would be trouble in ma
king the arrest of Pope, Griffin appointed Mr..
Angus P. Brown, citizen of known courage
but of prudent good sense, to carry out this
writ of arrest. Mr. Brown quietly proceeded
to surround himself with small but deter.
mined posse. By Saturday night he had COL
lected fourteen men, having intended to take
only ten. He then waited for morning, that
the search for Pope might be commenced,
keeping his men together during the night.
Early in the morning he learned that Pope
was at Rouses Bridge, under the protection
of considerable number of armed negroes.
He at once sent Messrs. Weathersby and
Stallings out as scouts to determine if the re.
port were true, and in the meantime advanced
with his posse toward the bridge, taking the
precaution to carry the negro Justice with
him, that the negroes might be persuaded to
give up their man without struggle. When
the posse passed Silverton, the home of Mr..
Harley, it was reinforced by five men, the
news of the gathering at Rouse's Bridge hav-
ing been received at Silverton several hours
before. Constable Browns scouts returned,
and confirmed, from actual knowledge, that
the negroes toward the bridge were terribly
excited, armed and defiant. A negro (Sidney
Haukenson) confirmed their report, he hav-
ing been at the bridge himself. Mr.. Brown
and his posse-a list of which is in my pos
session-moved quietly forward.
Rouse's Bridge spans small creek, and is
hanked on the left and left front by an im'
mense swamp 1t is approached by deep
and narrow cut. Just as the posse emerged
from this cut-or, rather, as the first men
emerged-they were met with a ragged and
scattering fire from party of negroes, who
were aligned on the very edge Of the swamp
No one was injured, horse only being wound
ed. The posse promptly returned the hre
1t is said that three negroes were wounded by
this fire. From conversation withtwo or three
of the blacks engaged, I can get the name Of
only one wounded man--Henry Campbell
who was shot in the arm. This, believe, is
the only casualty Of the first Rouse Bridge
fight. At the fire of the whites, several ne