Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-11-01
An O1icial and Unbiased Report OF the
Trouble Mt CainhOy, s. c.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30,

WASHINGTON, Oct 10
The following official report of r. NJ.
Wallace, United States Marshal for South
Carolina, addressed to Att'y-Gen. Taft,
was, among other papers on the condi.
ton of the South, read at the Cabinet
meeting to-day.
CHARLESTON, 8. c., Oct. II.
The Hon. A. Taft, Attorney General Washington:
SIR: | have delayed giving you report OF
the recent unfortunate political riot at a
place near the town of Cainhoy, in this
county, until could get correct statement
of the facts. 1t is one of the legitimate re-
suits of the intimidation policy on the Mis-
sissppi plan adopted by the Democratic
party in opening their campaign, for the pur-
pose of breaRing down the Republican ma
jorty in this state.
The first meeting in this county at which
the Democrats put their shotgun policy in
practice took place over a month ago on
Cooper River, some ten or twelve miles
from the scene of the late riot The Reput-
licans had called a meeting, and the Demo-
Gratis Ia the city chartered a steamboat and
took about $50 well-armed men to the meet
ing. They formed their men in line near the
stand, and demanded that they should have
half the time for heir speakers. The Re.
publicans did not relish this kind of peace
ful political discussion, (" but the request was
backed up by $50 Winchester repeat
ng-rihes in the hands of men who knew
how to use them, and they consented to
division time" Other meetings fol-
lowed this with simil display of arms,
and, in order to avoid a collision, which was
imminent at each meeting, the Executive
Committee OF each party arranged to have
a series OF 1oint discussions, and agreed that
their people should not come armed to the
meetings. The discussions in the county
had been going on with more or less bitter
ness and animosity, mainly growing out Of
the fact that the Democrats carried large
force of men from the city to every meeting,
who rritated the Republicans by their yiO-
lent denuneiation OF their leaders and their
party.
The meeting at the brick church near
Cainhoy was called by the Republicans, and
was largely attended by men who were pres
ent at the first meeting at which the Demo-
Gratis had enforced their demand to peak,
but had not attended the joint discussions,
and many of them, being suspicious of the
Democrats, carried such guns as each man
had at his home, consisting OF old muskets,
shot-guns and fowling- pieces, but no militia
men went there with State arms and ammu-
milton, as the Democrats claim; and the
best evidence of that fact is, that all the
dead were shot with buck-shot, and
not with rifle balls. When these col
ored Republicans arrived at their place OF
meeting their leading men told them that
they were violating an agreement by coming
armed, and that they must deposit their
arms at some pla away from the grounds.
The colored men complied with the request,
and some guns, say fifteen, were placed in
dlapidated building some fifty yards froll the
stand, and Others were placed across rav1ne
in the woods. About $50 Democrats accom-
panied their speakers from the city on
steamhoa', and soon appeared at the meet
". Gs,t Il .rnt
candidate for Prosecuting Attorney OF the
circuit. He was heard through very
patiently. He was followed by w. j.
Mckinley {colored), who was delegate
to the Cincinnati Convention from this State.
Soon after Mckinley commenced speaking,
a commotion was observed in the crowd on
the side next to the dilapidated building, and
Mckinley jumped off the stand and said,
"Those white men In that house have guns,
and arc going to shoot" The colored men
raised the shout, "The Democrats have
seized our guns" and made rush for the
other guns. The white men who had secret
ly slipped into the house and seized the
guns then fired and the first shot killed an
old colored man about severity years old,
who was standing leaning on stick, and this
is the only colored man who is known to have
been killed The colored men returned with
their guns very soon, and attacked the
party at the old house, and then commenced
a general fire on the Democrats, who were
generally armed with pistols, but had to re-
tire rapidly toward the boat under a heavy
fire. The colored men became furious when
they saw that some of their arms had been
seized and one of thor own men killed
Sheriff Bowen, whom they recognized as
their per -onal and political friend, rushed
among them and tried to stop the firing, but
they did not cease antil all the white men
were driven away from the church. Six
white men were killed or have died, and one
coored man. Several white men are
wounded, ut none seriously. 1t is not yet
known how many negroes are hurt.
As soon as the fight ceased the steamboat
returned to the city for arms and reinforce
ments, and over 100 men went back on her
on two hours, notice, with arms for them
selves and for their LOO men already there
The next morning about 200 more armed
men went W "a the same boat, which had
returned. These armed men were the mill
tary companies, or portion of the compa-
MES, which Gov. Chamberlain ordered TO dis
band two wee ago.
On the n ght of the riot telegrophed to
Summerville to the officer in command OF
the troops for company to go to Cainhov
He replied the next morning that he had
only one artillery company, which had no
small arms. | then telegraphed to Gov.
Chamberlain to know where i could &c
troops, and he referred me to Gen. Ruger, At
Atlanta, who has ordered company from
Columbia, which will arrive tomorrow
morning, and will proceed with them at
once to Cainhoy. | will require the armed
men there to disperse, and will see that no
further rioting takes Ilace. Very respect
fully, K. NJ. WALLACE,
United States MarrhaL