The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-12-21
CRUELTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

SIR Il had hoped to be spared from
writing accounts of any more outrages, but
the time has come when "silence has ceased
70 be a virtue" and "the fear of man may be
q snare whereby we may be again entangled
with the yoke of bondage.
have talked with man who left his
home on the morning of election day Novem-
her 7, thinking TO vote at a certainpoll and
then 90 on to his work When he reached
the place he was told he could not vote
there. The voters present being nearly
all white men, he thought it best to leave
quietly and 90 to poll where there were
United States troops. He was followed by
three men, and when short distance on
his way was seized by them and the follow
inc dialogue took place, with many more
oaths than shall give:
"What shall we do with the d mig
ger Let us kill him"
"Yes, by, let US kill him ~ said an
other.
One of the white men loosened his hold
and stepped away To use the words of
the negro II thought they would kill me
sure, and [ say "If you're going to kill me
let me make prayer.
"No, you - -, you ought to have
dnoe that before"
"Well, then, if you got paper and pencil
about you let me write few lines to my
wife she thinks I'm gone on to my work
and if be dead | want her to know it."
NO If you had been at home attend
ing to her and minding your own business
YOU would not got this to-day. We are
going to stop niggers ruling white folks.
It's our country and we are going to have
it"
Then they said eve will give him fifty
lashes apiece" They cut sticks from the
road side, and told the negro to take off
his coat aud shirt He lay down on his
face, and the command came,-"Get on
your knees, lean over, tighten up your skin
50 | can cut it. D." At the first lash. the
negro says, Il jumped up, when one SAYS,
Do YOU want me to kick you in the month :?
If Won do that again Iii kick every tooth
out of your head The men took turns,
and the one whipping gave his pistol to one
of the others. Then two Of the white men
men held their pistols at the mans head
and said, IF you call for aid we will blow
out your brains, and if you ever tell this
YOU will be dead nigger. We know you
now" lie says the punishment was more
than one hundred lashes, and when they
left him he was Just able to crawl in his
bloody clothes to his home, unable to get
to the other poll. This action gained the
Democrats one vote. Two weeks ago it
was done, and to-day the mans back is
mass of healing wounds One of the white
men | could give name) is out on bail
from charge of having participated in
other outragcs.
In another case, where a colored man,
who WAS born free, asked why they wanted
to kill so many men, lac was told F.: ave
have been waiting on God Almighty nearly
J. years to change the niger mind and he
hasu done 1t, so we are going to change
them from Republicans to Democrats" In
my other letter | wrote Of woman whose
nephew was shot in her cabin, and who fell
dead on her floor pierced by FIVE pistol
bullets. She saw the pistols fired The
wadding set fire to his clothing, and he was
burning after he was dead. She SAYS. at
was done so quick he didn't say ANYTHING
but o Lord o Lord with everyfre." This
and several other outrages were committed
after the trouble at Rouses Bridge, after
the United States troops had been there,
peace had been declared and the soldiers
had left. The white men then rode around
yelling $50 to burying~ 90 to burying.
we've got three more blackbirds. This
aunt and her daughter lived together and
worked in the house for white folks. The
woman was sent for to give evidence about
her nephew. The white man of the place
told her: IF you are going to Aiken, you
had better move before you 90 L don't
know what may happen to your things be-
lore you get back" She cane-the
daughter stayed to cook for white family
While she was away one day, their home
was burned to the ground. The daughter
ran to the house, hoping to save few
things, but 1t was so thoroughly afre, to-
use her own expression, She did not save
enough to wrap round a fngernail. Ma, /
not been out half an hour, and ! lef no fire
but Goals covered up. | never see a house
burn SO; there must have been kerosene
all over the floor, 1t was fire all over" As
write, this much-injured woman sits by,
sitting the tears as she tells how "all my
dresses and bed-clothes, and nice white
csounterpares, for | wanted to live like white
1oIks, and dishes and glasses are burnt up
l went to hunt in the ashes for twelve
dollars In silver / had, but could find none"
ana then with smothered sob: II never
ala no harm to the white folks; why did
'ney do such to me? / thought to come
up here and tell what they wanted to know
and had seen, but by the time | was
oone talking here, word came my house
was done burnt up"
Let me say here, it takes brave women
ana courageous men to leave home and give
testimony duplicating the whites They
NJ Know the risk to life and property. Is i'll
Akely they would do it for the pay of a |
witness, as some assert? Many who came
from Ellenton and Rouse's Bridge have
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