Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-04-14
SOUTH CAROLINA.
CHAMBERLAIN STEPS DOWN
AND OUT.
Special Dispatch to the Bait. SUM-

ly and quickly as to deprive the occa
sion of much Of its purely dramatic IN
terest. In all save the one essential
particular that they were going out new
! err 10 return the evacuation differed very
little from the usual suppression of tn,
guard which might have been witnessed
any time during these four months.
Gov. Hampton's published request il
furtherance of his promise to Haye:
that no democrat should so near the
State House unless authorized by
! him 10 do so was carried out to the let
ter. Not one was present at the cere
mony, and | saw none on the grounds
either before or after the performance
Twenty minutes before II o'clock your
correspondent with the other members
of the press, presented themselves at the
| front door and entered unchalenged,
although a score of the celored special
constables were hanging about the en-
trance watching our movements, with
sullen unfriendly glance.
Within doors was confused crowd
of perhaps one hundred and fifty per
sons, mostly colored people, standing in
groups engaged in low and dispiritcd
conversation. Here and there were to
be seen one or two smaller groups OF
white republicans similarly occupied, and
all looking badly demoralized. The
gaurd on duty to-day was detachment
of twenty men of company Is, Second
Regiment, under command of Leuten-
ant Haynes.
All necessary preparations for the
evacuation had been completed betor e
Cur arrival, and the men, fully accoutred
were resting in two ranks, and with
their guns stacked before the door OF
the comptroller generals office, which
b Is been used as officers quators. A sent.
ry paced up and down his old beat be-
fore the executive Office. Col. Black
aud Adjutant Potter stood under an
arch, frequently referring to their watch
es. Gen. Ruger's aids had arrived with
the order during the morning, and Col.
Black was nervously intent upon com
plying with its precise instructions as
10 the hour of departure, to wit, precise
ly twelve o'clock. His nervousness az
fected his subordinate officers.
At ten minutes before twelve Lieut..
HAYNES suddenly sounded the order,
"Attention!' Then came in rapid sue
cession, Cake arms, "Uhhx bayonets,
Garry arms, Count fours," "Twos, "
"Right," "March!." The last order
brought the squad sharply down on
the crowd, which gave way TO allow
free passage to the door, but the line
was not yet up. and sudden halt was
made as the leading file reached the
south entrance.
,, The sentry on dnty before the execu-
tive office now relieved for the last time,
resumed bis place in the ranks, and the
command "Order arms!' being given,
the men stood at ease. Presently the
sergeant, who has timed his watch with
the city hall bell, which in turn was set
with the clock in the telegraph office,
which in turn was regulated from
Washington by telegraph, whispers to
the lieutenant, "One minute more or
80" aud is directed TO take his stand at
the south door, next to the city hall,
and to give notice of the first tap of the
clock bell 10y a wave Of the hand.
Col. Black seeing the maneuvre call
ed the sergeant and sent Lieut.. Briggs,
of the same company, to take fine pos:
of warning. The seconds are minutes
now, and everybody is listening for the
sound or watching for the signal.
There it goes! Lieut.. Briggs waves
his hand to indicate the first tap, which
was not heard in the recess Of the hall,
and advances rapidly TO Col. Black 10
report the fact.
The Colonel says Don't run sir. "
The Lieut.. joins the squad, then is heard
"Attention, gaurd; carry arms; right
shoulder arms, two right march.
The sound of heavy and hurried foot
falls resonnd along the corridors, and
before the bell has reached the fifth
stroke of the twelve the last file has
crossed the threshold.
A humber of colored constables, evil
IDENTITY acting under peremptory and
urgent orders, instantly sprung 10 the
heavy doors and slammed them to with
bang, in the face OF the crowd within,
and in the immediate rear of the last
file Of soldiers without, and the militia
ry occupation of the State Is ended.
All was done SO Suddenly that the
clock could be heard striking after the
doors were closed.
The crowd quickly dispersed almost
in silence, and in few minutes the
wires were flashing the tidings to every
town and village in the whole land.
The detachment of soldiers were march
ed direct to their quarters and dismiss
ed.
Chamberlain's action to-day was a
complete surprise TO everybody outside
the small circle of his immediate
friends, and could Lot have been an
,icipated by any one not in his conf
dence. 1t was certainly known, upon
evidence contained in his own hand.
writing, that SO lately as Saturday
night he was fully determined upon the
policy of resistance to this policy. His
supporters here considered him firmly
committed, and they were prepared to
sustain him in it.
He had not in single instance Civ
en- the slightest intimation Of even the
possibility Of a change in the course be
had marked ont, and such a possibility