The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-28
THE MEETxHa 1tr wrs1ssBono.

rCHARLEsToN, S. g., Oct 24,> 1880.
TO the Editor Of the Neays and Cou-
3ier: =.
Yesterday I went to Winnsboro. the
county seat Of Fairfield county, by re-
quest of tho chairman of the Republi-
can State Committee and the nominee
for Congress in tho Fourth Congress
sional District, to address the Repubii-
cans of that county in favor Of the
election of tho Republican nominees
for President and Vicc-Prcsitlent md
for Congress.
I arrived about halfpast / O'Clock,
and to my surprise saw hundreds OF
tho Rcd-Shirt Democracy massei oD-
posito the depot and facing towards it.
Getting on tho platform, l inquired
tho way to tho grove in which the
meeting was to bc held, and started to
go there, when was approached by u
man wearing rcd-sllirt who Informed
nlc that tho 'Rcd-Shirts wanted to cs-
cort me to tho meetings" which invita-
ton declined, as it was u Republican
meeting and wasa Republican. heard
shouts and cries: "Whcrc is Taft?''
''Where is Blythcr "Bring them out
here to us" proceeded on my way,
having q small valisc and al umbrella,
followed immediately by some Rcpub-
licans: l had not gone far before the
ltcd-shirts, all ofwlom were mounted,
ana many Democrats on foot, came
rushing behind Inc, with all sorts of
cplthets OF the most obscene and pro-
fame character. Presently a hundred
or more OF the mounted men charged
Ill my rear upon the colorcd men and
myself, tho street and opposite side
walks being entirely filled with tho
Red-shirts on horseback. The
colorcd men scattered. l protected
myself from being tramplcd TO death
by getting behind tree. They rush
eu past me, wheeled and returned,
croWdlng me into the street, about
iour feet below the sidewalk, where
tho lnturiatcd mob rushed at me, with
pistols drawn and cooked, all being
armed, cndcavoring to fire; at tho
amc time some four or five on foot
rushed at me cndcavoring to catch
mold OF me, which one succeeded in
doing, by tho collar, who was thrown
or, tearing away my collar and neck
tic: All the time the mob kept crying:
"Shoot tho damn Radical. Stand
aside, let us kill him"
But for the personal intervention of
Major Woodward and Mr.. Ellison, at
the risk Of their own persons, who
placed themselves between myself and
the mob, | would have been Instantly
killed. They succeeded in driving the
mob bascclk., SSiiaior Woodward insisting
that for MY personal! safety l mount a
horse and ride with him, lIG UrOH..,,iissiinuy
that II did SO should be safe. x
MIR. Kennedy and Mr.. Ellison Offering
mo their horses, | mounted Mr.. Ken
nedy's horse, and thereby got out of
the crowd bv the aid Of Ma or Wood
ward, Mr.. Ellison, Mr.. Kennedy, Mr..
Gaillard and president of one Of tho
clubs, whose name do not know. |
rode with Major Woodward, and NOT
Witlstanding the efforts Of the gentle
men named. the "Rctl-shirts" crowded
around lis striking and sticking spurs
into the animal that | rode. She be-
ing very spirited kicked and became
nearly unnlanageablc; at the same
time attempts were made to pull me
OIL by cntching hold OF my ovcrcoat.
Arriving ut the meeting ground,
with ti!c assistance Of these gentlemen
named, l WAS enabled TO dismou;t,
and in company Will Major Wood
ward, mounted the stand. Before
mounting tho horse stated to Major
w Oodward, who is chairman of the
Democratic party in this county, that
If the purpose was to compel me to
ride III the "Rcd-Shirt" procession,
under no circumstances would mount
Il horse. lie disclaimcd such intention,
and stated that it was to protect me
from violence and formo othcr purpose.
The stand was taken possession Of by
the "Rcd-Shirts''-no Republican but
myself being upon it. Major Wood
ward drove them of, and by personal
cXertions und very forciblc language
succeeded in getting quiet, and at nv
suggestion the Republican county
chairman called the meeting to order.
stating to me that he would do so and
then leave. told him that unless he
remained and presided should refuse
to speak. / then offered Major Wood
ward chance 10 speak and I would
reply. He declined, and Col. Rion
accepted, speaking for one hour, sup
plenicnting nearly every statement
with the assertion that "nuvbody who
said to the contrary was u damned
liar"
l commenced speaking, but was in
tcrruptcd with prolailc and obscene cpl.
thcts, shaking OF fists and rcvolvers at
me, declaring that they would kill me
before gol away.
Major Woodward stepped to the
front and said that ''hc was rcsponsi.
bic for good order and could
only preserve it by the assistance OF
tic Democrats themselves, and if they
did not preserve order he would pull
off his red shirt and go home, and they
and the party could go to hell" This
sobcrcd them somewhat, and with the
exception of about q dozen of the ruff
fans l was not interrupted. These
abused and threatened me, one of then
throwing a stick which struck but die
not injurc nc.
At the close Of the meeting Col
Rlon suggested that [ walk to the dc
pot with him. Col. Rion is looked
upon as the leading lawyer Of tha
section of the agreed
leaving Major >dward O,
the stand, ,hinkins keep th
| 4, IL