Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-04
STRIKE AMONG THE RICE
FIELD HANDS.
several Negroes Badly Beaten
"We's all Leaders''-ViOlence or
Negro Women.

On Tuesday last the negroes living on the
pine lands back of the rice plantations on
the Carolina side of the river, and who nave
been working in the rice fields, determined
upon a general strike, and issued their nat
that no more work would be allowed unless
the terms they had settled upon were
agreed to. 1t seems that the negroes
have been receiving sixty Genus
per day, and had task
assigned them, which, II performed, would
make their wages over 81 so per day. and
all good workers easily made this. since
the storm, however, a number OF the plant
ers had advanced the wages to 20 cents
dav with the task. The pine land negroes,
as they are called, that is, the class VINO are
in the back country-some five or six miles
from the plantations-became.d tssatished,
although they were brought to their work
in wagons and conveyed home, thus be-
inc relieved of the walk, and
made a demand for 81 so per day
without any task, stating that when TINS
demand was complied with they could
do their work as they pleased. The river
hands, those who lived in the settlement,
on and near the plantations, were perfectly
satisfied. and took no part in the strike
movement. Hence the strikers determined
to make them quit work ~ ct GTDllS. On
Wednesday morning the strikers attacked
the river hands working on the plantation
of Woodward Barnwell, ESQ.,, and beat six
of them so badly that they are now con
fined to their houses. They also
attacked hands coming to the
plantation of Mr.. Alfred Chisholm and drove
them back, and organized a regular reign OF
terror. The negro women were particularly
Cd wi hrOOn-
sticks and clubs and encouraged and melted
the men.
On Friday morning Trial Justice w. N.
Howard issued warrants against fourteen
of the strikers, who were believed TO be i'm
mediately concerned in the attack on the
negroes at Mr.. Barnwell's planta-
ton. Sheriff Wilson, of Beaufort, undertook
to execute the warrants, and arrested the
parties named when the whole gang fol-
lowed and demanded to be arrested, assert
ing that IL one was arrested all ought to be,
as 1--WE is all leaders" This crowd number
ed about sixty, including women.
Under the circumstances, and for the sake
of avoiding a serious riot, the Sheriff re-
leased the parties arrested on their parole
to report at Trial Justice HeYward's office
on Monday morning at ten O'Clock. This
they promised to do.
On Sunday morning there were large
meetings Of the negroes at different places,
and fights were reported at Beach Hill ana
Lucknow, with what result is not known,
but IT. is believed there was somebody
hurt"
The news of the arrests was communicated
by a system known to plantation negroes,
those on one place warning others, and yes
terday morning early the clans began TO
gather from all directions. The men
brought their guns-old muskets, single
and double barrel guns of every description;
the women with sticks and clubs, and with
drum and fife escorted the paroled negroes
to the office of the Trial Justice. Their
rendezvous was LEWIS cross roads, eight
miles from Screven ferry, where they held a
regular Jubilee, as 1t were. They then pro-
ceeded to the office of the Trial Justice,
few miles distant, their procession gaining
in strength. As far asican be ascertained
the demonstration was intended to pre-
vent the arrest Of any particu-
lar persons, the mob claiming
that they were all leaders, and that no in
dividual should suffer. OF course the
Sheriff could not handle such crowd and
It is not known what was the result at the
Magistrates office. Owing to the meagre
means of communication, no definite iu-
formation of the proceedings OF yester-
day could be ascertained, and 1t 10
not known whether the parties charged
with the assault and battery were
rearrested or whether there was a
general riot.
The situation, however, from the best in
formation obtainable, seems to be serious,
and unless the Sheriff was enabled to rearrest
the parties and they we're committed, the
anticipation is that there will be serious
trouble.
1t is expected that there will be some de-
velopments to day. The negroes are getting
ample pay, and their movement is foolish
one, as the planters are in position we un-
derstand to resist their demands, especially
as the river hands, who appear mere sensi-
BILE, take no part in the strike.