The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-21
THEDANFHLE RIOT.
THE SHERMANS COMMITTEES nEcIN
THEIR INVESTIGATIONS,

w WAsHINGTOE, February 14.-Y'he I'm.
Vestlgation of the Danville Gle ction
riot was begun this morning. Con
gressmen Cabell and John S. Wise. OF
Virginia, were present.
Walter s. Withcrs, colored, who at
the time of the riot was policeman
III Danvillc, first witness. Ho de-
Scrlbed his experience OH the 3rd OF
Novembor. A white man and col
ored man were fighting and crowd
assembled. The witness arrived after
the combatants had been separated
but crowds remained. The whites
were ranged in line along the curb
and the colorcd men were i'm the street
The white men had pistols in thcil
hands. The witness advised the col
ored men to leave, fearing they would
| get hurt. lie heard white men say
they, the colorcd men, could gct
enough if they wanted it, and if they
didn't leave some of them would wcl
hurt. The witness. was unsuccessful
in his efforts. Some of the colorcd
men. objected to leaving, saving tina,
the whites were trying to override
| them. lie stepped to one side and
upon the sidewalk Just before the
firing began. The first firing was il,
the air. The coiored people began to
run, after which the whites aimed al
them wherever they could see them.
The witness did not make any arrests,
| being afraid to ito so. The local OF.
ficials were Readjustcrs. A military
company was called out about an hour
after the riot. Some Of the white
rioters were on guard that evening.
None of the colorcd men, so far as the
witness knew, had pistols. One man
was shot dead and several wounded
In consequence OF the riot The colorcd
people agreed among themselves not
to vote ut the election three davs after
wards, fearing violence. In reply to
Senator Vance the witness said his
affidavit made before the committee of
forty at Damvillc was incorrect, in so
far rs it avcrrcd that the c0lorcd men
had used firearms. The witness bad
signed the affidavit, but did not write
it. 1t had been read over to him, but
it seemed something had been added
thereafter.
The colorcd men had been assured
by leading white men of Danvillc,
after the riot, that they would not be
disturbed at the polls, but still thew
feared to vote. The witness was not
afraid to vote, but did not because of
the understanding that the colorcd
would not vote No orders were re-
ccivcd not to vote.
Jack Rcdd, colorcd, was next called
He was Republican chairman. He
went to Danvilllc on November 3. to
sec Col. Sims about threats he had
heard against the Colonel. About .
O'Clock he heard there was fighting,
lie left hastily, rs did other colorcd
men, when the fighting began. After
wards, on returning, he was met by
@5t. 81 Cabcll, who tod him 'tA te fiHhss iHhsss was
the consequence of his (witness'S)
teachings. Ned Hatcher camc alon..
and asked Cabell who witness WIS.
Being informed, Hatcher said, "Lci
me blow his brains out" Col. CabelI
said, "No, let the scoundrcl leave
here Hatcher struck the witness,
and then rs the witness left they began
| firing at him. Witness saw his white
ncighbors going into Danvillc that
night and returning with gums they
had procured in Danvillc. He saw
them going to the polls on election
day with tho Same guns. The colored
people were thereby intimidated, and
concluded not to 90 to the polls. In
reply to Senator Vance the witness
got excited and cvinccd ignorance OF
the distance from Danvillc to New
Design, the witncss's own precinct,
where tho colorcd people did not vote
by reason of intimidation and from
Danvillc to Wimbush where thcv did
vote. lie did not know that New
| In fn,,, ,,ilnc 10 Il
was only one mile from Danvillc.
The next witness examined was
l.. l.. joey, col0rcd. His testimony
was unimportant. He saw people
running and thought there was fire
went 20 the corner to ascertain, and
saw white men along the curb with
their pistols aimed; feared somebody
might shoot him and went back to his
place Of business. The firing began
and the colorcd men ran. One was
shot across the street. Jack Rcdd, the
preceding witness, came along and
asked the colorcd men, "What arc YOU
runnin' for, de white people is only
burnin' powder" They replied, "Wat's
dc mcanin' of dat dead man ohcr dar,
if dcv don't mean harm." The wit
ness described the maltrcatmcnt Of
Jack fedd by Hatcher, which were
made to himself on thc same day bv
white people. The fitness did not
vote because Of fear inspired by the
riot. The committee then took u re-
cess.
Proceedings were resumed at 9
O'Clock, and w. II. Taylor, white,
tobacconist of Danvillc, took the wit
ness chair. Replying to series Of
questions by Senator Sherman and
Senator Vance, he said that on the
afternoon of November 3rd, he was
doorkceper at Democratic meeting
in the opera house in DanvillG. Mr..
NOEL told the witness he had been in
suited by q negro named Hence Law.
son, and asked the witness and Mr..
Lee to go down and see fair plav.
while he (NoclD thrashcd Lawson,
The three went down the street, met
Lawson, and NOEL administered the
thrnshing. Two policemen came ND
to separate the combaiants and VIII
ness told NOEL he had done enough.
and the two were parted. Just then
Lee called the witness, and the latter