Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-06-11
A CAMP MEETING RIOT.

| From such accounts as we are able to gather
| from colored persons who attended the negro
camp meeting at Mt Zion, last Sunday, riot
| occurred there on that day, which almost
| sumed the proportions of battle. The camping
ground, at which there is n negro meeting house,
is nine miles from town, on the Chester road.
Great preparations had been making for sever
al weeks to hold camp meeting there this
year which should eclipse anything of the kind
ever before attempted in the way of religious
demonstration in York and while these gather
ings are usually held later in the summer, after
the pressure of the farm work is over, it seems
that the religious zeal Of the pious darkeys could
not permit delay, and the fiery month of June
was selected in preferenceto waiting for a cooler
and what custom seems to sanction a more
auspicious term. And as the preparations were
hastened, so was success assured in creating
genuine sensation and as lively time as ever
gladdened a crowd of gleesome darkeys lacking
in all the elements of self control. ~
TO fully ascertain the casus beli would require
the intervention of a coroners inquest, which
may yet have to be called into requisition, and
so many and so conflicting are the stories as to
the progress Of the fight, that it is impossible to
give clear statement of the facts. We cannot
learn with any degree of certainty who were
the aggressive parties, nor how the fighting was
precipitated; but it is indisputable that two po-
tent elements were at the bottom of the trouble.
One Of these was whisky, and the other spirit
of rivalry between the town and country factions.
The country negroes had promulgated the idea
that they did not wish any town negroes present,
putting on airs, at their meetn, ,, and in turn the
town negroes had boasted that they would go
down to Zion and teach the rural darkeys les
son in etiquette. Besides the knives and razors
ana cheap pistols which 90 to make up the ne
gros defensive outfit, each party was well sup
piled with whisky. The Zion worshipers had
sent messages to the town negroes warning them
not to come to their meeting, as their presence
might create trouble; and just in the ratio that
the warnings were received, so was the desire of
the town negroes to attend increased. Horses,
mules and vehicles were in demand OH Sunday
at fancy prices, and when a negro failed to pro-
cure conveyance of any kind, he would franti-
cally ask the livery men for bride or a horse
collar, and if successful in obtaining either,
would start off merrily on foot feeling as much
elated as his more fortunate neighbor who was
mounted on wheels Thus the road was lined
at an early hour, and scarcely had the first town
contingent arrived than hostiities commenced.
Stories are conflicting as to which was the at
tacking party; but all statements agree that the
encounter was desperate and bloody. 1t occur
[eu "Hlle IEe molHlnS seIllon WAS Del1l& QellV-
cred, and from our information the din and con-
fusion must have been great, while no regard
was had for the safety of women and children,
in the conflict with knives pistols and bludgeons,
Of the town negroes engaged in the affair we
have only the names of George Beckham, Sam
Walker, Andy Neely, and Charlie Howie.
1t is claimed that George Beckham shot
by William Crawford one of the country fac
ton, who in turn was shot by Beckham, the
ball entering near the hip joint, and as thought,