The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-07
CHATHAM COUNTY'SV VOTE.
TESTERS MAJORITY VERY CLOSE
TO THREE THOUSAND

The Total Vote O,oSS-- Ao A1NA = GOV
Ever Polled in the County-The
Count Incomplete at O'clock This
Morning and to Be Finished To-Day
The Day at the PoIs-Republicans at
THAR Old Tricks-Colored Democrats
Set Upon by Republican Rowdies-
Watching the Morning News Bulle-
+ins-The Crowds Through the City.
There was heavy vote polled here yes
terdav. At o'clock it was within l35
votes of the whole number cast four years
ago. The morning was misty, and the fog
hung over the city until nearly 10 O'Clock,
although the air. when the fog lifted, was
AS balmy as a morning in spring. A few
clouds dotted the sky, but they soon disap-
peared and the voters had a clear, bright
dav for the work in hand.
An hour before the time for opening the
polls crowds of colored people gath
cred in the vicinity of the court house.
Onlv few white people other than the
managers of the election and members of
the general conference committee We're yet
out AS soon as the polls were declared
open there was rush to vote. The four
precincts were crowded for short while.
but The pressure was soon over, however,
and from that time on the voting progressed
steadily and quietly.
CHALLENGERS ON THE ALERT.
The democratic challengers were alert,
and watched every vote closely. The col
0red voters seemed to mass their force at
che Bull street and the York street boxes.
where they were represented by colored
poll icians who seemed inclined to encour-
age the voting of those whose claims to votes
were doubtful. At Abercorn and President
streets three colored men were about to as
sault and get the best of Officer Masters
with clubs, but the timely arrival of Chief
Fernandez, OF the fire department, pre-
vented trouble, and the rowdies were
marched off to the barracks 1t was evi-
dent that they intended to incite disturb
ance, and their timely arrest prevented it.
They gave their names as Sam Houston.
Hector Rankin and Carey Smith. Later on
Rufus Benbow (colored) swore in mis- vote
and was arrested for perjury by Officer
Bedford. In his statement Benbow claimed
TO have been born at period which ON in
vestigation proved to be 1870, and hence his
arrest. John Blaine (colored) was arrested
for interfering with voters, and Andrew
james tcoloredl for illegal voting.
NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
There were quite number of colored
voters whose votes were rejected because
they were unable to give an intelligent ac-
count of themselves. A young colored man
at the Bull street box wanted to swear that
he was 81. When asked what year he was
born he was unable to say. When asked
how he knew he was 81, he replied that he
was told to swear to it. His vote was re-
jected. Another was unable to give the year
of his birth or even his own name. After
this all the young colored men about whose
age there was any ground for doubt, would
swear that they were bora in 1867. There
was an unusual crop of thenI-all born in
1867.
Hundreds of colored people remained
about the court house all day, but, with
few exceptions, the whites voted and went
about their business. Most of the colored
people voted solidIy for "Mr. Harrisn as
some of the old darkies called the republican
candidate. They set an example Of ''stick-
ing by their colorn that might well have
been initiated by the whites who voted
with them.
There was but little challenging by either
side, everybody seeming disposed to make
no issues, but to let each party develop its
full strength.
THE CoLoRED VOTE NOT ALL REPUBLICAN.
There were some colored men who voted
the democratic ticket, but it was a danger
GUS risk. One was rescued from assault at
Abercorn and Broughton streets, and pro-
tected by a gentleman who warned off a
crowd of negroes who had driven a
democratic colored man into Carson's
stable Another democratic colored man
was rescued in like manner in Bay
street lane, by crowd of men
and boys of his color who had followed
him vengefully because he had voted ac
cording to the dictates of his own con
science.
Although the court house square and the
four streets fianking the court house were
crowded all day by colored people, the
best of order was maintained. Sheriff
Roman and corps of special deputies were
on hand, and contingent of police under
Chief Green were near at hand, to act in
case of emergency. The presence of the
state and municipal officers did much to
preserve order, for whenever there was the
least sign of trouble the crowd was ordered
to move on.
SALOONS KEPT SHUT
The saloons throughout the city kept their
front doors closed. There was very little
drunkenness in the neighborhood Of
the polls. The great bulk OF the crowd
that filed up street and sidewalk
about the court house, and the hundreds
who congregated in court house square,
were of course colored, but they seemed to
be actuated more by an idle curiosity than
any party interest, and many of them did
not offer to vote. Others voted early and
remained about the polls; while a third
class hung about the place watching, and in
many instances soliciting pay for their votes
In few instances they managed to
get republican money enough to
pay years taxes, and some of
them walked off without applying the
money in that way. There were quite a
number during the forenoon who paid their
taxes and voted.
The bulk of the colored vote was cast
by IL o'clock, and after that the steady
stream of white votes flowed in. There
could be no doubt from the first that the
democracy would, when aroused, show its
strength, and the display Of the republi-
cans in the morning was soon noised abroad
throughout the city and brought out a big
vote.
THE TOTAL VOTE $500.
The progress of the voting was rapid up
TO 10 O'Clock. at which time /, 500 votes had
been cast, but the voting was not SO rapid
until tine last hour and three-quarters, when
the voters began to come in rapidly, and in
that time over $50 votes were polied, the
total vote at 30 o'clock D. m. being 4, 1855,
and when the polls closed at O'Clock it
footed up $500.
The Drayton street box took the lead from
the start and maintained IL to the close, poll
ing / 730 votes. At 10 o'clock the Bull
street box WAS second, but three-quarters Of
an hour later the York street box led it Z
votes, and kept second place until the polls
closed. The vote, when the polls closed,