The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-11-26
s;kiIl the Damned Democrats"

FULTON, Nov. 10, 1SS4-One of the most
disgraceful riots that have ever stained the
annals Of our county occurred at this poll
ing precinct last Tuesday. All during the
day the negroes showed a restless and tur-
bulent spirit, and were very violent ID their
threats and actions. The jam at the Con-
gressionai polling place was terrific, the
negroes fighting one another, and n some
cases actually tearing of the clothes OF each
other in their efforts to get first to the polls.
| They acted as if their lives and liberty de-
pended on casting vote, but by their mad
haste the voting was greatly retarded. The
| ten State constables were excellent, brave,
and determined men, and they did much to
facilitate matters, but it was utterly impos-
sible to quell the pandemonium raised by
these demoniacal negroes. About nifty ne
groes without registration certificates pre-
sented themselves at the polls and demand
ed that they be allowed to vote, and 1t was
with great difficulty that riot was then kept
down. When the polls closed there were at
| least twenty Democrats who had been kept
from voting by this mob. During the can
vass Of the Congressional vote the threats
of the negroes continued to increase, and
seemed to be aimed especially against Man
ager J. Manning Welch, butno violence was
done. Before the canvass Of the electoral
| vote began the managers informed Repubh-
can Supervisor Boston that he could not be
present during the counting. The Demo
cratic supervisor had already retired, and
Boston said he was aware that he had no
right to remain and without any
further ado he quietly left the room.
! This seemed to be signal for general up
rising, and the mob, now numbering about
$50, became loudest in their curses. 1mme-
diately upon Boston's leaving the house
| three pistol shots were fred at the managers
by the mob. These shots lodged in the
window sills, and the mob angrily demand
| ed that the negroes in and arou I'd the doors
and windows should leave, so that they
could kill the ID Democrats. Aregular
fusilade was now begun, the balls striking
against the side of the house like hail, but,
amid all this, the managers quietly proceed
| ed with the count, until one ball grazed the
shoulder of State Constable E. P. Geddiugs
and other persons in the house came near
being hit. This was little too hot, and the
| white men within the house were forced to
seek an liner room for protection. At least
four hundred shots were fred at the build
| ing, but fortunately no one was hurt. The
COIl1AOCo lOi SiICS 4AOoI oA1>S " 90
throughout accompanied with brick-batting
and hideocs yellings In addition to the
shooting, the negroes also cut up the sad
dies and harness and took the taps off The
buggy wheels, and did what other damage
they could There were in the house about
twenty white men, but they all remained
quiet, and net ore SHOT was fred at the
mob. W.
The following spring seven ofthese rioters
were tried and six Of them We're convicted
and sentenced each to a,term OF six months
in the Penitentiary. Mr.. Helch was the
chief mover in the prosecution, and from
his great zeal in the case was dubbed the
assistant solicitor But time works great
and marvellous changes.
At the recent election, so We are told by a
number of reliable gentlemen from Pine
wood, who, If necessary, are ready to make
affidavit to the truth Of the assertion, Mr.
Welch was exceedingly active in trying to
get these same negroes to vote against the
regular Democratic ticket, and because the
negroes seemed disinclined to vote he at
tempted to incite them to riot-the same
negroes who, six years before, had attempt
ed his and the ether managers lives. But
he could not get the negroes to do his bid
ding. If Mr.. Welch wishes to deny the
above We refer him to Major L. II. Des-
Champs, the Senator-elect from this county,
to Mr.. r. S. Harvin, to Mr. Paul Hodge, and
to other names we can furnish him with.
Knowing then the great danger at this
poll, and having been informed that num-
bea of white men in that section were en-
deayoring to get negroes to vote the Inde-
pendent ticket the Democratic executive
committee determined to take advantage Of
the law IS above stated, and to deprive sew
eral hundred negroes from voting. Our
plans were well Laid; our work was well done;
few white men were deprived of their votes;
but Mr.. Welch and his few white and many
coiored friends were not allowed to cast
their votes for Haskell. And we did it all
fairly and lawfully. The county Democracy
Of Clarendon was we'll organized, and We are
proud Of our success. S. 4. NETTLss.