Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-01
THE BATTLE DESCRIBED
BY one ~ the Governors COnstsbles who
Was iu the Midst OF IL ALI

BY One of the Governors COnstsbles Who
Was ln the Midst OF IL ALI.
COLUMBIA, S. c., March S1-Three
constables who were IN the fight at
Darlington arrived at Columbis tonight
very quietly 90 special train from
Sumter, and are now safely housed in
the penitentiary.
They tell the most thrilling and
graphic story OF the tragedy which has
yet been heard. The three arrivals
here were C. B. Mcdonald, J. L. Nuns-
maker and w. D. OwiBgS
Mcdonald gave the following nara
tive OF the fight:
"Five OF US had been detailed 30 stay
In Darlington while the others went TO
Charleston. When the squad, which
was going 10 Charleston weBt 10 the
depot, where the fgat took place, We
went win them. While we were there
Billy Floyd and Rogers, the man who
started tue whole thing got into an
alteration. They bad fight and
FLOYD GOT THE BEST OF 1T.
About that time a negro driver OF the
Enterprise Hotel attempted 20 strike
Floyd. Constable McLenten refused
90 ies the negro attack Floyd, who had
done the cOnstab'es several good turns,
so they liked him. McLenden told the
negro 10 stand back. Then the tele-
graph operator at the depot ran out Of
his Office and asked what McLerden
had 90 do with it. McLenden said
that he did not have anything to
do with it, but he did not propose 10
see Floyd crowded. The operator went
back into the 0lice and Rogers got In
the bus and went up town. Isupp0Se he
went uy there % get q crowd, for in 3
short time he came back with fifteen or
twenty men. Rogers renewed the diff
Guilty with Floyd and cursed the latter
telruly. he went toward Floyd, but
Ch.ef.oi Police Dargau interfered and
commanded the crowd 10 disperse. The
crowd refused % do so, and Rogers
again cursed Floyd. Floyd said be
would not stand it, ana moved on
Rogers.
THE CHIEF OF POLICE
separated them. Rogers turned TO Nc
Lenden aud said: There's is the d
-- who caused me % get whipped.
McLsnden said this was lie. Frank
Norment stepped forward and pointed
% McLenden aud said: Thereis the d
there. McLenden refused
20 stand this aud cursed Norment in re-
turn. was standing right between
MCLendeu and N0TmenJ. Before l knew
it, one OF them reached over my shoulder
and 6red pistol ] DO not know which
fred the first shot. ThatshOt started one
the battle. The citizens were armed
with pistols and Immediately began ir-
ing at the cOnstab,es. The officers we're
standing 10 o body and we're the targets
on the whole party. The cOnstabies re-
turned the fire
odd the cOnstables use rides OF pis-
tols9" asked the reporter.
"Ouly eight OF the men we're armed
with Wiucbesters. I did not have one.
| do not know how many OF them used
rifles. 90 know, however, that con-
stables Pepper and McLenden did not
have rifles, and used pistols. McLen-
Gen emprsd his pistols before be seem
ed 60 know that be- WAS shot.
PEPPER WAS KILLED SOON
after the firing began. do not know
how many times ho fired or whether he
fred at 1ll 1 90 not know who shot
Pepper. The shooting was over in a
few seconds. Tue first thing knew OF
the ending OF the fight was seeing the
consta5les making for cover. They
remained long enough TO see
that they would be crowded, as cour-
iers had started 90 tho city at once Tor
reiaforcements. / was one OF the five
men detailed 90 stay IN Darlington aud
did not run OH with the main body OF
c0ust35.es.'