New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-01


The Sumter Infantry have refused to obey his
orders. The Bishopville Company. OF Sumter
County. went to Darlington to-day, but after
ward returned home and would not perform the
work expected OF them. The Fourth Brigade OF
Charleston. the largest and best equipped troop
in the State. has been ordered to the front. and
will not go. But several companies have moved
on 20 Darlington. and are now on their way TO
that place. company from Aiken County the
Adisor Rifles. OF Orangeburg. company from
Clarendon County, and perhaps several other
companies from adjoining counties, will reach the
seat Of war tonight or tomorrow. At Orange
burg to-day DR.. j. NJ Stokes, who defeated
for Congress at the recent election by General
Iselar, made a passionate harangue. and organ
lied company of leo men. with a farmer as
captain. to go to the support Of Tillman
In the mean time the people of Darlington
not idle. At o'clock this evening there were
s75 armed men at Darlington and vicinity ready
to defend the town against all corners.
To-day at Florence and Timmonsville scouting
parties have been securing the country for the
constables who made their escape yesterday.
dispatch from Darlington says: The con-
stables are surrounded at Syracuse They are
in the woods and crowds are debating whether
to starve them out dash in and kill them
The constabes offered to surrender last night If
protection would be given and guaranteed them.
Bright Williamson who had run across them,
said he could not guarantee them protection. but
would ask his crowd II they would agree to pro-
tect them. When he returned. the constables
had disappeared Gaard Swan and Meakin es-
capped into North Carolina by train, possibly
being accompanied by one or two wounded con-
stables 1t Is said that TWO or three constaoles
who took part in the shooting have escaped tow
ard Chesterfield. They are not being pursued
1rk,o III in t1,ac ANN of
certain TO be captured tonight. Two surrendered
to-day. 1t is believed that all who are cap
tured will be killed and there are strong threats
that McLendon. who was wounded in the nght
yesterday, will be lynohed tonight The situa-
ton is exceedingly grave, and the state OF the
public mind is indescrbable. AT no time IN the
history of this State for the last thirty years has
there been so great arrangement between It's
people. No..
Three constabes who were in the fight at OAR
nngton arrived in Columbia tonight on special
train from Sumter. and are now sate,y houSeG ~
the penitentiary. They are {. b. Mcdonald. j. l.
Nunamaker and w. ID. Owlngs. Mcdonald VINO
was in charge, told the following story;
"Five OF us had been detailed to stay IN par
lington while the others went to CnarItes preston,
When the squad which was going to Charleston
went TO the depot. where the hgAt LOOK P pa,
we went with them. While we We're there. .bii,y
Floyd and Rogers. the man who started me
whole thing. got into an alteration Ihey Sa9
fight and Floyd got the best Of it, About tna'
time a negro driver for the Enterprise Hotel at
tempted to strike Floyd. Constable McLendon
told the negro TO stand back. Then the tGieSiap1
operator at the depot ran out OF ms cince ana
asked what McLendOn had 10 do with H. NC
Lendon said ne did not propose 10 see fI0yu
crowded. The operator went Dack mo the ONCE
and Rogers got in the bus and went uptown
IT suppose he went up there TO get crowd
for in short time he came back with =, 1ifteen
or twenty men Rogers renewed the difncuty
with Floyd, but Chief of Police Dargan inter
fered and commanded TIE crowd to disperse
The crowd refused to do 50, and Rogers accused
49, t.i1A IN
would not stand it. and went toward Rogers
Chief of Police Dargan separated them rogers
then turned &c McLendon and said: mere IS
the - w1o caused me u Sel
whipped McLendon said this was lie;
Then Frank Norment, who was killed siePpru
forward and pointed to McLendon' ana sald;
There is the there Mcl-endon
cursed Norme1t i re urn.
Il was standing right between McIendon and
Norment and befor1 / knew IT, one Of them
reached my shoulder and fired pistol
i do not know which one fired the first shot
The shot started the battle The citizens were
armed with pistols and Immediately began fir
ing at the constables The officers were standing
in body and targets Of the whole party
The constabes returned the fire.
Did the constables use rifles or plstols%' was
asked.
only eight of the men were armed with Win
chesters. / did not have one. do not know
how many of them used rifles. do know, how
ever that Constables Pepper and McLendon did
not have rifles and used pistols. McLendon
emp;ied his pistols before he seemed to know that
he was shot. Pepper was killed soon after the
firing began. | do not know how many times he
fired whether nc fred at all. do not know
who shot Pepper The shooting was over in
few seconds. The first thing knew Of the end
ing of the ight was seeing the constables making
for cover. They remained long enough 10 see
that they would be crowded, as couriers had
started TO the city at for reinfOrcements
II was Of the five men detailed 10 stay in
Darlington. and did not run of with the main
body OF the constables. / went to Colonel Pepper
He was lying the ground and as l bent over
him he opened his eyes. smiled at me and closed
. them again Then he gasped several times and
Afad He
shot came from .32-calibre pistol tried TO get
physicians to attend to McLendon who had not
fallen until the fight was over: could not gel
any of them TO aid him. About that time
noticed a crowd of citizens coming. and thought
A. about time to get away. Together with the
two men who came here with me, l took the
pistols which Pepper and McLendon had had and
made ny way to the home OF Sheriff Scar
borough We stayed at his house until deputy
fold us that the house to be searched. and
that we had better 60 TO the woods. Then we
went TO the woods. This was about O'Clock in
eve lay in the woods until dark and then
went back toward the town to see what We could
learn We that il would not be safe for
us and set of down the track Of the Charles
ton Sumter and Northern road We walked
the track all night without seeing any one We
reached sumter about half-past y o'clock To-
day. and went by rear streets until We saw the
Chief OF Police and surrendered to him. We
told him that had not had anything to eat
since the day before and he took TO a
restaurant. The Sumter military were already
under arms anc detachment of them were
stationed around the restaurant TO protect us.
The crowd which collected driven away
from In front OF the restaurant. After We had
eaten, we We're taken 10 jail, and remained there
until we brought here on a special train
do you know who Of the cons;abes were
wounded In the fght?' Mcdonald asked
"No, do not i heard that Chief Gaards
son was one Of the men wounded"
When asked If he or his companions had seen
any OF the other cOnstables after leaving OAR
lington. Mcdonnell answered they had not and
did not have any idea where they He
said that BILLY Floyd last seen running
along the railroad track in direction opposite