The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-01

outcome no man can say. God alone
Knows what il will be. | have lust re-
turned from Darlington. After careful
inquiry from eye-witnesses, / have
gathered what believe to
be the true story of the lamentable occur
renee there Friday afternoon, and / give
1t without fear or favor Many stories are
told and it is hard to get the straight ac-
count. Sitting down all the stories |
have heard, / believe the following to be
as near the truth as can be ascertained
at this time: The constables had
performed their duty in Darlington
and five went to the Charles
ton, Sumter and Northern depot to take
the train, while the others, Is in number,
went to the Cheraw and Darlington dopot
to take the train there. The train was
behind time, and the constables sat
and stood around waiting for it to come
along. Three or four citizens of Darling
ton were standing around, waiting for the
train also.
ORIGIN OF THE RIOT.
Paul Rogers, a clerk in the Enterprise
hotel, came down on the bus Hehad a few
words with Billy Floyd, brother of the
dispenser at Darlington. and man who
has been accused OF carrying tales from
one side to the other in Darlington.
Floyd struck Rogers in the face, knock
ing him down, and then jumped on him.
Constable McLendOn said: GO it, Billy.
Whip HI out of -
The men were separated and Rodgers
went off, coming back a few minutes
later with several others. Chief of Po-
lice Dargan had meantime approached
Floyd and told him to appear before the
mayor next morning. Floyd offered to 90
with Dargan at once, but he said it was
not necessary. When Rogers appeared,
Dargan went up to him and
asked him what he wanted.
He said Floyd had not
fought him fairly He wanted fair
fight.
Frank Norment said: "You town boys
can have your fight up town. This is no
place for fight"
MOMENTS ROW WITH M'LENDoN.
At the time he was sitting down Nc
Lendon said something about the fight
having been fair. Norment then said it
had not been.
McLendon said: "You are damn
liar2"
Norment replied: you're a lying -
- -- and the cause of all the trouble"
McLendon said: II won't stand it,"
drawing his pistol as he uttered the
words and firing quick as he could get it
on level.
Norment had risen as he spoke to Nc
Lendon. AS he fell, killed by bullet
through his breast, he knocked aside
another man, which probably saved his
life
McLendon said as he fired; "Its got to
come boys. Letter roll "
One Of the constables attempted to knock
up McLendon's hand when he saw him
going to fire. but was not quick enough.
AS McLendon fred, those citizens pres
ent who had pistols In their pockets drew
them, supposing there would be fight.
The constables, seeing the status of af-
fairs, drew their weapons also, and the
firing began almost simultaneously.
A DIFFERENCE OF TESTIMONY.
On one point there is adherence of
testimony. Chief of Police Dargan was
between the TWO parties, trying to pre-
serve order. Some say he was struck by
the first bullet, others that he was struck
by the second. The firing lasted not
over a minute, but deadly work was
done. MIR. Redmond emptied his pistol,
IL being reported that he gave
Constable Pepper his death and
also wound ed McLendon. AS he
half turned to reload, q bullet struck the
back of his neck, coming out under his
chin. He dropped dead. AS Dargan
started to get of the platform, one of the
constables drew bead on him and pulled
fire. An old gentleman, Mr.. Fountain,
an unarmed spectator, said to him: My
God man, hasn't enough blood been
shed?"
The constable then turned and ran
after the body of constables who were
making for the woods near the oil mills.
When Constable Pepper fell, one of the
constables stopped down and tried to at
tend to him. He held his ground after
n IC &C hah
CROWD RUsHEs TO THE SCENE.
The noise of the shooting brought a
crowd of armed men TO the depot on a
run. The town bell was rung and more
men turned out. Several went to the
constable attending to Pepper, cursing
and threatening him. The constable said
Gentleman, l have not drawn my
weapons, and took no part in the fight
/ am simply attending TO my wounded
friend. He was left alone, but later
others turned to him and renewed the
threats that had been made. The con-
stable then drew his pistols and said that
he would have to do what he could to pro-
tect himself, but that he had no desire to
shoot anybody and had not participated
in the shooting The crowd then rushed
OF in pursuit Of the fleeing constables
and the remaining constable, soon as he
found that Pepper was dead, left also
The names of the wounded 1 gave in
dispatches. The wounded
citizens are all getting along well, The
bullet was cut from Chief bargains side
to day. Several of the constables are re-
ported to have been wounded one in the
face, one in the leg, one in the knee and
another in the breast.
MOMENTS WIFE RED WITH HIS BLOOD.
The wife of Mr.. Norment. daughter
Of Col. Zimmerman Davis, of Charleston,
was brought to the depot, and it is said
that the scene when she reached the
body Of her dead husband was 50 heart
rending that it wrung tears from strong
men. She fell upon his body, and when
she was lifted up her face
and clothes were red with the blood of
her husband. This put the frenzy Of the
crowd at fever heat, and created a thirst
for blood which robbed the men Of their
reason and allowed passion to rule.
IL was known that Gaillard, Swami,
Meakin and two other constables had
gone to the other depot to take the train |
a crowd Of men, in less time than it takes
20 read this account, had dashed down
10 the crossing, and when the
train went by they fired at it, utterly reck- !
less of the fact that there We're others in
the train beside the constables, and that |
those constables in it had had no part in |
the fight. ! came over to Sumter on that !
coach to-day and saw the places |
where the bullets had struck. |
Some of the glass windows of the |
coach were broken. How IL was that no |
one aboard that train was injured is a |