The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-09-06
UPRISING OF NEGROES.
now a Few Determined, Norvy White
Mon Pr evented a Riot.

" ~" oetermfneu, NerVy "nNe
Mon Prevented q Riot.
An embryo race riot started on Mon
day Of last week near Vances in the
Eastern part of Orangeburg County.
and for time things looked squally
but an open riot was happily averted
by the GOODNESS and nerve of the whita
men In that section. Two or three tel.
egrams were sent to Governor Tillman
about the matter. The first, from
Trial Justice 0. b. WhetseII, read as
follows:
Harlin City, Aug. 80.
Governor B. II. Gilman:
"Order out the Santee Hiilemen to
my aid, as race riot Is imminent.
Eleven prisoners on hand and can't
commit them because of trouble by ne
groes. y. Is. WIETSELL,
~. Trial Justice"
Inc second telegram was from Mr.,
M. II. Evans, First Lieutenant and
Commander of the Santee Riflemen.
and was as follows:
IL have been notified by Trial JUS
tice .. Is. Whetsell that he has asked
for the Santee Riflemen. l am ready
to respond upon your ORDERS"
Governor Tillman sent the following
oSACSlopA ~ CIlo Lildl JuSUlC9.
Columbia, Aug. q.
City, S. 9.
What is the cause Of trouble? Don't
attempt to move prisoners to jail till
tomorrow.
Is. II. TILLMAN, Governor,
The Governor also sent the following
to Lieutenant Evans:
Columbia, Aug. q.
Nj. II. Evans, Lieutenant Commanding.
Harlin City.
Hold your company subject to orders
OF Trial Justice in maintaining the
peace and enforcing legal process.
Is. IL. TILLMAN, Governor.
A dispatch from Parlers to the Go.
iumb1a Register says the negroes are
holding meetings all about in that sec
tlon OF Orangeburg County for the
purpose OF making strike on cotton
picking. They are pledging themselves
not to pick for white man for less
than fifty cents per hundred. and forty
cents for negroes. Some of the best
element among the negroes are opposed
TO the strike, as many of them have
nothing to eat, and great many have
got money and goods from the whites
ton at fixed price. They threaten to
whip any one who disobeyed this de.
termination. AS result Of the agita-
ton one old negro, Peter Pelzer, was
taken out Of his house last night about
O'Clock and severely whipped by
about twenty-five negroes for picking
cotton for Mr.. a. II. Rhame for forty
cents. Most Of them were recognized
and Trial Justice O. B. Whetseli will
issue warrants for the parties today,
which it Is hoped will break up the
strike In this section.
The following is Trial Justice Whet-
sells statement concerning the dinicul.
ty. lie says:
when tho cotton season first opened
the negroes In our section organized
into body, about $50 strong and re-
solved not to pick cotton for less than
oO cents per 100 pounds. If any one
violated this rule In picking for
white man for less, he was to be taken
out and whipped. These rules were to
be enforced against all negroes, wheth-
er the offender be member Of the or
ganization or not. Last Monday, Peter
PelZsr, a non-member, picked some
cotton for a white man near Vance's
for less than SO cents. lie was prompt
ly taken out and given about 100 LASH
es by mob. peIZer, as soon as he got
able, sWore out warrants before me
against seventeen negroes, all Of whom
he recognized in the mob. deputizad
seven men to arrest the seventeen in
dicted. They were brought before me
and given a preliminary hearing. The
evidence adduced WAS strong enough
to send the cases up to the Court Of
General Sessions. About $50 negroes
had gathered around the Office and in
the house, who swOre the men should
not be taken to Jail. Some were armed
with pistols, guns, axes and billets of
wood. They were cursing and defiant.
Those who were unarmed went home,
got guns and returned, leaving a suni.
cient number of the men to guard the
Office until they returned. About one
dozen white men were there and they
drew their pistols"
A riot was imminent, and things
looked squally indeed. He told the
white men to stick to him and gave
them authority to shoot the first man
who interfered with the prisoners. He
telegraphed the Governor for the San
tee Rifles as above stated. The negroes
were raging, swearing and tossing
their glittering weapons about their
heads saying. "d-n the Rifles" The
white men and constables were all
armed; they stood together with pis-
tolls In hand and marched upon the ne.
grOes, who at this time looked like
blood WIS all they wanted. With that
characteristic nerve of Carollnians, the
whites held a solid front and marched
the prisoners out of the Office into
vacant place. Thence they were
brought without molestation to
Branchville and turned over to Sheri #
Dukes, who had been telegraphed for.
The Sheriff lodged them in Jail, where
they will remain until court meets or
released on bail.
Fortunately not shot was fired. If
the negroes had fired one time there
would have been bloody riot. The
negroes saw the nerve and determina-
tion Of the whites and 1t caused them
to funk, although they had twenty
five to one. Justice Whetseil says he
is going to arrest the whole mob, but
will get the ringleaders first. lie says
he fears that q general race riot will
occur when he attempts to arrest the
others. He made an official call upon
the sheriff to assist him with plenty Of
deputies. The Santee Rifles hold them
selves in readiness to Obey the orders of