The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-05-10

I
day of tho departure of tho compa-
ny, four of tho contables, their
work being done, won't to ono depot
and the other.ninetoon to the other,
to depart. Two boys, citizens Of
Darlington, got into fight at the
depot where tho main body of con-
stables was. Ono of thom. who
was whipped and ran up town re-
turnod, followed by an armed
mob A wranglo Of started u fight
between this mob and tho consta-
bles and. two of tho mob wore killed
and several constablos and citizens
were wounded. When tho mol
were put to fight, the constabloe
themselves took to tho woods ncal
by, for they know that tho flying
mob would return reinforced by
hundreds of armed follow conspir-
ators. Such was tho outcome.
The town bell was rung as tocsin
to tho conspirators, and they turn
od out in the twinkling of an oyc.
all heavily armed. Tho constablcs
were pursued and tho conspirators
in Florence and Sumter, bcing
called out by telegraph, Joined in
tho pursuit. Fortunately night
soon came on and mono Of the chas-
ing parties camo up with tho cs-
Gaping constabulary, or clso moro
blood would havo boon she'd. Tho
disposition of conspirators to OK
terminate the constabulary is
shown by tho fact that tho train
con tanning tho four constablos who
had gono to tho other depot of the
town and had taken no part in the
fight, was riddlcd with bullets fir
ed in n desperate attempt to kill
them rs it camo by on its way tc
Charleston.
| The mob took possession OF
the three towns, committing
many acts Of violence. In Sum
ter, where the first mobbinH O
. Dispensary constablcs took place
, thero is one of tho best manage
= Dispensaries IN the State, an
o the police authorities have Il
= sisted in the enforcement of tt
d Dlspensary law. The part tn
d town took in the rebellion w;
t confined to the going out of IT
Y most lawless and turbulent cit
zens to aid in the chase Of til
| constables.
Under the Dispensary law
part of the profits Of the Dispon
sary goes to the towns in whicl
they are located, provided tn
authorities of these towns assis
in the enforcement of the law
In cascs where municipal all
thorities fail to help enforce tn
law, the State Board of Contro
is vested with authority to with
hold from such towns the shar,
of the profits that would other
wise come to them. On The
morning when the constablci
lwere first maltreated in Darling
ton the municipal authorities q
that town were notified tha>
they would receive no share OF
the profits from the Dispensaries
located in that town, because
they had failed to do their duty
towards the enforcement of the
law. A similar notice had been
given to the council at Florence
This added to the angor of the
mob, and had much to do witt
melting the mob in Florence tc
looting the dispensary there.
| l was informed by the Sheriff
that the civil authorities were power
less in Darlington and was askc ed t,
order out the militia. did so, OF
dering out at first five companie
nearest the scene--thrce at Columbia
one at Manning, and one at Sumter
The old political Bourbons, aidod b,
the whiskey element, brought aucl
pressure to bear upon the companie:
in Columbia that they refused to obey
the orders OF their Commander in
Chief. The COLUMBIA companies Sc!
the example, and it was followed by
the other two companies | ordered
out. Thirteen Of the town compa-
niea, and the entire Fourth Brigade
composed of the troops of Charleston;
refused to turn out when ordered to
do 80. The armorcs of two compa-
MES in Columbia, one III Florence, and
one in Chester were broken into and
their guns stolen, possibly with the