The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-04-11
THE DARLINGTON TRAGEDY.
Southern, Christi1n Advocate.

VHE DAkLlNRION liz AdEU4s
Southern Christi1n Advocate.
About ten days ago several State
constables visited Darlington, S. G..
and began search for "blind tigers
This had been done on former occa
sions without resistance, and few, i
any, apprehended any serious diff
Guilty at this time. It soon became
rumored, however, that the private
residences of some Of the leading citi
zens were to be searched. Whethe,
or not there was any real ground fol
this report We do not know; be this al
it may, the citizens became greatly
incensed and determined to resist such
invasion Of their homes with al the
force at their command. The rein
forcement Of the constabulary force
and the appearance on the scene of @
military company from Sumter only
tended to increase the excitement
and a collision between the armed
constabulary force and the incenseG
and excited citizens seemed i'm
minent. Meantime the search fol
"blind tigers in business houses,
etc., continued without hindrance, the
constables being accompanied by the
Sheriff and Chief of Police.
Thursday evening the Attorney
General Of the State appeared on the
scene and took counsel with the city
and county officers, the Chief Con
stable and some Of the leading citi'
zens. The troops from Sumter re-
turned to their homes, and it was re-
ported that the State constables, OF
most of them, would leave on Friday
afternoon, all the suspected ''blind
tigers having already been raided.
Anxious and conservative citizens be-
gan 10 breathe little easier on Friday
morning, as the danger of a bloody
conflict seemed about to be removed.
The town had never seemed so quiet
as it appeared to us as we moved
about among the citizens on the pub
lie square on Friday morning and du-
ring the early part Of the afternoon.
The citizens from Florence and other
neighboring towns who had come in to
assist the Darlingtonians if necessary,
had returned to their homes. After
dining, we went down to the public
square feeling assured that the dan
ger of bloodshed was past. There
was no unusual crowd on the streets,
there was apparently no undue excite
ment. The stiffness, however, was
that which precedes the storm.
The constabulary force to the num-
ber of eighteen or swenty assembled
at the Cheraw and Darlington Depot,
about mile from the public square,
for the purpose Of taking the train.
This was between three and four
o'clock Friday afternoon. The citi-
zens for the most part remained at
their places of business and on the
public square. A few citizens had
gone to the depot, some on business,
some out Of idle curiosity and some
perhaps to speed the departure Of their
unwelcome guests. The constabulary
force was armed with repeating Win
chester rifles and side arms; a half
dozen citizens or less with pistols.
While thus waiting for the train two
lads of the town got into quarrel and
fight. One, being near relative Of
the county dispenser, was encouraged
by some Of the constables: the other
by some of the citizens. The Chief
of Police arrived on the scene and
stopped this fuss, which had been re-
newed by the two boys. This difficult
ty led to dispute between one Of the
constables, McLendon by name, and
one or two of the citizens. During
the quarrel McLendon, against the
protests of several fellow constables,
drew his pistol and commenced firing,
killing MI. Frank Norment, who, it is
said, was unarmed, and wounding
Chief of Police Dargan. This was
followed Immediately by a general
fusilade by constables and the five or
six armed citizens. The firing lasted
hardly more than minute, but re-
suited in the killing of Norment and
Redmond of the citizens and Consta-
BILE r. H. Pepper. Chief Of Police
Dargan, Mr.. Lucas and Mr.. Lewis
Norment and Constable McLendon,
were wounded. Others Of the consta-
bles were wounded, but managed to
escape. The firing over, the consta-
bles took to the woods.
Chief Dargan, mounted on his horse
and with the blood lowing from his
wounds, dashed up into town, where
we were standing, carrying the news
of the rfultragedy at the depot. The
The citizens Immediately armed them
and started in pursuit of the constab.
ulary force. The Darlington military
company, with the Sheriff at the head,
double-quicked to the depot, but Of
course reached there too late to be Of
any service. Posses Of determined
men secured the country for many
miles around until late Saturday
night in search of the State consta-
bles. They were then called in and
the search given up, ell Of the consta.
bles, it is believed, having made good
their escape.
The news of the tragedy spread with
lightning rapidity throughout the
State. The Governor ordered out the
Columbia troops, but they refused to
respond, preferring to surrender their
commissions and disband. The ex-
ample of the Columbia companies
were followed by those of Winnsboro,
Sumter, Manning, Charleston and 9th
er places. By Saturday night, how.
ever, several companies Of State troops
had reported for duty in Columbia and
were quartered within the walls Of the
Penitentiary. Finding that the State
troops could not be depended on to
obey the orders of the Chief Execu'
tive, volunteer companies Of citizens
in sympathy with the Governor were
organized, and two or three of them
are now quartered in the Penitcntiary
Sunday evening a special train carry
ing about four hundred State troops
under command of Gen. Richbourg
left Columbia for Darlington. They
arrived at $50 p. m., and were met by
the local military company. Every
n I