The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-06
DoCToRED IN A VAULT.
A True Story of the Three Days Flee
ton.

BY J. f. Lewis
"There has never been an election in
which this county has not gone demo-
cratic"
The speaker was Col. Robert A Foster,
around whom was gathered a little cote
RE Of listeners. a familiar sight on a duh
dav in a small country town. Usually all
days are dull days in small towns, espe-
cially on story telling occasions.
WHAT" said one Of his listeners, sur
prised at the positive assertion of the
speaker.
YES. 1 repeat it, said the colonel
"this county has never in any election re-
turned a republican majority"
Those who had lived in the county be-
fore and after the civil war knew what
Col. Foster said was history. The sur
prise of others may be better understood
when it is considered that the county in
question went through all the rigOrs of
reconstruction. Under the pOst-bellum
military rule there are few counties in
any state in the south which did not re-
turn republican majorities. What made
it more remarkable was the fact that the
county was, during the war, and is now,
almost in the heart of the black belt.
But how was it managed during re
construction days2H asked listener. He
was recent settler, who had seen differ
emu results IN Lle pOSL-Dtlluuu GlGCLlOuS IN
his native county.
YES, and what did you do during the
three days election2" asked another,
equally as anxious to hear how 1t had
been managed.
1T was about twenty-five years ago.
said Col. Foster, but the recollection of
those events is as clear in my mind as if
they had occurred but yesterday. Now
that reconstruction days have been SO
long gone by and there is no necessity of
resorting to such eXpedients TO keep in
telligent men in control of government
affairs, l suppose all injunctiOns of
secrecy have been removed.
This county had always returned
good democratic majority before the war
in fact. there was scarcely any other
kind of vote within fifty miles OF
this town. 1t was a pride of the
citizens here, and it was their determi-
nation, if possible, to see that it
was always So The three days election
for the governorship between Bullock
and Gordon took place in May, 1868, a few
years after the close of the war, and some
of the citizens determined that the
county's record should not be broken.
was young man then and had but
short while since returned from Virginia
with all that was left of the company
that'went from this town. 1 knew very
little of the events of this bit Of county
history at that time, and did not learn all
the facts until more than two years later.
The election extended over three DAYS so
that people from the country districts
might have time TO reach the polling
places, and incidentally, it is said, that
the negro might be given as many oppor-
tunities to vote as he could well make use
of by going from precinct to precinct.
cat any rate it had been determined
among score or more Of citizens that
the on fra ncbf eapaDf of tho oh
make no difference as TO the result of the
election. 1t was, of course, conceded that
the state would elect a republican COVER
nor. Under the military rule there was
no escape from it. But it was determined
that the result Of the three days election
here should be no exception 10 those that
had gone before.
Il suppose the voting population of the
county then was between 500 and 1000.
OF this number there were at least four
negroes to one white. 1t can readily be
seen how large the republican majority
would have been had the election taken
its natural course But that was not to
be- The day the election was concluded the
plot thickened, but / was too young, at
least SO considered, to be exactly on the
inside, though was aware, as were many
others, that something unusual was go
ing on.
The ballot box was taken from the
court house by the federal soldiers who
had been guarding the polls, and was car
RED to an old vault, the only one in town
at that time, over MINISTER'S law office
The vault was dilapiddted old structure,
as was the building The building. which
was nothing more than a two-story
shanty, has long since been demolished
TO make room for the more servicea BILE
structure which you see down there on
the corner. The soldiers were rather I'M
accustomed to detective service They
obeyed military orders, placed the box
caretessly and unsuspectingly in the vault
ana locked it,
about this time l was walking down
the street on which we are now standing.
Hello, Bob' shouted some one from
the other side. I recognized the form and
voice Of old Mai. Allen. Come here, |
want to see YOU he said.
Il crossed, ana we went inside one Of
the stores you see there. The proprietor
was one OF the clique, and we incurred no
danger in being overheard.
SOD, said the major, go home and
get your supper and come down to the
Old ONCE back Of MINISTER'S vault as soon
as you can. Bring pistol and knife ,
~ suspected more than ever that some
plot or conspiracy had been formed but |
had fought federal soldiers face to face
IN Virginia and l was not afraid to Join
with home folks IN what ! knew must he
some patriotic undertaking.
Ut was curiosity that prompted me
more than anything else to ask, What's
going oni What do you intend to DOE
Never mind said the major, sYou
may lind out soon enough. Don ask any
questions, but be there
II started home, thinking very seriously
over the brief conversation and TRYING 10
make out what it meant I was puzzled
1t was situation somewhat beyond nv
powers of solution. Eager 10 get at the
inside Of the matter l made haste to pe1
supper, armed myself with knife, and
not one pistol but a brace, which [ con
cealed under my coat, and hurried to the
old Office back of the vault.
81 noticed the two guards, federal sol
diers they were, uniformed and armed
in front Of the vault as l passed Wher
reached the Office door only ordinary
conversational tones were audible.
knocked. Who is itP hearc
voice ask which | recognized as the
majors. 1t was about o'clock in the
evening and everything was unusually
quiet on the streets and elsewhere
It's me, it's Bob / replied, and thu
door was opened. / was astonisheC. I,
put II mildly. at the sight which the int
rlor OF the room presented. About THIRTY
OF the most prominent men in town wer,
in the room. Some of them were seated
around table, while others were takint