The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-10-23
Gen. Bratton and the K. XIX
How Fairfeld's Republican
Officials Escaped Death.
w;,,e,oro Jews snd Herald

days of radicalism aud oegro rule which
will make very interesting reading IN a
few years to those who were actively
connected with the matters perta'nlng g
to the couutry, surrouoded as 1t was at
thas time by the greatest difficulties
which ever bese. Government III the
history of government.
There are young men to-day in Fair
field County who have no conception OF
what our people endured FROM 1868 TO
1876. The Radical goverpmeut was
so bad in the State that an organ'zs-
ton known as the Kukluz Klan was
perfected for the suppression Of crimes
and the protection Of life and liberty of
our people. Much good resulted at
6.st, but like secret organization
of the kind, the tendency vas bad and
the organization was abused toward the
last. Fairfield County never suffer ed.
however. like some Of our sister c"un-
ties for two reasons mainly and for
other reasons largely also. In those
days it Was common sight to see the
streets on Saturday evening filed with
armed negroes who came 10 nearly
every Saturday for So big muster. >
Crops and business had o wait. ibis
brings Us 70 our story.
There vas trouble with some of the
negroes out about the Jack Gladney
country aod an arrangement vas effect
ed whereby they were to return their
guas 20 the State and disband their
company Mr.. l.. Duval was sheriff
aud the guns we're put in his charge.
They we're stored 10 the Jail or sheriff's
Office, and when the Kulux learned
that they had not been sent to Colum-
bia they met and determined to put
every county Official to death. as our
narrative will afterwards prove.
Gen. Bratton was not member OF
the Kuklux, but 90 account Of his wis
dom. prudence and patriotism he exer
ted az influence by his very course on
all matters affecting the public welfare
Of our depressed couotry His opinion
was sought in mysterious way.
% bright. sunny morning. as the
General was crossing his back yard. be
vas hailed by stranger riding fiery
charger of the Tbickety stock The
gentleman asked-if this vas Gen. Brat
ton, and stated that be was lost. bat
was truly glad that he was lost at the
Generals hore. for he was proud of ao
opportunity of meeting him of whom he
had beard SO much The stranger
looked fat;gucd aud his horse showed
signs Of hard riding. and the General
noticed that the stranger did not intro
duce himself He stated that be YVES
going to Dr. Tborn's, that he had cross
ed Broad River at Sbeltou's. wa in :"
hurry and wanted to 6nd the way to
Dr. Thoro's Gen. Brat,cr had his
horse caugh: aud proceeded to ride
near path leading to Dr.. Thorn's. the
stranger talking pleasantly Of crops and
things in general. Where the paths
diverged Gen Bratton pointed the way
out to the lone horseman aud vas about
to ride away. The mans counseoance
became changed, an air of deep concern
was very apparent He asked Gen.
Brattoc to come to secluded spot in
the bushes. and although no human
was near them, he lowered his voice
and said: General, it is not a!togeth-
er an accident that I vas lost at your
place I have been sent to you on a
mission. have bsen sent because you
do not know me. 1t is against the
rules of the Klan. bat if you desire to
know my paue am authorized to give
i;
The General interrupted him by say
ing. "No | do DOT want to know your
oame. 1t is best. perhaps. thai | do
not. see ls all; somebody is about to
do something very rash; some of my
old comrades are 10 trouble.
The ipau assented to the correctness
of the Generals surm;ses aud stated
that the Klan had met aud had passed
the death sentence on every coucsy ofh-
cial iusEsirield County because those
negro9uns we're still in Wiune5cro III
reachsokhe oegroes. that the promises
had been broken. and that one Of his
old command had beer detailed to lead
this terrible expedition. That al
though against the rules to decline,
the penalty of death attaching TO any
u,au who would question orders from
the Klao. tbs N nenoer Of Gen brai'ous
old regiment boldly rose IN The meeting
and said be woula net lead the txPe-
d;';oa unl:ss cersaia mau is consulted
II h4 approves it sill act, , NJ pa'oe
was called. it being against the RUE 10
call any names iu meeting Ct tie
Klan Contrary to all precedent aud
prestige the Klan agreed that tbls Ger
,,io no, u,a. to he consulted i he