The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-07
RIOT IN FORT MOTTE.
THE DISPLAY OF FORCE AWES THE
NEGROES.

All The Loading Offenders In SATURDAY
Nights Riot In Custody, Except Cheese
boroueh-Ie Is Relieved to he Hiding In
the River Swamps.
Fort MoTTE, Sept. go. Fort Motto
is the very heart of a dense colored
population. 1t is very necessary to
have it thoroughly understood that
there must be no infractions OF the
laws. Once consented to there is like
ly to be no end of trouble. Last week,
as was published, a negro named
Goodwin was shot by Mr.. Collins.
No matter what the circumstances OF
the shooting may have been, that
would have been attended to by the
law in the due course of time. The
shooting seemed to anger the colored
people, and many of them congregat-
ed on the streets of Fort Motto at night.
They were told to disperse, but instead
of doing as requested by the intendent
and officers of the place they refused,
and said that they would leave the
streets whenever it suited their con-
venience. There came near being
blood spilled at the time, but il was
thought best not to precipitate row
in such fashion and at such a time.
The Fort Motto Guards were called out
to preserve the peace, and did all that
could be expected of them.
Monday Sheriff Dukes telegraphed
to Governor Evans that he proposed
to make arrests at Fort Motto, and
wanted the military at his service if
needed, it having been decided to ar
rest certain of the leaders in the brava-
do exhibition on the streets of Fort
Motto, on the ground of disturbing the
peace and making riot. Tuesday
morning Sheriff Dukes won't to make
the arrests of the leaders who were in.
citing the negroes. Altogether there
are eleven warrants sworn out, but it
is thought that three or four arrests
will suffice. At the station one of the
parties who was wanted was seen. He
was arrested and made no resistance.
1t appears that burly negro named
Cheeseborough was the man who did
most of the mischief, and who was
wanted on a duly prepared war
rant. It was understood that he was
in a house on Mr.. VIM. Taber's place,
and to this house the officers went to
make the arrests.
When the house was reached by
Deputy Douglass, a negro named
Robinson, who was also wanted, came
to the door and in boastful spirit said
that no one could arrest him, and
drew his pistol. Deputy Douglass
told him that it was no use to shoot,
but he snapped his pistol at the officer
anyway. About this time Mr.. Mitch
ell saw the flash of the steel of the pis.
tol and came up in gallop. He also
told Robinson to put up his pistol, and
the negro told him that he could not
be made to do so. and with this drew
his pistol and made the effort TO fire at
Mitchell, but the pistol seemed to be
no good. Mitchell did not take the
chances that Douglass did, but return
ed the fire with his double-barrelled
shot gun and instantly killed Robin.
son. Cheeseborough was not found
in the house. An inquest will be held
tomorrow, and as additional arrests
are likely to be made some trouble is
feared.
There were comparatively few ne
groes to be seen about Fort Motto TO-.
day, and this seemed to give rise to the
suspicion that mischief might be con.
templated. So, all things considered,
it was thought best to call on Orange
burg for her two military commands,
and the Edisto Rifles and the Tillman
Volunteers with fifty men went up to
Fort Motto on the night train to rem
der such assistance as might be need
ed. 1t was thought best to picket the
town, and detachments were thrown
out during the evening to keep a look,
out. The arrests will be made and
the parties taken to Orangeburg, no
matter how long it will take or what
the cost will be. Cheseborough, who
has been advising the negroes in their
attitude of defiance, has been shot be
fore, and is regarded as quite desper-
ate character.-Newsa and Courier.
ALL IS QUIET.
Fort MoTTE, S. c., Sept. 30.-Allis
quiet again in Fort Motto. The dis
play of military force, the evident in,
tention of the authorities to enforce
order and uphold the law, and the
submission of the leading spirits-with
one exception-of the Saturday night
riot, has lad salutary effect upon the
negroes OF this community, and it will
probably be decade or more, if ever,
that such another showing of hands
will be necessary on the part OF the
whites of this usually peaceful and al
ways attractive old town. The three
companies of militia on duty here last
night saw little of quiet and less OF re-
pose. The "boys" were strongly in
evidenceat at all hours, from dewy eve
to rosy morn, and songs and dances,
card.playing, and storytelling inter
mingled with pranks of more or less
practical nature-kept the hours hust-
ling into the past until the reveille
was sounded. At roll call the follow
ing men answered 10 their names:
Fort Motto Guords-A. T. Darby,
capt. N. K. Carroll, 1st lieut.. j: A.
Peterkin, I'd lieut.; w. p. Shirer,
junior I'd lieut.. and Privates j. D..
Shirer, w. r. Watt, j. +. Duflord, M.
II. Shirer, 7. i. Shirer, M. l.. Shirer,
J. A. w. Shirer, /. N. Slawson, Jr.,
j. T. Carson, w. d. Kellar, Jake Mar,
Gus, Weston Adams, A. II. Taber, Jr:,
D. d. Taber, w. R. Taber, Jr., j. b.
Taber, w. Z. Croswell, j. Rhett Shir-
er, w. B. Trezevant, j. Carroll, IL. Y.
S. Darby, and j. p. Clatfy: