The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-16

turn out en- mes6e ana vote Ine
right was theirs and they should
demand it. If they were any who
objected the negroes were advised to
disregard it. They were told to
come armed and prepared for any
emergency They were also advised
to resort to desperate measures in
order to accomplish their end-to
cast ballot.
The negroes also stated that they
were assured by the Messrs Tolbert
that the latter would sanction any
course pursued. No trouble should
be feared and if assistance was
needed to call on them (the Tolberts.
The testimony obtained at the in
formal trial this afternoon shows that
the negroes were urged to the des-
perate action which characterized
yesterdays election. They admitted
that had they not bad the positive as.
surance of sanction Of their course
and protection in the event of trouble
matters would have assumed a far
different aspect AS it was. they re
lied on the advice Of their Republi
can bosses and are now suffering the
penalty for their misdemeanor.
Nothing transpired after this meet
ing at Rehoboth until the riot of yes
terday. Since then, however, the
excitement has been at fever heat
and the people have been bent on
avepging the death of Mr.: Ethe-
ridge.
Last night there was a large num-
Der of men armed with Springfield
tihes who kept guard ir the immedi-
ate vicinity of Phoenix. No effort
was made to catch all the participants
in the riot until to day the guard
was OH duty all night to protect the
inhabitants from any danger Early
this morning mounted horsemen from
every section of the county began to
arrive and by the middle of the after
noon the crowd was varleusly esti.
mated from 600 to 1000 All came
armed and there was every variety of
firearms to be seen. Some carried
the old flint and steel, while others
had the latest Springfield rife. Every
gun in Greenwood was used and in
order to supply the crowd with am
mu1ition large quantity was ordered
from Elberton, Ga and came in on
the early morning train.
At every town in the county there
have been squads holding themselves
in readiness to come at moments
call. There was large representation
from Edgefeld to arrive early to day
and have been rendering much
assistance.
This large force of several hundred
men are being fed by the citizens
around Phoenix Provender FOR the
stock and food for the men have been
dealt out literally and will be as long
as it is necessary for the crowd to
remain.
The fret thing begun this morning
Was to search for the negroes. Every
house was visited and in almost every
instance the doors were closed and
locked and the inmates away. ltwas
an extremely difficult matter to locate
them. The crowd was determined
to appsehend the party or parties who
killed Mr.. Etheridge There was no
intention of punishing the innocent
and this was manifested in the trials
given the negroes Whenever one
vas captured he was thoroughly
questioned on sli matters pertaining
to the killing and If he could establish
his innocence he was free from any
injury In fact, the members Of the
party inatituting the search claimed
that the innocent should aud would
be protected, but the guilty must
suffer. The whites assert that they
are not courtiEg trouble, but simply
desire to protect their own race II
the negroes. acting under the advice
of the Tolberts, offer any resistance
or make any threats the people will
protect themselves even 6: the cost
of life. This is the deliberate yet
determined judgment reached by the
leading men of the county.
It was though that Joe Circuit is the
negro who killed Mr. E,heridse and
efforts were made to capture him. He
was found this morning and possee
of 80 mounted men with Springfield
rifles gave pursuit, bet on account OF
the fences aud underground Circuit
made bic escape. Immediately mes
sage was despatched to the county seat
aud procured the use of two blood
hounds belonging to the county and
these were put on trail of the negro
If Circuit is caught he will be brought
back to the church where the headquar