Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-16
a9liseellanepus 8eading.
TALK WITH "RED" TOLBERT.
Man Responsible For the Greenwood Trou-
BILE Gives His Side.

Man Responsible For the Greenwood Trou-
BILE Gives His Side.
Greenville News, Friday.
X. R. Tolbert, formerly known as
"Red" Tolbert, the Republican nomi-
nee for congress in the Third district
of this state, brother of Thomas 2.
Tolbert, who was shot at Phoenix,
Greenwood county, on Tuesday, pass
ed through Greenville yesterday, seek
ing safety. In an interview with a
representative of the Greenville News
he told his side of the story of the
Greenwood riots and bloodshed.
Mr.. Tolbert is the son Of John Il.
Tolbert, of Abbeville, who is the COL
lector Of the port at Charleston by ap-
poinlment of President Mckinley.
The Tolberts have been the leading
Republicans in South Carolina ever
since the war and have been the most
formidable opponents the Democrats
Of this section have encountered.
John R. Tolbert is man of good edu-
cation and position. He is graduate
of the South Carolina college and was
gallant Confederate soldier. His
courage is beyond question and, like
other members of his family, he is
prosperous. large farmer and land
owner. Politically he has always been
aggressive. In 1876, when 80 many
white Republicans "crossed Jordan"
and identified themselves with their
race against Negro supremacy he was
one of the few who stuck to his party.
He was candidate for superintendent
of education on the Republican ticket
with Daniel H. Chamberlain and
fought to the last. He has continued
the fight ever since, and with his sons
as they grew up, has constituted the
only strong Republican force above
Columbia for the last 20 years.
He has four sons-Thomas P, who
is about 40 years old, and who was
shot at Phoenix; R. R., or "Red," the
nominee for congress; Thomas NJ,
who was postmaster at Abbeville, and
who lives there, is popular among all
classes and parties, and Joe Elias Tol-
bert is the brother of John r., and
has never been prominent, politically
or otherwise.
"Red" Tolbert came here yesterday
on the Columbia and Greenville up
train, which he boarded at Donald's,
Ahbeville county. Conductor Hughes,
who was in charge of the train, knows
Tolbert we'll and also knows the senti-
ment along the line of the road. There
was small gathering of white men at
Donald's when the train left and Cap
tain Hughes thinks there would have
been trouble there in few minutes
more, although Mr.. Tolbert said he
thought the men there had assembled
simply to see him and intended him no
harm. Captain Hughes, however,
warned his passenger that notice that
he was on the train would probably be
sent ahead of him. Mr.. Tolbert tele-
graphed Sheriff Gilreath here to meet
him at the train and protect him.
The sheriff met the train. Mr.. Toll
bert was among the last passengers to
leave the first class coach. He is
tall, we'll built, neatly dressed, lntelli-
gent looking man with a dark red
moustache and small beard and wore
black water proof coat. He carried
heavy overcoat over his arm and
large and small valise, and one or
two bundles. The small valise, from
its appearance, contained one or two
revolvers and Tolbert seemed anxious
to keep it close 10 his hand. He was
in a condition of intense but suppress
ed excitement.
The Greenville News had been noti-
fed by wire from Donald's that Tol-
bert was on the train and represen-
tative of this newspaper met him.
With the sheriff and reporter the fugi-
tive came from the West Greenville
depot to the Mansion house. A dozen
tunes on the way Tolbert broke out,
breathlessly "Good God Almighty |!
And this is what they call white su-
premacy !" Every time he began to
talk be became almost hysterical in
his excited declarations. He repeated
'I'm no coward. Every man in this
town and all the soldiers here couldn't
scare me-" Sheriff Gilreath in sooth-
ing voice, warned him to keep quiet
and cool.
At the Mansion house Mr.. Tolbert
registered and went to room on the
third floor, the sheriff going with him.
He had lunch in his room, remarking,
as he gulped cup of coffee and nib
bled ut some fried oysters, that it was
his first meal since Tuesday. He was
too excited TO eat much, however, and
spent most of his time in talking.
General R. R. Hemphill, of the Able
vile Medium, who was in the city,
went to see him. .Tolbert broke out
in fierce denunciation of Hugh
Wilson, of the Abbeville Press and
Banner, who, he said, had printed an
editorial advising the people to destroy
all the Tolberts, root and branch.
Great God r' he said, "lo think of
that man throwing Il firebrapd where
fire is running over per-ary.'
When the tins came for the vesti-
buled train for the north MIR. Tolbert
asked the sheriff's advice about
staying here or leaving. He was told
to follow his own judgment, and after
brief consideration, he said he would
20 to Washington. He asked the
sheriff to 90 with him TO the depot,
and they left together in Il hack. On
the way Tolbert said he would not
feel safe until he was out of the Caro-