The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-11-16
white citizens in front Of the Will
mington Light infantry armory at s
o'clock.

|
At the appointed hour more than 500
determined white citizens, consisting
OF merchants, lawyers, preachers, doc
tors, etc., well armed with guns and
levolvers, gathered at the armory. and
Col. Waddell reported that he had re-
celved no answer from the negroes.
They waited at the armory until almost
9 o'clock, hoping that an answer COM
plying with their demands would be re-
ceived, but none came. The men then
formed in line, four abreast, and started
on the march to the Record Office, in a
thickly populated negro settlement. AS
the long column Of armed men approach
ed the vicinity great crowds of Negroes,
men, women and children, were fleeing
this way and that in perfect frenzy,
and very soon, scarcely one was in sight
anywhere. When the column reached
the building, two-story frame struc-
ture, the men were halted, and several
advanced to the door. 1t was locked.
A few blows by stalwart men forced it
open, about ~ citizens entered, and
within very few minutes the whole
plant was wrecked, and the broken
pieces pitched into the street. The
windows Of the house we're broken out.
As the numerous fragments were tossed
into the street, and the people recog-
nized what they were, exultant shouts
went up. Yet with it all there was
remarkable demonstration of GOODNESS
and determination. 1t was when a
long sign, The Record Publishing
Co., was cast into the street, that the
greatest outburst Of cheers went up. A
beaver hat was thrown out and quickly
torn in pieces, as was life bust crayon
likeness Of editor Manly. When the
wreckins was about complete it became
evident that the building was on fire.
Smoke was rising out Of the upper
windows. There were shouts of indig-
nation and commands to extinguish the
flames. But the fire spread quickly, so
that the fire department. had to be call
ed out. As the engines and hose reels
dashed upon the scene, several rounds
were fired by the men who were lined
up for more than two squares either
way The department quickly had the
fire under control-Dut not before the
building was total wreck-and pre-
vented the spread Of the flames to ada
cent buildings, Conservative men very
much regret the fire, not only because
it was entirely unnecessary, bat because
it endangered great deal Of other pro-
perty as well. Close on one side Of the
building was St. Stephens church, the
largest and handsomest Negro church
in the city. On the other side, with
only three or four small cottages, join
ed closely together, between it and the
burning building is Ruth hall, large
and well equipped hall owned and used
by Negroes. Happily not single one
of the adjacent buildings were injured.
As soon as it was apparent that the fire
was under control, the people left the
scene and dispersed through the city,
many Of them going on guard duty on
their various blocks.
All was quiet until wild rumors, with
no foundation in fact, were carried to
the Negroes, more than 500, a. work in
the cotton compress. They were told
that their homes were being burned,
etc. They rushed pell NELL from their
work. However, by the heroic efforts
of Messrs. James and w. H. Sprunt,
the proprietors of Alexander Sprunt q
Sons Co., the great majority of them
were stopped, and finally so controlled
as to leave for their home in small
squads.
About the time the trouble at the
compress was gotten under control,
news came from the first ward, over
the railroad, that riot was in progress
there. Large numbers of armed men
boarded the street car or ran on foot to
the scene, corner Of Fourth and Harnett
streets.
This was about 11::30 o'clock. When
they reached the scene FIVE Negroes had
already been killed and fully 20 wound
ed; one highly esteemed young white
man, Mr.. William Mayo, was seriously
wounded and two others, George Piuer
and Mr.. Chadwick, We're slightly
wounded.
What gave rise to the trouble was
that white guards who-were on duty
on the corner of Fourth and Harnett
streets, halted squad of Negroes who
manifested threatening air. All Of
them save one needed the advice of
the guards to disperse. He finally
turned as though to move away and
suddenly wheeled about and fired at the
squad of guards. Very quickly several
rifle balls crashed through his body,
killing him instantly. The ball fred
by the Negro took effect in VIM. Piners
arm. The Negroes in sight quickly
darted around corners, and in few mo-
ments one of them raised up from be-
hind fence and fired a Winchester
rifle, severely wounding VIM. Mayo,
now of Yonkers, n. Y, who was stand
ing on the piazza of his fathers resi-
dence. MIR. Mayo vas here to vote and
would have returned home in a few
days. The Negro was captured. He
was in his own yard and two Ninches-
ters were found in his house. Within
10 minutes his body was riddled with
bullets: A large mob Of Negroes as
sembled about square away, and rein
forcements for the white men having
arrived vollcy was fired upon them
killing four more aud wounding others.
The Negroes quickly retreated. The
Wilmington Light infantry and the
naval reserves were called out and the
rapid. fire gun and the Hotchkiss one
FOUNDER were also hurriedly carried to
the scene. A mob Of several hundred
Negroes was gathered on Ninth street,
corner of Nixon, but as the military ad-
vanced the Negroes fell back and rapid