The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-09
A NEGRO STRONGHOLD
NEGROES WENT TO THE IRE
ClNCT WITH WlNCHESTERS.
QUARREL OVER A SEPARATE BALLOT BOX
Later Negroes Fired on Whites from Ambush.
Whites and Negroes Both are Gather
ing Armed, and More Blood.
shed is Probable.

Charleston, S. c., Nov. S.-A special
to the News and Courier from Green
wood says:
In to-days election the people of this
the days of 1850. Although unusually
quiet as to this precinct, intense excite
ment has prevailed all day because of
the shooting of Mr.. Boaz Ethridge, one
of the managers of the election at
Phoenix early this morning, and sub
sequent riot between the whites and
blacks at that place, in which one of the
Tolberts and several negroes were
mortally wounded Phoenix is ten miles
from here and near the Edgefield line.
1t is the home of the Tolberts, the cradle
of Repubicansm in Abbeville county.
Because of this fact, it is said, the ne
groes, acting under instructions, went to
this box in larger numbers than any
other in order to give II. Il. Tolbert,
candidate for Congress, larger vote.
1t is also stated that the negroes were
w
farmed white men are gathering and
much blood-shed with loss of life is look
ed for before or after night fall. The
negroes are also gathering and are very
defiant.
From parties returning from Phoenix
late this evening it is learned that the
negroes had a separate box in charge OF
r. z. Tolbert. into which such as could
IN, fhs o.
post certificates that they were not al
lowed to vote for II. r. Tolbert for Con
gress, which certificates he expected TO
use in his contest for Lattimer's seat.
Mr.. Ethridge attempted to take charge
of this box and was shot
dead by one or more of
the negroes, who were crowding
around it. Immediately the few white
men who could procure arms or had
them, opened fire on the crowd, and
continued to shoot them as they ran. It
is not known definitely how many ne.
groes were hit, nor how seriously. t.
z. Tobert was seriously wounded. but
managed to reach his home u mile off.
He was still living at shutdown. and is
not likely to be further moested as he
has never been prominent as a leader.
The white people. several hundred
strong, are well armed. cool, and deter
mined and If the leaders in to-day s
trouble tire caught tonight, no power on
earth can save them from lynching
At dark everything is quiet at Phoenix,
with the whites masters of the situa-
ton, but the negroes are supposed 20
be congregating about two miles distant,
and no one can conjecture what the
night will bring forth. Mr.. Ethridge
was quiet and well-to-do citizen. He
leaves wife and several children. The
latest authentic information is that
John r. Tobert has been DANCE .ouslv
wounded and his little nephew, son of X.
l.. Tolbort who was in the buggy with
him, was instantly killed while IN their
way home this evening late. While a
party Of white men from Greenwood
were fatl rning fcon Phoenix II night
they were fired on from ambush, and
NJ. J. Younger, Cresswell Fleming and
Mr.. Miller were badly wounded, and
are now at A. G. Stockman's, five miles
from here. Drs. Cobb and Neill were
with them and are attending their
wounds. 1t is said that when John r.
Tolbert was shot he had with him -
body of armed negroes, who opened fire
on the white men, wounding one. 1t
is not known here whether any of the
negroes were hit or not