Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-12
BLOODY RACE RIOT.
Whites and Blacks Kill Each Other In
Greenwood County.

Whites ana BLACKS hlli 1bCn othoF IL
Greenwood County.
1t is always the unexpected that
happens. Instead Of the election day
race riot developing in North Carolina,
where everybody was looking for it, it
took place in South Carolina, where
there was but little excuse for anything
of the kind.
The scene of the trouble was the
voting precinct of Phoenix, in Green
wood county, and about 10 miles from
Greenwood, near the Edgefeld line.
One white man was instantly killed and
several others were wounded in the
first cash, and as the result of subse-
quent developments, several Negroes
have been killed with no assurance that
the trouble is yet over.
Phoenix is the home box of r. 4.
Tolbert, white, the Republican candi-
date for congress in the Third district
against Latimer. A number of Toll
berts, all prominent citizens and big
land live in the vicinity OF
Phoenix. All are Republicans, and
having a large number of Negroes in
their employ, and big influence on
the balance, they determined to make
the best possible showing in the cleo
ton at Phoenix precinct for K. h.
Tolbert. -.
The white Democrats were not dis
posed to put up with any foolishness,
and being aware beforehand of the in
tention of the Tolberts, sought to
prevent it. T. P. Tolbert had charge
of R. R. Tolbert's interests at Phoenix.
He had been working the matter up
with the Negroes for weeks, and had
arranged box of his own. The Ne
groes would present themselves at the
regular polls and make application to
vote. Upon being denied the priv
ilege they would 60 over to Tolbert's
box and deposit therein vote, together
with an affidavit setting forth that they
were duly qualified electors under the
constitution of the United States, but
that they had not been permitted to
exercise the right of franchise.
This thing was kept up until some ID
or 20 Negroes had thus deposited votes
and afidavits in the Tolbert box, when
Mr.. J. B. Ethridge, one of the Demo-
cratic managers of election, went over
to Tolbert and began to demonstrate
against the proceedings. Tolbert
struck Ethridge and Ethridge knock
Ell him down. Then a Negro named
Joe Circuit shot Ethridge in the back
of the head, killing him almost in
stantly. This was followed by fusi-
lade of shots from the opposing sides.
As many as so or 100 shots were fired
within few minutes. Tolbert was
wounded and so were several Me-
groes. On the side of the whites,
young soldier named Stuart Miller
and two other men-Flemming and
Young-were wounded. Tolbert and
the Negroes fed from the scene before
the shooting ceased.
The shooting and bloodshed, OF
course, caused intense excitement, and
as the news went out angry men from
different parts of Greenwood, Abbe-
Vile and Edge6eld, began to collect
about Phoenix. After while it was
decided to go to Tom Tolbert's house
and kill him. He was found in help
less condition, however, and the leader
of the party refused to participate
in any further violence. John r. Toll
bert came up in buggy with little
Steve Tolbert, son of Elias Tolbert,
about the time the crowd was leaving.
When he saw the crowd he tried to
escape by flight. The crowd fired
volley at him, riddling the top of the
buggy and wounding him and the boy.
During Wednesday, the whites, in
large numbers, armed with shotguns,
rifles and pistols, secured the country
in search of the Negroes who were
present at the shooting OF Ethrldge.
The mob came upon crowd of Ne
groes near Rehoboth church. Som
Of the Negroes ran away and others
finding escape cut off, climbed up on
a big log where they sat unarmed and
helpless. The mob fred volley into
them and killed four-Hamp MeKin-
ney, Columbus Jackson, Jesse Williams
r, NnrvrNno