The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-12-26
VOTING IN sSEvENry-EIGHT
How the negroes Were Fooled at the
Edgefield Box.

ekO AahtA1aE HASu tuu hAbsoTt VA VoAo
State since the civil war recall that
there was an election in 1875, at
which considerable voting was done.
A goodly number of the. ballots that
were polled ON this occasion were cast
at Edgefeld Court House; indeed, it
10 conceded that Edgefeld saved the
day for the Democracy and the White
Mans government.
The election two years later, in 1873,
was also an important aud exciting
affair, and was as fercely contested by
the cen.esd:ss rrcll::.:;sa!! rrcll::.:;sa!! parties as the
election Of '76; indeed, this was the
crucial test, as the negroes made q
last desperate effort to get back into
power, and it was only sitter another
sup5rhunan struggle on the part of
the whites that they were prevented
from doing so. In this election, as in
rs, Edgeield did her whole duty.
Many stories have been told of
scenes and incidents during this con-
test, but this correspondent recently
heard new one, or, at least, one that
has nover appeared in print. Mr..
Jasper Rush. who now lives in Green
wood, was the hero of the story. Mr..
Rush is now about 65 years old. griz-
zied and gray, and in all respects
comes up to all that can be meant by
the term, SO case" He was living at
Edge6eld in 1873, and was, probably,
somewhat more of ga case" than he is
now.
On the morning Of the election, go
the story goes, the negroes congre-
gated early and massed themselves
around the ballot box. There were
several hundred of them, and they
were packed 80 closely around the
polls that the whites were completely
shut out--in fact, that was the scheme
Of the negroes, to hold the polls so
long as possible and thereby prevent
the whites from voting.
The whites soon saw that something
had to be done or they would lose the
election, and some Of the leaders were
discussing the advisability of an
armed attack, when Mr.. Rush stated
that he believed he could run every
negro away from the polls without
firing shot. He was laughed at at
first, but after he explained his plan
itwas agreed to let him try.
Mr.. Rush selected q few discreet
men and told them his plan in detail
and instructed them as to what he
wanted them to do He then went to
@ drug store and purchased stick of
shaving soap, being particular to
specify q kind that would "lather
freely" Cutting the piece Of soap in
two, he put half Of it in his mouth
and commenced chewing vigorously.
He soon had o oopious froth, or
l.ther, around his lips, to which he
added o pinch Of dye stuff to give it
the color Of blood, and was then ready
for business. In the meantime those
who had been posted had been circu-
lating among the whites and telling
them what was coming, so they were
in measure prepared for what fol-
lowed.
In few minutes Mr.. Rush came
running wildly down the street, froth-
ing at the mouth and apparently hav-
ing oonvulsion at every jump. Some
of those who were on to the scheme
began shouting, "Madmanl Madman!
Hydrophobial Get out Of his wayr'
while others closed in with him and
seemingly terrific struggle followed.
hnt Ne. Rush threw them off and con-
tinued his wild career, still foaming
at the mouth and swapping at every
one he passed. He headed straight
for the negroes.
The lamented DIR. Bill Jennings, in
his day one "a tho leading citizens Of
Edgefeld, was one Of the arch con-
spirators, and was dancing about in
the crowd brandishing colossal horse
pistol and shouting at the TOP Of his
voice, "That man has been bitten by
q maddog and has hydrophobia. Get
ont of the way and let me shoot him
before he bites somebody. It's the
best thing to DO; get out of the way
and let me shoot him ,efore he bites
somebody"
The remainder Of the story is best
tbld,in Mr.. Rush's own wo.as: "The
negroes didn't seem to realize what
was up till ] got right on them, and 7
put my hands on ones shoulders and
gave jump and landed on top of the
rxFs