The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-07-08
THE FIEND JAILED AT LAST.

| mousse early tues lay morning and the
news began to spread around the
neighborhood. The crime was not dis
torted. not exaggerated, mins sters and
] other prominent citiZeLs said Tuesday
that farmers and others said little or
nothing about the trouble they have
been experiencing with the negroS 10
years past. They did not even ltI
the fact that when two white men at
tempted to justly punish negro who
had been impertinent beyond question.
they were interfered with by two OF
the very worst characters In the whole
territory roundabout. They simply
wanted to know.
1t was not long after Evans was
safely placed in the guard house
which is simply IA wooden building en-
tirely insecure, that the people from
all the country about began to arrive
in number. They were quiet and or
derly and all they asked what was to
be done. When they learned that
Evans was jailed they'all agreed that
it was best to leave the "inan to the
law" and they began to send out
scouts 10 find the other brother. He
could not be found and kilograms were
sent TO all the stations in the
neighborhood, and even the trains on
the Seaboard were searched as they
passed i'm the hope OF finding Jim
Evans who was at first thought to be
the ringleader. All Efforts were futile.
THE THRoNGED INCREASES.
This made the crowds OF farmers
and Villagers anxious. The popula-
tion Of the town is but over 200 and il
boasts the fact that there has not
been drunken man within its borders
within three years, but the throng in-
creased to over 500, and every hour
brought i'm more strangers, for runners
about the country had carried the
news that the negroes were arming
themselves and were about to make
further trouble. AS the farmers came
i'm with their Shotguns and rifles Slung
across their shoulders. they laughed
at the idea Of the negroes making
more trouble and said that they would
not leave the place until "the law had
taken its course" The time, they
said, for negro impertinence to cease
had come and they wondered whether
or not there would be any trouble if
they hauled Evans out OF the Jail and
swung him up 10 nearby tree. But
Older heads cautioned the heated
youths and told them that they were
all law abiding citizens and that any
rash act would bring down censure on
their heads. The farmers with guns
listened to the wise counsel and they
were kept away from the Phillips
home, where it was known that the
sufferingS OF the wounded man would
further incense them
MESSAGE OF INSoLENCE.
All went well until about | o'clock,
when negro courier came into town
and said that if the farmers wanted
"a man they could come down TO the
outskirts of the town and get one"
Had the proverbial bombshell exrlod-
ed in the midst of the crowd it could
not have created a greater sensation
than this impertinent message, add
ing insult To the already great injury
The counsel Of the older men prevail
ed again, however, and the hot heads
were persuaded upon to remain in the
centre of the village and protect the
women and children while some 10 or
20 of the towns Oldest and best citi-
zens went out TO meet the negroes who
had sent the impertinent message
They were soon in their midst. Il he
sight OF the armed white men coming
toward them with their determined
faces and glistening arms seemed for
moment To awe them.
THREATENING ATTITUDE SHOWN.
The negroes bore a threatening atti-
tn1p hl1t Nuhnn 81
determination written in every line
OF their adverSaries faces most of them
lay down their arms when they were
hidden to do so. Three, John Fielder,
Ulysses Johnson and Pink Hartwell,
did not have the good sense to do this.
They showed fight and the men rush
ed up TO them and took their guns
away from them after no little diff
Guilty. Had it not been for the num-
Der of the whites they would have un-
doubtedly had difficulty with Johnson
who not only declined to give up his
gun but resisted when it was taken
| from him. The three negroes who had
this daring were promptly marched
OFF To the guard house, where they
were place in separate rooms under
strong guard.
BLOOD ON THE MOON.
But this incident had served To more
greatly incitc the anger OF every one
assembled in the the village and even
The most prominent men in the town
began TO shake their heads and won
der what was coming next. The after
noon and the early part OF the night
passed under stress of the greatest ex-
citement in the whole community.
Men who know the populace like a
book say tht it is only the Providence
OF God that kept the life Of the
wounded Philips hanging by thread
all day. Had he died there is but
little doubt but that there would have
been a race war, for negroes, who
seemed TO have no prudence under the
premises, continued to arrive in town
in numbers and 1T was known that
many OF them were armed with piS-
tolS. When it was seen that they had
weapons they were promptly diSarmed
and told that unless they kept the
peace they would be dealt with I'm a
way that would furnish lesson for all
their kind for long time to come.