The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-07-10

neighborhood, and even the trains on
the Seaboard were searched as they
passed in the hope Of finding Jim
Evans who was at first thought to be
the ringleader. All efforts were futile.
THE THRoNoED INCREASES.
| This made the crowds of farmers
and villagers anxious. The popula-
ttOn Of the town is but over 200 aud it
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 In more strangers, for runners
about the country had carried the
news that the negroes we're arming
themselves and were about to make
further trouble. AS the farmers came
In with their shotguns and rifles slung
across their shoulders. they laughed
at the idea Of the negroes making
more trouble aud said that they would
not Lave the place until "the law had
taken its course" The time, they
said, for negro impertinencc 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 to nearby tree. But
Older heads cautioned the heated
youths and told them that they we're
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 1t was known that the
Sufferings OF the wounded man would
further incense them.
A MESSAGE OF lNsOLENCE.
a went well until about O'clock.
when q negro courier game into town
| and said that II the farmers want, d
IA man they could come down to the
l'outSkirtS Of the town and get one. I"
Hac the proverbial bombshcll exrlod-
ed In the midst of the crowd it could
not have created greater sensation
than this impertincnt message, add
ing Insult iu iile 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 Is 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 hc
sight Of the armed white men coming
toward them with their determined
faces and glstening arms seemed for a
moment to awe them.
! THREATENING ATTITUDE SHOWN.
The negroes bore threatening atti-
tude at first, but when they saw the
determination written In every line
OF their adversarias faces most OF them
lay down their arms when they we're
biddcn to do SO. Three, John Fielder,
Ulysses johnson and Pink Hartwcll,
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 diili-
Guilty: Had 1t not been for the num-
her Of tho whites thnu .-'.' : Sun-
doubtedly: had dill ,o.I ,sa,,
who not only declined to give up5'his
gun but resisted when 1T was taken,
from him. The three negroes who had
this daring were promptly marched
of 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-
element in the whole community.
Men who know the populace like
book say that it is only the Providence
of God that kept the life of the
wounded Philips hanging by Il 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 it was known that
many of them were armed with pis-
tolls. 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 in Il
way that would furnish a lesson for all
their kind for long time to come.
This salutary advice had its effect
with some and with others it had
none. In the late evening there were
many sullen negro faces about the
place and the crowd was much in
censed when it was rumored about
the village that some OF the negroes
had gotten together ut the planning
mill short distance from the town
aid passed resolutions that no lynch
ing bee be permitted
FRBTGT TRAINS BROUGHT MEN.
Some Of the freight trains that
came in during the early . evening
brought little groups Of armed men
from Blackvillc, Denmark, Fairfax
and other pyints along the line Of the
road. When midnight arrived there
was a goodly crowd around the station
and the negroes had by this time been
|intimldatcd SO that there we're but
few Of them who dared to show their
faces. The crowd discussed the trou-
BILE long and seriously. The events Of
the past few hours we're reviewed at
great length. The daredevil acts, the
pecIlations and the desperate deeds
OF the negroes for years past were re-
called by the crowd The good coun-
sci prevailed against all these argll-
ments until long, lanky South Caro-
linian whose name is legion for all the
country around about as a square
and fair man." got up and called at
tcntion to the fact that the negro