The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-03-18

| CrOZier was not slow to realize the
danger Of his own position. The
town was practically in the power of
the colOred troops. For an EXC
federate law and justice did not exist
at that time; and at best there were
two witnesses to swear falsely against
him, both members of u race to whom
lying Is natural. His only safety was
to disappear under cover Of darkness,
which was Immediately and effective
ly done. None too soon had Crozier
left the spot. The awful sound Of an
enraged mob was gathering in the
distance. With increasing noise it
fifty or more infuriated blacks were
swarmiag around the station, roaring
for vengeance on the white man.
While they were searching for their
intended victim Mr.. Jacob Bowers,
the section master, came up from
Helena to superintend the righting of
the cars. He was pounced upon by
four of the mad crowd, who excitedly
cried OUT Here he isl" aud drag
ged him forward into the midst Of the
others who had gathered on the sta
tion platform. Crozier could hear
Bowers declaring his innocence, while
the frenzied soldiers, refusing to be-
lieve him, were denouncing HIM with
oaths and curses. The, were for
shooting him at once and despite his
protestationS were leading him Off to
| kill him.
1t was crucial test for mans
soul. Silence on Calvin Crozier'S part
would insure his own safety. a mo-
ment more and the section master
would be sacrificed in his stead. But
the hero who within the hour had
| jcopardizcd his life in defense of help
less wOmanhOod was not of the mould
to let another pay the penalty uf his
daring act. There was no choice left
to his noble spirit. Instantly cmerg-
ing from his hiding place he gave
himself up boldly asserting that it
was he, not Bowers, who had done the
cutting. Upon which the section
master was released and the new vic
| tim was grabbed, bound fast and hur-
ried by the bivonac of the wounded
negroes regiment, where he was kept
/ under guard the remainder of the
night. That he was not killed on the
spot was owning solely to the SER
geant, who insisted that he must be
taken to headquarters. One would
think that, however violent men,
DerS OF an antagOniStic race may
have been in their fury against him
that ne might have looked for protcc-
tion from Trowbridge, the colonel OF
the regiment, who passed for Il white
man. On the contrary, the only mercy
shown him was from a negro Subordi.
nate officer who, willing to save a
noble life, urged the prisoner to take
back what he had said and deny thai
he was tile one who had wounded the
soldier But Crozier stoutly refused
to recant saying: Loose me and !
will show you whether | am the man
or not"
Higher officers were appealed to in
vain to save him. On being question.
ed by Col. Trowbridge he acknowl.
edged the deed, explaining that he
acted from a sense of duty and boldl,
declaring: Il would do it again. }
In answer to which he was told that
the act would cost him his life.
In short, Crozicr was promptly con.
demned to death without even the
form Of trial and was not allowed
communication with any citizen while
awaiting his doom. About daylight
on the following morning (Friday,
September So the regiment was drawn
up in line Of march. Slow drum beat.
marked OFT the remaining moments
of the prisoners life while he was be-
Ing led few yards from the camp. He
was halted on the brink of a shallow
hole, freshly dug in the earth, and
ordered to knccl. There was a nasl
of guns in the murkv dawn and tile
martyrcd Crozier fell lifeleSs. A reli,
able citizen, who had ventured neal
to watch the tragedy, saw the de.
moniacal troops throw the still warm
body into the hole, then jump upon
it, dancing and stamping with their
heels to press 1t into the insufficient
| grave.
he $40 coorcd troops immediately
moved oil some distance down the
railroad to await the train. Their
degraded leader, Trowbrdgc, was
afterwards heard to declare that he
took all the responsibility OF the kill
ing on himself. There let it and the
shame OF it forever rest.
During Friday morning the good
people of Ncwberry visited the fatal
spot where Calvin Crozicr had been
murdered. Ills honorcd remains were
taken up and an inquest was held by
Sllas JOhnstonc, intcndant, acting
coroner, in which much testimony was
taken that clicitcd the facts above
stated. The body was then revcrently
cOllined and laid to rest in tie old
cemetery of the town, attended by a
large concourse of the be citizens OF
Ncwbcrry.
In 1890 a movement was started
by the editor OF the Newbcrry Oh
server to crccta monument to CrOzicr's
memory. Three hundred dollars was
quickly subscribed, and in 1891 the
heroS body was removed tn Rose.
mont Cemetery, in Ncwbcrry, where
ms noble selt-sacrlicc was recorded
upon Il marble shaft ten feet, five
inches in height, resting ON high
base of Newberry grant.
On the front face Of tile column is
the Lone Star OF Texas. Beneath
1t is Inscribed:
Calvin S. Crozicr,
born at
brandon, NliSSippi
August, 1910.
Murdered
At Ncwbcrry, S. c.,
SoDtpmhpr 4 ISr,