The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-03-16
sI;rb1 for his desert. AT which the

Slight for his desert. AT which the
creature tied after his com
race yelling: Il an cut. IN cHt.
Crozier was not Sow to reailZa Tie F
danger of his own position ne
town was practically in lie power oi 7
the col red troops. F2E a;l EA-N.h-
fedefate law and justice DID Dot eN'sV !
at that time: aud at best there were
rwn witnesses to swear falsely against
h;n7 both members Of a race to whom
lyi3p is natural His only safety was
70 disappear under cover OF darkness:
which was Immediately and effective
" done. None TOO SooE had Crczier
left the spot. The awftl sound OF an
enrasad mob was gathering in the
distance. With increasing noise it
came nearer and nearer. Presently
titty or more infuriated blacks were
swarniag 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 rightins OF
the cars. He was pounced upon by
four Of the mad crowd. who eScitedly
cried out: Here he is: aud drag
ged him forward into the midst oi the
Others who had gathered on the STA
ton platform. Crozier could hear
Bowers declaring his innocence. While
the frenZied soldiers. refusing to be-
I !ieve him. were den0uncing hlm Win
oaths and curses. They were Tor
shooting him at once and despite bis
protestationS were leading him OF to
kill him.
II was crucial test for mans
soul. Silence on Calvin Crozier,S part
would insure his own safety. a mo-
nent more and the section master
would be sacrificed in his stead. But
the hero who within the hour had
ieopardized his life in defense OF help
less womanhood was not OF the moulG
to let another pay the penalty OF his
daring act. There was no choice left
to his noble spirit. Instantly energ-
ing from his hiding place be gave
himself up boldly asserting that it
was ne, 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 be 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 mem
bers Of an antagoniStic race may
have been in their fury against him
that ne might have looked for protec-
ton from Trowbridge, the colonel OF
the regiment, who passed for white
man. On the contrary, The only mercy
shown him was from negro suboTdl.
nate officer who, willing to save 4
NOBLE lie, urged the prisoner TO take
back what be bad said and deny that
he was the one who had wounded the
soldier. But Crozier stoutly refused
to recant, saying: Loose me and l
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 be
acted from a sense Of duty and boldly
declaring: Il would do it again.
In answer 10 which he was told that
the act would cost him his life.
IN short. Crozier was promptly con-
denned to death without even the
form OF a trial and was not allowed
communication with any citizen while
awaiting his doom. About daylight
on the following morning (Friday.
September S. the regiment was drawn
up in line of march. Slow drum beats
marked off the remaining moments
Of the prisoners life while he was be-
ing led a few yards from the camp. He
was halted On the brink of a shallow
hole, freshly dug in the earth, and
ordered to kneel. There was flash
of guns in ghe murky dawn and the
martyred CroZier fell lifeleSS. \ reli-
able citizen, who had ventured near
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 it into the insufficient
grave.
The SD colored troops Immediately
moved otf some distance down the
railroad to await the train. Their
degraded leader, Trowbridge. 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 Newberry visited the fatal
spot where Calvin CroZier had been
murdered. His honored remains were
taken up and an inquest was held by
Silas Johnstone, inteDdant, acting
coroner, in which much testimony was
taken that elected the facts above
stated. The body was then ceverently
cottined and laid to rest in the old
cemetery Of the town, attended by a
large concourSe Of the besc citizens OF
Newberry.
In 1890 movement was started
By the editor of the Newberry Ob-
server to erect q monument to CroZier'S
memory. Three hundred dollars was
quickly subscribed, and in 1891 the
hero'S body was removed to-. Rose
mont" Cemetery, in Newberry, where
bis noble selt-sacriice was recorded
upon q marble shaft ten feet, five
inches in height, resting on high
base Of Newberry grant.
On the front face Of the column is
/ the Lone Star Of Texas. Beneath
i it is inscribed: