The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-03-10

stinctive protector Of women against
all that was brutal, low, strong or
coarse. From his Irish father he had
the impulsive blood to strike swiftly
and freely for their right.
During the night of Thursday, Sep
tember Z, he reached Newberry, ex-
pecting to make close connection with
the southbound train. In those dis.
jointed Reconstruction times'' travel
was not altogether safe for q man,
much less for woman. Especially
was this true in Newberry, where the
3Srd regiment of u. s. negro troops,
under Col. Trowbridge, was encamp-
ed in an adjoining grove. There
fore, when two young women from
Orangeburg, s. O., going the same
route as himself. were placed in his
care by fellow passenger Calvin
Crozier accepted the charge as So
cred trust. AS agentleman should, as
a manly southerner would, he felt
honor bound to stand between them
and every danger.
Through an unfortunate accident
the train on which they were leav-
ing was derailed, whether done by
the negro troops or not was never
known and as there were no sulta-
BILE accommodations convenient, the
ladies concluded to remain in the
coach until the train should be right
ed. While help was being summoned
from Helena, the nearest station, the
protector left the car for short time.
On returning presently he was shock
ed to find the ladies under his care
terrified by the insults of burly
negro soldier who had taken advan-
tage Of his absence to enter the car
occupied by the young women. Hur-
Tying to their rescue Orozier ordered
the offensive wretch to leave, which
he, secure in the military power be-
hind him, refused to do. Another
uniformed negro now showed himself
and joined with the first inviolently
refusing to go. In the alteration
and struggle which followed Crozie1
managed to eject them both from the
car, when one Of then moved Of in the
direction Of the camp. But the other
still made determined resistance. Out
on the tracks, in the darkness, the
white man and the black closed in
desperate fight, in which Crozier
drew his knife and lashed across the
back Of the negro's neck, inf1icting
wound all too slight for his desert
At which the cowardly creature fed
after his comrade, yelling. "I'm cut
I'm cutl'
| 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 ex-confederate
law and justice did not exist at that
J time and at best there were two wit
nesses to swear falsely against him,
both members of race to whom ly-
ing 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
enlaged mob was gathering in the dis
rance. With increasing noise it came
nearer and nearer. Presently fifty or
more infuriated blacks we're swarming
| %ho C%n%f &N
geance on the white man. While
they were searching everywhere for
their intended victim Jacob Bowers,
the section master, came up from Hell
ena to superintend the righting of the
car. He was pounced upon BY four of
the mad crowd who excitedly cried
out. ''Here he isl" and dragged him
forward into the midst Of the others
who had gathered on the station plat
! form. Crozler could hear Bowers de-
claring his innocence, while the fren.
zied soldiers, refusing to believe him,
were denouncing him with oaths and
curses. They were for shoot him at
once and despite his protestations
were leading him off to kill him.
It was crucial test for man 8
soul. Silence on Calvin Crozier's
part would insure his own safety. A
moment more and the section master
would be sacrificed in his stead. But
the hero who within the hour had
jeopardized his life in defense Of help
less womanhood was not of the mould
to let another pay the penalty Of his
daring act. There was no choice left
to his noble spirit. Instantly emer-
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 SEQ
tion master was released and the
new victim was eagerly grabbed.
bound fast and hurriedly taken to the