The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-03-22
JOHN MCQUEEN.
"reminiscences by One of His School
mates and Friends of a Stirring In
cident III Which He Was
Leading Actor.

DrILSS OdCh W li1S l1SAiAoty6 ~ LIS oeAA
wing schoolmates and companions
of long years ago some interesting rec
objections Of a more or Rss stirring
nature. In his boyhood and early
manhood John was of an adventurous
disposition. Manly sports and daring
exploits were more to his liking than
books and he was recognized as a
leader in those thing which appeal
most to boyish hearts. Nevertheless
he had a bright mind and by applica-
ton could easily have attained a good
standing as a scholar. He was OF a
cheerful, jolly temperament and a
popular fellow with his chums. In the
days when John was>a schoolboy the
Radical regime had full sway in the
state government, There was wide
spread i'll feeling and constant friction
between whites and blacks. In no way
did this spirit show itself more in
tensely than in the open hostility be-
tween white and black school Children.
Rarely did parties Of the opposing
colors meet that fight did not follow,
and in more than one stand up and
knock down affair John distinguished
himself as a fearless and effective
leader. Later on he became a MEM
Der Of the Sumter Light Infantry
which did good service in those dark
days in the preservation Of peace by
preparations to fight if need appeared.
4On all occasions John was present
and willing to do his whole duty. In
the memorial campaign of 1878 the
great Republican rally for Sumter
county was held on October the 18th.
1t was short time after the Cainhoy
massacre and subsequent murder Of
white men in Charleston. The white
people were aroused to the fighting
a conhagration, the end Of which.
could not have been foretold. The
great effort of General Hampton and
other leaders at that time was directed
towards preventing violence on the
part of the whites. They foresaw that
widespread disorder would result in
military rule, which would have; been
disastrous to the prospect Of wrestling
the state from the control of the pi-
rate band who were playing havoc
with its institutions and prosperity.
On the day in question the streets
of Sumter were filed by thousands of
negroes. The whites had adopted the
plan of attending these meetings. and
demanding division Of time in order
that they might present their views
and interest negroes, if possible, in the
redemption Of the state. According to
this plan there was a force of $50 or
400 militia and calvalry on the ground
to back this demand and incidentally
to protect the town from the dangers
Of a negro riot. A detach-
ment of the Columbia Flying Artil-
.lery with two Of their guns, also
came over to lend their persuasive as
sistance. The request Of the Democrats
for a division of time was, refused and
the meeting which was held below the
depot broke up in disorder. The great
multitude Of negroes surged up Main
street in a frenzied mass. An alarm
was sounded and two companies of
militia formed quickly at the court
house and stopped the negroes in
their mad march. They were enraged
and began to curse and throw rocks
at the militia, who were with difficult
ty kept from firing on the mob by
their commanding officers and by the
entreaties of Gen. Johnson Hagood.
The negroes on finding that the mill
tia were restrained from shooting,
became more and more abusive. Some
Of them attempted to break through
the ranks. One bolder than tthe others
threw himself against the Sumter
Light Infantry just where John Nc
Queen was in line. That was more
than John could stand, so he prompt
ly broke ranks without waiting for or
ders, chased that darkey through the
crowd and at last laid him out with
a we'll directed blow on his head from
a rife. The effect was magical.
No further assaults were made upon
the line. That one act perhaps did
more to check the impetuosity of the
mob than anything else. Very
soon the negroes stampeded. Sum
ter was saved from what threat
ened to be a bloody riot without
the loss of life or the firing of gun.
Many will recall that day and the feel
ing and sentiments which were preva-
lent as indicated by the legends which