The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-04-21
An Interesting Article by Mrs. Gary
How Mr.. Griffin, of Newberry,
Was Saved.
written by Request.)

\ COllSSl Sd-lOA Will O.
arv soldier. who was at Hayes Sta
; ton, at the time Of the massacre by
Mai. William Cunningham known as
"BLoody Bill"
The soldier referred to above was
Nj. lob Dean, who lived in Laurens
county, about ten miles from Hayes
Station and a few miles from the
home OF my mother. My step-father
was DR.. VIM. Rock, a practicing ply
sician, who on this occasion had per-
formed a surgical operation On the
wife of Mr.. Dean.
After the operation and Mrs. Dean
had been made comfortable, MI.
Dean joined the family on the plazza'
and was soon engaged in an interest
;np conversation. At this time l was
onlv a school girl, but the impression
made UPON me b. his remarks was SO
great I have never forgotten them.
He told us about his having been at
HAYES Station at the time Of the mas
| sacre when he was only seventeen
years old, and how he was able to es-
cape.
Mai. Cunningham's appearance at
the station on this occasion was very
unexpected and a great surprise, IN
fscs. so much so that some Of the men
barely got into the house used as a
fort, before the enemy were upon
them. Although henmed in, and SUR
! rounded by this Tory band, they re-
fused to surrender and fought until
the ammunition had about given out,
causing a feeling of horror, such as
brave men feel when no longer able to
defend themselves, but If possible
their horror and sense of danger was
increased when they found that the
roof of the building was on fire and
being rapidly consumed, the enemy
having shot arrows into it which had
been dipped in turpentine and light
| ed.
Though confronted by such danger
thew would not surrender until as
/ sured that they would be treated as
prisoners Of war. When thus assured
thew laid down their arms and walked
out. When Col. Hayes and the officer
next in command passed out they
we're seized by Maj. Cunningham and
hanged on a pole, the pole broke, and
he then hacked them to pieces with
his own hands and this bloody work
was kept up until he could not raise
! his arm and from exhaustion he turn
| ed it over to his men who continued
it until there was scarcely any upon
whom to wreck their bloody venge-
ance.
Previous to this Maj. Cunningham
| had ordered his men to form those
wko had surrendered into a circle, and
pronounce sentences of death upon
every other man. In this way MI.
Lean was one that was passed over,
% he felt somewhat secure, though he
feared to hope even then. But the
sentence of death fell upon Nh. Griffin
of Newberry and he would have been
instantly killed, but for the interces-
| SIGN of a negro man. This man be-
loneed to Mr.. Griffin, but had run
away and joined these men. But as
soon as death was pronounced against
his master he fell upon his knees be-
fore Maj. Cunningham, and prayed
that his masters life be spared, which
was granted for the negro's sake,
though the bloody work wac con-
tinued. Mr.. Dean did not mention
| any who escaped excent Nh. Griffin
| and himself. Dr.. Rock remarked that
| Mr.. Griffin was the father of John K.
| Griffin, congressman from Newberry.
Mr. Dean was a man Of good ap-
| pearance, small in stature and must
have been quite old at this time
though he did not show signs Of
greatly advanced age. He was erect,