The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-12-21

was we'll known to thousands of our
people to wit: That in the Ku KluA
days, 80 to ~, there were Large
companies, members of the Khan
riding up the middle section of th'
State, particularly Sumter, Clarendon
and Williamsburg, in the endeavol
to accomplish good and prevent mis-
chief. And it may interest some Of
your readers 70 know more of the
happenings of those days.
1t may be news, Mr. Editor, to
even some of the true blue of the
mysterious order, to hear that the
first den of Ku Klux organized in
Sumter county was organized i'll the
town of Sumter, by young mau
fresh from Ku Klux headquarters in
Tennessee, bearing the genuine Ku
Klux "Prescript". This young
man was son of well known and
much loved Presbyterian minister,
st that time Of Sumter county.
After the young man who organ
lied the town of Sumter left, GER
tain Major from Georgia sojourued
in Sumter until everything. in the
eounty-maybe in other counties too
got in working order.
, Besides the Swimming Pen raid,
there were other and numerous raids
in the middle and lower section of
the State. Some of the most not
able were:
Flrst-The PrivaleeI raid, during
which battle occurred, with the
result that one negro was killed and
Others woqnde and member of the
Klan was shot down. The wounded
Ku Klux was spirited away and ten
derly nursed back to health; and the
authorities IN Columbia were none
:the wiser.
Second During q raid, or by ap-
pointment, notoriously bad charac-
ter, a negro politician, was put to
death by the Ku Klux IN Clarendon
county near the town of Manning.
Third-A raid in Williamsburg
county where negro whose life and
conduct had been for some time a
stencil and unbearable, was, after
due warning to leave had been dis
obeyed, strung up by the neck where
the public found his body next day.
Fourth-In Williamsburg county,
near Scranton or Lake City, whit,
enemy of the people was duly tried
by the Klan, sentenced and put tc
death.
Fifth--A white nan in the Bish'
opvilie section was, for good provo
cation, thrashed and ordered to re-
turn TO his home in North Carolina
Sixth-A white man, deserving
what he got at the hands of the ku
Klux, was thrashed in old Lynch
burg and given orders which he re-
ligiously respec led and obeyed.
Seventh-Durng raid in Oar
liugton county, a white man, desir
ing to avoid punishment for his mis-
doings, broke one of his legs in his
fight from the Ku Klux.
Eighth-A raid was made arounc
the locality known then as Lynch
bnrg depot, during which Il negro
merchant was thrashed for disobey
ing orders, which he ever afterwarc
respected.
Ninth-But not by any means th'
least there was another raid in th
locality of Lynchburg depot made
for the purpose of settling accounts
with a white man doing Il genera
merchandise and liquor business
This man had been waited upol
once before, after being warned, bu
on the first visit paid him, for th'
purpose of punishment, he was sick
and he promised to give no more
trouble. AnG, as the Ku Klu1
were not looking up sick meu, they
took his word for the time. How
ever, instead of the man, Johl
Murphy by name, keeping his prom
Use, he made made many threats an(
ample preparation to receive then
should they decide to call again
Murphy bought and loaded with
powder and buck shot four doubl.
barrel guns. which he placed in diff
ferent parts of the store convenient
to his hand. He also kept on hi.
person two pistols, and he invited
me more than once to join him in hi;
pistol practice while he was getting
ready for the Ku Klux. | did prac-
tice with him, and beat him shoot,
; ing, and he said to me eff | could
shoot as we'll as you can L would
. certainly set the Ku .Klux gong,"
but l told him laughingly, and IA
good guess it was, that his pistol
would not shoot straight if aimed at
aKu Klux, unless loaded with sill.
yer bullets. In the meantime. the
Ku Klux, being fully aware of Muir
phys purpose to entertain themwith
powder and bnllets, prepared for the
occasion. However, it should be