Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-22
proclamation of the president declaring

Martial Law.
Ben watched this day dawn with
nervous dread. He had passed a sleep
less night, riding in person to every
Den Of the Klan and issuing positive
orders that no white man should come
to Piedmont.
A clash with the authority Of the
United States he had avoided from the
first as matter Of principle. 1t was
essential to his success that his men
should commit no act Of desperation
which would imperil his plans. Above
all, he wished to avoid a clash with
old fStoneman personally.
The arrival Of the big excursion was
the signal for a revival Of negro insol-
ence which had been planned. The
men brought from the eastern part Of
the state were selected for the pur-
pose. They marched over the town
yelling and singing. A crowd Of them,
half drunk. formed themselves three
abreast and rushed the sidewalks,
pushing every white man. woman, and
child into the street.
They met Phil on his way to the
hotel and pushed him into the gutter.
He said nothing, crossed the street,
bought revolver, loaded It and put
1t I'M his pocket. He was not popular
with, the negroes, and he had been shot
at twice on his way from the mills at
night The whole affair of this rally.
over which his father meant to pre-
side. filled him with disgust, and he
was in an ugly mood.
Lypch's speech was bold, bitter and
inceh hillary, and at its close the drunk
en- negro troopers from the local garri-
son began to slouch through the
streets, two and two looking for trou-
BILE.
At the close Of the speaking. Stone
man called the officer In command Of
thfse troops, and said:
fMajor, I wish this rally today to
beia proclamation of the supremacy Of
Law. and the enforcement Of the equal
ity of every man under law. Your
troops are entitled to the rights Of
white men. I understand the hotel
table has been free today to the SOL
diers from the camp on the river.
They are returning the courtesy extend
ed to the criminals who drilled before
them. Send two of your black troops
down for dinner and see that 1t Is
served. 1 wish an example for the
state"
ct will be a dangerous performance,
sir" the major protested.
The old Commoner furrowed his
brbw.
irHave you been instructed to act
under my orders?'
tT have, sir" said the officer, sa-
luting.
"Then do as I tell you," snapped
Stoneman.
Ben Cameron had kept indoors all
day, and di1ed with fifty Of the West
ern troopers whom he had identified as
leading In the friendly demonstration
to his men. Margaret, who had been
busy with Mrs. Cameron entertaining
these soldiers, was seated in the din
ing-room alone eating her dinner
while Phil waited impatiently In the
parlor. =. l.i. {.
a., The guests had all gone when two
big negro troopers, fighting drunk,
walked into the hotel. They went to
the water-cooler and drank ostenta-
tiously, thrusting their thick lips coat
ed with filth far into the cocoanut dip
per. while a dirty hand grasped its
surface.
They pushed the dining-room door
open and suddenly Topped down be-
side Margaret
She attempted to rise, and cried in
rage:
How dare you, black brutes?
One Of them threw his arm around
her chair, thrust his face into hers and
said with a laugh:
Don't hurry. my beauty: stay and
take dinner wild us!"
Margaret again attempted to rise, and
screamed, as Phil rushed into the room
with drawn revolver. One of the ne
groes fired at him, missed, and the next
moment dropped dead with bullet
through his heart.
The other leaped across the table and
through the open window.
Margaret turned, confronted both
Phil and Ben with revolvers In their
hands, and tainted.
Ben hurried Phil out the back door
and persuaded him to fly.
Man, you must go! We must not
have a riot here today. There's no
telling what will happen. A disturb
ance now, and my men will swarm into
town tonight. For Gods sake go. un-
til things are quiet"
But l tell you I'll face it. I'm not
afraid" said Phil quietly.
mo- but l am" urged Ben. "These
two hundred negroes are armed and
drunk. Their officers may not be able
to control them, and they may lay their
hands on NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
must go! The train Is due In fifteen
minutes"
He half lifted him on a horse tied
behind the hotel leaped on another,
galloped to the fiag-station two miles
out of town, and put him on the north
bound train.
Stay in Charlotte until I wire for
you," was Ben's parting injunction.
He turned his horses head for Nc
Allisters sent the two boys with all
speed to the Cyclops Of each of the ten
township Dens with positive orders to
disregard all wild rumors from Pied
mant and keep every man out of town
for two days.
AS he rode back he met a squad OF
,,,o,ntad ,ybita repulars who arrested