The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-02-09
THE STORY OF CALVIN CROZlER.

lHE SlOkl NaLfiN SNSLiSN'
Tom Dixon's Book Recalls the Brave Fellow
: Murdered at Newberry.
"The story of the noble self-sacrifce of
Calvin Croz;er," said Rev. NJ. j. Epting,
pastor of st. Paups Lutheran church, yes
terday, deserves to be widely known and
is of especial interest to Savannahians,
inasmuch as the man whom he saved was
the father of Rev. A. J. Bowers, the pred
ecessor of DR.. W. c. Schaeffer as pastor
ofthe Lutheran Church of the Ascension" )"
The story Of Crozier has been brought
to recent notice by the statement made by
Mr.. Thomas Dixon, the author, that it
was this incident which furnished him
the basis for his new story, "The Clans
man." An account of his statement OF
the affair appeared in The Savannah
Morning News yesterday. Rev. Mr.. Ep-
ting, who lived for number of years at
Newberry, is well acquainted with the
facts, and in discussing the incident yes
terday said, among other things:
"Calvin Crozier was Confederate SOL
dier from Texas, and not from North
Carolina, as was stated. For some reason
he was delayed in his return to Texas and
reached Newberry on Sept. 8, 1865, some
time after the cessation Of hostilities.
Under his care was party of ladies, and
the party decided to spend the night in a
box car.
"Late in the night some colored troops,
q part, I believe, of the Thirty third
United States Regiment, under the COM
mand of Col. Trowbridge, intruded them
selves into the car and began making
themselves very unpleasant. One OF them
finally put his arm about the neck OF one
of the ladies, and instantly Mr.. Crozier
sprang at him and ordered him to desist.
"The negro leered at him and again
made an attempt to throw his arms about
the young lady. Instantly Crozier struck
at him with small pocket-knife, the only
weapon at his command, and slashed him
badly. The negro ran screaming from the
car and reported the matter to the other
negroes in his regiment.
Z shortly afterwards the negroes in
great numbers returned to the car for the
purpose of securing revenge! Not know
ing Mr.. Crozier, they seized upon Mr..
Jacob s. Bowers, the father of Rev. A. j.
Bowers, and, despite his protests of inno-
cence, were preparing to execute him.
aMr. Crozier learned of the state OF af-
fairs and at once went out and informed
the negroes that he was the man who had
done the cutting. Mr.. Bowers was at once
turned loose and the hero was led into an
adjacent grove and shot down, without
even the formality of drumhead court
martial. His body was thrown into q
shallow grave, dirt thrown over it, and
then the negro murderers danced upon
the little mound.
"The annals state that Col. Trowbridge,
the white officer in command of the ne
groes, refused to interfere in the lynch
ing and that he afterwards stated that he
took upon himself the entire responsible
ity for the affair. One officer went to
Crozier, after he was bound, and begged
him to say that he was not the man. To
this the brave fellow replied, Loose me,
and I'll show you whether I'm the man or
not
"There were few white men in the
country at the time" continued Mr.. Ep-
ting, and nothing could be done to save
the life of this heroic defender of woman
hood. Later the citizens of Newberry
removed the body to Rosemont cemetery,
the city burial ground, and over his grave
have erected white marble shaft on
which is recorded the facts concerning
this hero's death.
G "On the site of the grove where this
lynching took place now stands large
cotton mill. 1t is but short distance from
the railway station, and to this day it is
pointed to as marking the death place OF
true soldier and brave man.
ssThe first story of the tragedy that l
recall was written by DR.. E. ?. Settler,
now dean of the English course at New
berry college. DR.. Settler was then post
graduate student of the University OF
Virginia, and his story captured the first
prize in the contest in which it was en-
tered. still have among my files OF The
Stylus that story, and shall always keep
it because of the incident with which it is
ed."-Savannah News.
A Plain Case In Court.
A. law-maker from Maryland contrib
utes this story about Judge who once
presided in the district in which Crisfeld,