Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-04
From the Yorkville Enquirer Of 1875.
INSTALLMENT XXXVI.
Uprising of Slaves.


The Headquarters of General Ogle-
thorpe were at Fredrica, at the mouth
Of the Altamaha- Both the Ashley riv-
er colony and that planted west of
the Savannah, depended upon him for
protection against Spanish invaders.
Had they succeeded IN assassinating
him by the hands Of one Of his own
regiment, it would have proved at least
a temporary shock to both the English
colonies, and infused spirit and energy
into their common enemies. Failing In
the scheme of numbering Oglethorpe,
the authorities Of st. Augustine, whose
minds were accustomed to devise muir
derous plots, had recourse to another
Infamous intrigue, and even more dan
gerous. In the province Of South Car
olina there were at this time, 1739)
between forty and fifty thousand negro
slaves, whilst the whites were less than
one third that number. The negroes.
many of them, had been but lately
brought from Africa. The climate
agreed with them in a remarkable de-
gree, and all of them were strong and
capable of great physical endurance.
1t was with difficulty that. in times
Of peace these slaves were kept In
bondage, and almost impossible In times
of war. The Spanish governor had
previously issued a proclamation OF
freedom to the negroes Of Carolina.
This proclamation was kept profound
secret by the whites; but in spite Of
every precaution to keep it secret
many of the negroes had learned the
fact and availed themselves OF the Of
fer made by the Spaniards. OF those
negroes who had fed from their mas
ters in Carolina, the governor Of Flor
ida, had formed regiment. This reg
iment had officers from among them
selves and enjoyed all the privileges OF
the other Spanish troops. The slaves
of Carolina were all aware of this fact,
and this made them long for freedom.
1t was, also a common practice for the
Spanish authorities to send enlisting
officers, clandestinely into Carolina for
the purpose Of raising recruits from
amongst the negro slaves.
The Spanish proclamation Of freedom
to the slaves was made In November,
1888, and from that time to 1879, the
people lived I'm a constant dread OF an
insurrection. Negroes would take their
masters horses and boats and make
good their escape to Florida where they
were safe. From the dread Of a negro
insurrection and the liability to be at
tackled by scouting parties of Indians
the whites were accustomed to go
armed at all times, even to church.
This was required of them by law.
Several individuals lost their lives In
attempting to prevent their slaves
from flying to the Spaniards.
In September, 1889, at Stono less
than twenty miles from Charles Town,
terrible insurrection took place. The
prime instigator of this bloody scene
was a Catholic priest. A small COM
pany of negroes, probably from the
immediate neighborhood, first "mur-
dered two young men In a warehouse
and then plundered the house of guns
and ammunition" Here, they elected
one of their number, bearing the name
of Cato, their captain. A flag was
hoisted, and with beating drums they
proceeded to execute their barbarous
plans. Infamed by rum, and flushed
with the success which attended their
first onset they marked their path with
fire and blood. Every negro In their
march was forced to join them ana
every white-whether it was man,
woman or child-was butchered. The
house Of one Godfrey was entered
plundered and then burned, whilst he
himself, with his wife and children,
were killed Then they proceeded to
Jacksonburgh. On their march. they
were met by Governor Bull, who es-
caped from them by leaving the road.
It was on the Sabbath. The Presby-
terian community of Wilton in large
numbers, had turned out armed with
their guns to hear the Rev. Archibald
Stobo preach. The alarm soon reach
ed the church, and the women were
left in the house of worship, whilst the
men rushed at once to meet the insur-
rectionists. The militia Of the country
were soon in arms and under command
of Captain Bee set out In pursuit or
the banditti Their track was easily
followed. 1t was marked by desola-
ton. From the point where they
started, they had marched about twelve
miles Not house was left standing,
and twenty-three whites had been
murdered. When the militia came up
with them they had stopped In an open
field and were singing and dancing
merrily. Many Of them were drunk.
In this condition they were attacked
from different points by the militia.
Several were killed on the spot, among
whom was Cato, the leader. The rest
who were not too drunk, took to the
woods. Some were caught and killed.
Others ran back to their former mas
ters, hoping thus to escape; but all
except those who had been forced to
join the party. were executed.
Thus ended this horrible affair. Diff
ferent conclusions may be drawn from
it, Some may be led to lay the blame
of the whole matter at the door Of the
fanatics Of the Pope Of Rome, whilst
others may be ready to conclude that
it was but a legitimate result Of slav-
cry. That Cato and his followers were
to some extent melted to form them
selves into a band of insurrectionist by
evil designed adherents Of the Church
of Rome, there seems to be no good
reason to doubt. The authorities at
Savannah captured an individual,
whom they took to be a priest, and
whom they suspected to have been
employed to set on foot general in
surrection of the slaves In Carolina.
The governor of South Carolina was,
by letter informed that such an indi-
vidual had been taken into custody:
but we suppose, (although 1t is not
said so) that the information was not
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