The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-11
CRoZIER'S DEATH.
The Manner Of It and The spot
Where He Fell Described BY
An Eye Witness.

Though hall"wrd by as heroic blnri
rs WAS ever spilled on Southern soil.
it i probable that very few people in
Newbcrry haze an idea of the exact
spot within the city limits where Cal
vim Crozier fell, murdered by negro
soldiers from the North because he
had sought to protect Il Southern
woman from their brutal insults.
The remains of the Texan private
now rest in Roscmnnt. and his mem
"ry is aS fresh as the wealth nt
wrcathS and garlan,(s brrne today bv
the marble shaft that marks the spot.
His first grave was Il ditch, not far
from the building Of the Southern
Cotton Oil Mill. int" which he fell
when shot, his remains being covcrcl
over with leaves, ruthlcssly rakcd
upon his body by the negro soldiers
with their feet. There he remained
for only short time. however. the
body bcin" revcrcntly borne by those
OF his own race to the top of the hill
near by. and prepared for Christian
burial. which was had in the old vii
la"c graveyard. Later the remains
of Crozier were removed to Rosemont,
and the monument erected whercupon
are recorded his deeds of hcroSm.
and the loving appreciation of the
people Of Ncwbcrry.
There WAS one eye witness 10 thar
dark tragedy on the morning OF Sep
trmbcr s. 1860. who recalls it as viv-
iIly as if it were but yesterday. Then
but fourteen years of age, the MIMI
test details were burned into his men,
"ry. He is Mr.. George a. Langfortl.
of this city. who was within thirty
feet of the soldiers when they fired.
and within about the same distance of
tr"Zicr when he fell. The relative
positions of Mr.. Langford and the sol
dlrrS and trozicr placed them at each
angl Of an cquilatcral triangle. and
the whole scene was before him.
TIL" exact spot was pointed oui to
the writer by Mr.. Langford If IL
line were drawn from the center Of
the water tank Of the Southern CT
tom Oil mill to the west corner of the
hull house of the Farmers Oil mill.
it would pass through the spot point
ed ont by Mr.. LangforI as that on
which the Texan STOOD. 1t is almost
exactly half way between. but proba-
bly, little ncrer the water tank.
tr"zier was facing almost south. his
back t" the place where is now the
Southern Oil mill building. Mr..
l.an"t"rd waS t" Cr"Zicr's left. the
>"ldirrS were in front nf Crnzicr. and
I" Mr. Landlords left. The officer
il charge Of the snl,lirrS WAS between
Mr.. l.angfnrd and the SulliprS. Mr..
l.Anyt"rd says when the command WAS
"lN"n /" fire his glance WAS across the
barrel OF every muSkcl that pointed
towards trnZirr'S breast.
South Of the place where Crnzicr
stood. towards the Farmers Oil mill
IS II little knoll. where stood the tents
of the officers nf the negro troops.
Down this slope he was being march,
cd by the negroes when first seen by
Mr.. l.angf"rd. who was just approach
in" the place from the east. He was
marched to the little ditch. which still
remains. lie was not allowed TO cross
the ditch, but was placed just on lis
edge. about ten feet in front of
large white oak tree. the stump of
which may still be seen.
Mr.. Ian"fnrd took up his position.
as stated above. reStin" against a
tree. about ten steps to Crnzicr's left.
The stump of this tree still remains
also.
Mr.. Langford then gives vivid
description of what followed. Crozier
was caused to turn around, facing the
south, and he stood erect and folded
his arms across his breast. Five ne
gr" soldiers were lined up thirty feet
in front of him. their officer to the
right Of the soldiers. The command
was given to fire and the rain Of
lead poured into Crnzicr's breast.
each Of the five balls taking effect be-
tween his arms. He fell instantly,
and while he WAS STRUGGLING in the
agony Of death the negro officer walk
cd up to him and sent a pistol ball
! speeding through his brain. saying
with an oath, "Now, you will lie
still.' Crozicr had fallen into the
ditch behind him. and with their feet
the negroes raked the leaves over his
! body.