The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-29

marks OF the bullets on the sand stone window stills are
to be seen though filled up level with cement. The noise
of the battle, if it may be termed one, was of course heard
in Augusta and soon a considerable body Of men gathered
on the Georgia bank, but as some stray bullets from the
negroes rifles at the windows gave them notice that they
were in danger, they very soon retired out OF slSht. How
ever, it was not long after dark before men belonging to|
the military organizations in Augusta and others began
to pour across the bridge with arms to take part IN the
fray. The square on which the Sibley building stood had
had two or three other stores ON the main street side. The old
bank building was on the southeastern corner and there
we're several small wooden sfanties on the other parts OF
the square. As soon as darkness fell the whites began to
search all of these buildings and very shortly a negro man
was discovered in hiding. He was dragged out while
squalling g at the top Of his voice through fright. He was
shot by some one who in the excitement and anger forgot
himself and though not seriously wounded his screams and
cries rcsoundcd so as to be heard for half a mile around.
lust about this time we were all shocked and enraSed by
the news from the bridge abutment that Mckie Meriwether,
the brave young man whose exchange of arms with his
father I have mentioned, had been killed. There has
ALWAYS been some mystery about his death. He along
with the other four rihemen had been firing at the
windows when his brain was pierced by a ball which enter
ed at the top of his head. 1t was never known whether
he was shot from above by some one who crossed the
bridge or was struck by a ball from the armory which hit
some piece of iron and glanced downward. If the white
men were determined when they began that bloody busl-
ness, this sad and unexpected death added ten-fold fury to
their feelings. The men who were holding the horses had
hitched them all by this time in a vacant lot and without
orders from anyone and apparently without plan they
Joined in. AS soon as it was entirely dark the negroes
in the armory took advantage of the opportunity to make
their escape down the steps of which | have spoken and
to flee up the river. Some of them were too much fright
ened to make this attempt and sought concealment in the
cellar and other hiding places in the stories. Some OF
them ripped up the floors and hid under them. Inc
whites from Augusta brought over at Gen. Butler S request
a small piece of iron mo regular balls were avallable) and
fired off in front at the Sibley building. After two dis
charges there was no further firing from the negroes as all
who could had fled and the town was deserted. The
square which was entirely surrounded by this time was
searched thoroughly. Every nook and corner OF every
building was examined by the whites who broke in the
doors with axes. Prisoners to the number of some thirty
or forty men were captured and as soon as taken we're
placed under guard on river street some Is yards above
the wagon bridge. About s.. 80 o'clock after a period OF
intense darkness the moon rose and began to cast its lurid
light over the strange and unaccustomed scene. The
number Of whites had increased immensely by this time
and the searching parties worked northward from the Slb-
lev building which had been the first one taken and thor
oughly searched. Two negroes who had reasons to know
that their lives would not be spared if captured tried to
make their escape by jumping over the fence on the north
side of the square and running down the street towards
the trestle. The first to do this was Jim Cook, the town
marshal who had in the years of negro rule dubbed a
"a great number of white men and in every way illustrated
his brutal and fiendish hate of the whites. as we'll as the
delight he took in L degrading them. AS he sprang over the
fence the squad to which l belonged was the first to fire.
We all fired once at him. te ran down the center OF the
street towards the railroad trestle towards the moon SO
men were standing or sitting on both sides OF the street and
as he ran between these they fired at him, the wonder be-
ING that as the street was narrow the bullets did not wound
or kill the white men opposite. Itseemed as though Cook
was bound to escape as he had nearly reached the trestle
and none of the pistol bullets appeared to have taken Ell
feet. Fear lent speed to his flight and the crack OF the
pistols, some forty or fifty of which must have been fired
at him sounded like so many pop-guns. Suddenly the
loud report of a shot gun rang out and Cook tumbled IN a
heap almost turning a somersault. Pierce Butler and l,
hearing that it was Cook that had been killed, had the
curiosity to leave our post and walk down to where ne was
living and as the shadows made it somewhat doubtful
Pierce struck a match and being very familiar with Cooks
face remarked with satisfaction, Eyes, it's Cook. The
negro was more hated by the whites of the surrounding
country than any other individual of the race. A large
part of his face had been torn away by the buckshot which
had laid him low after all Of the pistol balls had missed
their mark.
ul;1o of+orvordc when the searching parties had