The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-09-11

voune man. about 25 years of age,
came running towards him and IN
buckling the pistol as he ran, he
handed the two pistols to his fath-
er and said, Here, papa, take these
and let me have the rifle The
exchange was made and the elder
man took his place in the ranks
while the younger, along with the
other four, stepped off at a lively
pace towards the end of the bridge.
They marched in full view OF the
negroes who could see them from
the windows of the Sibley building.
The rest Of the men were depioyeo
on the other two sides of the square,
being on the north and east SIDES
of the Sibley building, which had no
windows on those sides. In fact, II
had no windows at all except on the
front towards the river. AS be-
longed to the first set of fours, l
was detailed along with Pierce But
Ter and James McKie and one other
whose name forget, and placed in
position at the northwest corner or
the square directly in the rear OF
the Sibley building. The square,
I will state, was small one, with
sides probably seventy-fve yards
long. The entrance to the second
story of the Sibley building where
the negroes were in hiding, was by
a pair of steps running up on the
outside from Main street to land
ing in front Of the door on the west
side.
The sun was just setting when Or
ders were given to the squad at the
bridge abutment to begin firing on
the building. The other whites were
stationed up and down the sidewalks
on the northern and eastern sides OF
the square, while the western side
was left unguarded. AS both sides
were using breech-loading guns not
withstanding only five white men
were doing any shooting, the fusllade
of shots was very rapid. The armory
had five windows and the negroes
we're firing from these, but most OF
the shots must have been fired while
they were squatted below the WIN
dow sills and their guns were elevat-
ed as there was little or no signs
of where the bullets went. The
marks of the bullets on the sand
stone window sills are still to be seen
though filled up level with cement.
The noise of the battle, if 1t may
be termed one, was OF course nearu
in Augusta end soon a considerable
body of men gathered on the Geor-
gia bank, but as some stray bullets
from the negroes rifles at the win
dows gave them notice that they
were in danger, they very soon re-
tired out of sight. However, it was
not long after dark before men be-
longing to the military organizations
in Augusta and others began 20 pour
across the bridge with arms TO take
part in the Fray The square on
which the Sibley building stood had
two or three other stories on the
Main street side. The old bank
building was on the southeastern
corner and there were several small
wooden Shanti"S on other parts of
the square AS soon as darkness
fell the whites began TO search all
Of these buildings AMI very shorty
Il negro man was discovered in hid
ins. He was dragged out while
squaling 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 resonndrd 80 ai
to he heard for half mile around.
Just about this time We were all
shocked and enraged by the news
from the bridge abutmcnt that Me-
kie McAiwethcr, the brave young
man whose exchange Of arms with
his father, have mentioned, hai
been killed. There has always been
Continued on page 81