The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-09-11
THE DARK DAYS
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some mystery about his death. He
. along with the other four riflemen,
had been firing at the windows when
his brain was pierced by ball which
! entered at the top of his head. IL
was never known whether he was
shot from above by some one who
crossed the bridge or was struck ny
a ball from the armory which hit
some piece of iron of iron and glanc-
ed downward. If the white men
were determined when they began
4 that bloody business, this sad and
unexpected death added ten-fold fury
to their feelings. The men VINO
we're holding the horses had hitched
them all by this time in vacant
lot and without orders from anyone
and apparently without plan they
I ioined in. AS soon as it was ell
tirely dark the negroes in the armory
took advantage of the opportunity
to make their escape down the steps
of which I have spoken and to nee
up the river. Some of theme were
too much frightened to make this
attempt and sought concealment in
the cellar and other hiding places in
i the stores. Some of them ripped
up the floors and hid under them.
The whites from Augusta brought
over at Gen. Buffers request
small piece of artillery which was
loaded with pieces of iron (no regu-
lar balls were available) and fired
off in tie front of the Sibley build
ing. After two discharges there was
no further firing from the negroes
as all who could had fed 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 were placed
under guard on River street some
, rs yards above the wagon bridge.
About $3.50 o'clock after 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 increas-
ed immensely by this time and the
, searching parties worked northward
from the Sibley 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 jump
ing 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
marshall, who hadtin the years Of
negro rule, clubbed great number
of white men and in every way IL
Illustrated his brutal and fiendish hate
Ol Tie w ullSS do Neli lo lHS uSii6 =
he took in degrading them. AS he
sprang over the fence the squad
TO which i belonged was the first
to fire. We all fired once at him.
He ran down the center Of the street
towards the railroad trestle towards
the moon so that it was easy to see
the whole performance. White men
were standing or sitting on both
sides of the street and as he ran
between these they fired at him, the
wonder being that as the street was
narrow the bullets did not wound
or kill the white men opposie. 1t
seemed as though Cook was bound
to escape as ne 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
reprot of a shotgun rang out and
Cook tumbled in heap almost turn
ing a somersault. Pierce Butler and
I, hearing that it was Cook that had
been killed, had the curiosity TO
leave our posts and walk down to
where he was lying and as the shad-
ows made it somewhat doubtful.
Pierce struck a match and being
very familiar with Cooks face, re-
marked with satisfaction, "Yes, It's
Cook" This negro was more hated