Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-26
nation to the vampires of the govern

| IatlZlng this plan and for adapting II
to the environments Of the occasion
He had the courage of his convic-
tions; and obstructed all efforts al
compromise and stood firmly for q
straightout fight.
| Hamburg.
| A call had been promulgated for q
Democratic state convention in Au-
gust. The delegates were being elect
ed all over the state and Gas is the
case in all great movements) an un-
expected, unplanned event happened
which intensified the occasion and
gave vigor to the straightout move
ment. The old town of Hamburg, just
opposite Augusta on the Savannah
river, had become the seat Of misrule
and bad government. Its master was
Prince r. Rivers, formerly a slave of
Beaufort family, a coal black, a
member of the legislature and major
general of militia. During the first
week in July, the local militia COM
pany blocked the highway running
from the town and two young white
citizens of prominence, one of whom Is
now living and a highly respected
citizen, ]. Henry Getzen, passing the
place of blockade, became entangled
with the militia company. They were
brought before Rivers as magistrate,
to be tried for interfering with the
company. They issued a cross warrant
against the members of the company
for obstructing the highway. On the
trial day, the friends of both parties
appeared armed; difficulties arose, and
that night a battle was fought in the
streets of Hamburg between the whites
and blacks, which set the state on fire.
Gen. M. C. Butler, then an attorney
at Edgefield, being called to defend
the two young men, was present at
the trial and took part in the fight;
and with Col. A. P. Butler, afterwards
senator from Aiken county, were the
leaders of the whites in the battle.
At the instance of Gov. Chamber
lain, warrants were issued for several
hundred white men, among them Gen.
Butler and Col. Butler, for completely
in this matter, charging murder and
riot. 1t meant in truth the arrest Of
the entire community. The notorious
William Stone, the attorney general,
and the equally notorious David T.
Corbin, the district attorney Of the
state, were employed by Gov. Cham
berlain to enforce these arrests and
resist bail.
However, the spirit of liberty was in
the air.
The Radical officials were actually
afraid to make any arrests and the
alleged violators Of the law to the
number of 800 or 400, headed by their
counsel, Gen. Gary, D. S. Henderson
filled the court house for the bail
hearing. Corbin and Stone insisted
that no bail should be granted, but
that noble judge, John ]. Maher OF
Barnwell (than whom was no purer
or nobler man) granted bail. This
hearing stirred up the whole of west
ern Carolina and its echoes went
throughout the state. Among the
prisoners bailed was B. R. Tillman of
Ropers. He did his full share in the
fighting at Hamburg and in the cam
paign, which followed.
Origin of the Red Shirts.
No matter what may be said to the
contrary, it was at this time, when
these men gathered around Aiken on
the Kalmai Heights between Aiken
and Graniteville to consult with their
counsel and get ready to march into
Aiken, that the Red Shirt idea was
originated. At this time Senator Nor
ton of Ohio, was waving the bloody
shirt against the south in the United
States senate at Washington. George
d. Tillman and A. P. Butler consulted
together and thought it would be
good idea to have the Sweet Water
Saber club, most Of them then under
arrest, to ride through the streets OF
Aiken with stained shirts in derision OF
the waving Of the bloody shirt of Nor
ton. The idea was taken up by those
who had charge Of Democracy In AL
ken. The ladies of the town headed
by Miss Ada Chafee, made long home
spun shirts and assisted the men to
stain them with venetian red and
pokeberries, and thus clothed this
company, the afternoon before the bail
proceedings, rode up and down through
the streets of Aiken to the horror of
the negro population. 1t may be so,
that afterwards at Anderson and Gold
VILE and elsewhere in the state, red
flannel shirts were worn, but the idea
originated right here and it is provable
by men who took part, who are living
now, and by the columns of the local
papers.
The August Convention.
The Democratic state convention met
at Columbia on the 18th day of Au-
gust. Previous thereto, on the 18th
day of August, at Edgefeld, there was
tremendous meeting in which Butler
and Gary and Sheppard attacked
Chamberlain and defeated him, which,
in connection with the Hamburg affair,
stirred the state to the bottom. The
night before the sitting Of the con-
vention those of us who favored the
straightout movement, gathered in the
parlor of the Wheeler house, lately
known as Wright's hotel, at the corner
of Plain and Main streets and 1t WAS
notable gathering; young and old
men were there; not only from the
up-country, but from the low-countf%
and middle country alike. Gen. w. w.
Harllee of Marion was chosen as our
candidate for chairman of the conven-
ton. Venerable, determined and able,
he was the right man for the place.
AS was said of him by the prints OF
the day, His nose, like the move
ment, was red-hOt and straightout.
When the convention convened IN
the hall of the house of representa-
,;,,a, tho payt day we got to work