The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-06-13
NIPS RACE RIOT IN BUD
QUICK ACTION OF SHERIFF..
Governor Orders Out Military Com
pany to Assist in Putting
Down Threatened Upheaval.

The following account of the
threatened race riot at Bluffton is
taken from the Columbia Record of
Thursday:
The threatened race riot in Bluff
ton seems to have been nipped in the
bud by the arrival of the Beaufort
military company and Sheriff
White. A wire from the sheriff to
Governor Blease Thursday after
noon says:
Military company and myself re-
turned from Bluffton this morning.
Everything quiet.
IN. O'D. WHITE.
Sheriff Beaufort County"
Bluffton, a picturesque little town
near Savannah, in Beauford county.
is cut off from direct communica
ton with the outside world, either
through the instrumentality of ne
groes cutting the wires or because
OF costwise storm that has been
raging in that territory. Anxiety Is
manifested in Columbia because
the town is supposed to be in throes
OF a Dlracial war, brought on because
OF the killing of negro suspected
OF attempted criminal assault by
state Constable E. Frank Hammond
Although Sheriff NJ. O'D. White of
Beaufort county, and a posse, assist
ed by the Beaufort company, Third
division Naval reserves, under the
command of Lieut.. Townsend, have
gone TO the scene, the larger pre-
dominance of the negro race in and
near blunton gives pessimistic
tnge to the already dark outlook.
On tuesday negro attempted an
assault on the wife of a prominent
attorney of Bluffton. While the hus-
band was away from his home, ac-
cord1ng to the reports, negro en-
tered the residence and threw his
arms around the neck of the Young
woman, who writhed from his grasp,
ran from the house and gave the
alarm. The negro made his escape.
State Constable Hammond and a
negro constable were in Bluffton at
the time looking for negro "blind
ugers.' This negro was suspected of
the attempted assault, and he was ar
rested and taken before the young
woman for Identification. She said
the negro was not the one who at
tempted the crime.
On "Wednesday morning Mr.. Ham
mond attempted to arrest a negro
suspect, who had previously ap-
preached the daughter of promi-
nent planter of the Bluffton section
and another woman and he resisted
arrest. In the resultant struggle, ac-
cording 10 telegram from the state
constable to Governor Blease, Ham
mond shot the black to death. The
wire says:
The mayor and some citizens
mere think negroes arc arming them
selves and will make trouble and re-
quest that l ask you for Beauford
erty Phone connections only to
Button and wire may be cut"
To accentuate the seriousness of
the already threatening circum-
stances the dead body of the negro
shot by Mr. Hammond was viewed
oy the young woman on whom an
attempted assault was made and she
said IT was the wrong man.
Governor Blease then wired Lieut..
II. c. Townsend. commanding the
Beaufort artillery, Naval reserves.
TO put himself and men in readiness
ana mold company subject to the or
ders of Sheriff White if needed. The
chief executive received a wire from
Sheriff White at 1890 o'clock Wed
nesday night in which he states he
and the military company would
leave for Bluffton in an hour.
Besides the military company and
the sherir's posses from Beauford.
automobile parties and posses from
Jasper and Hampton counties hur-
rled to Bluffton TO be in readiness i'm
case there was a serious uprising i'm
and near the town.
Bluhton is situated in what is
known as the BLACK belt of the
state, and an upheaval of the blacks
there would probably precipitate a
situation that would be serious
me negroes predominant in Beaufort
county, the ratio being about s to |
Although the negroes of Beauford
and the adjacent island as a rule are
peaceful, yet race riot would mean
annlhiliation OF the white residents
/ unless assistance was quickly thrown
into the territory. The military com
panies of Beauford, WATERFORD.
Barnwell and Charleston, however.
could be quickly modified and rush
ed into beaufort county on special
trains, and if danger was imminent
the farmers and other citizens Of
Colleton, Jasper, Hampton and
Barnwel counties, which are I'm
close proximity to Beaufort, would
leave their various avocations and
professions and make a well armed
descent into the threatened territory
to protect their threatened racial
brothers
oil d