Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-02
FIFTY-SECOND INSTALlMENT.
(Thursday, July 3. 1860.
Bethesda Vigilance Committee.
McConnellsville, Dec. 2G, 1860

Bethesda Vigilance Committee.
McConnellsville, Dec. 26, 1860.
Messrs. Editors: ! take this method
of informing you of the excitement in
this neighborhOod relative to Il con-
templated insurrection, in order that
facts may take the place of many ru-
mOrS. l. myself being an eyewitness.
The first discovery was made by my
brother, John ID. Mcconnell, on Friday
last, when about to chastise his boy
Dave, who got away but was arrested
tha same evening, with the assistance
of neighbor The boy exclaimed, 1T
was hard to be tied like a dog" in a
manner that led to Il suspicion of some
thing wrong. When about to chastise
him, he promised to make some revela-
tons, viz: that as soon as he o. d.
Me- was taken from home, (alluding
to the Minute Mem that the negroes
are going to rise and sweep the coun-
try; that Thomas Pugh said he intend
ed to complain of being sick when the
call is made on your company Che was
member of the Turkey Creek NJ. Nd
and not go: and as soon as you are all
gone, that he will head us boys and
sweep the country; kill all the old wo-
men and children. keeping the pretty
young women for themselves" Pugh
was to be a colonel, and make him cap
tain, he said Pugh gave him whisky
when wanted (P. kept whisky or al
ways had liquor). Mr. Mcconnell Of
fcred Dave a reward if he would betray
Pugh. to which he consented; it was
arranged that he would go on Satur-
day night as he promised to do: and
that detachment of Minute Men
would be sent for to be at the place at
the same time. About II or Is of the
company, with other citizens, met at
McConnellsville at 9 o'clock Saturday
night to arrange a plan. John ID. Nc
Connell and James f. Mcknight volun-
teered to black themselves and take the
negro with them, giving him bottle
and money. T-w,fs called on to form a
detachment to be near the house in
case of need. In about mile from
Pugh's, we came up with some 20 or
100 fthe citizens of Turkey Creek,
who it was agreed should stay where
they were and my squad to go on, with
]. w. Moor, who volunteered, viz: w.
f. Mcconnell, Captain; John d. Nc
Connell, ]. f. Mcknight, c. Is. Will
liams. Jas. w. Love. Reuben MCCon-
n. Jr In plS son
Hood, (minute mem, j. w. Moore.
(volunteer). The house was surround
ed: when we approached; everything
was quiet--the negro went to the win
dow and knocked, when Thomas Pugh
answered.: the boy asked if he had
any of the good stuff?' to which he
replied yes" On seeing it was Dave,
he said hold on" and returned with n
shot gun and revolver, saying, damn
YOU. what made you betray me-" and
when A. f.. Love rushed between the
parties, begging them to give up. 1t
was all the old men could do to keep
the company from killing the Pughs
right out, and on two or three occa-
SlOnS, "A. II. Love, L. w. l-lHuShy, oeii'
~..1 James Lindsay, with others, saved
the Pughs from the fury of the out
ragged community. The Pughs were
overpowered. but never surrendered;
they were bound and taken to York
vile, when the sheriff refused to re-
ceive them: they were brought back to
this place on Sunday morning, and
we'll guarded until Monday, when we
gave them up To the Vigilance commit
tee at Bethesda church. who after due
trial. sentenced them each To receive
fifty lashes on the bare back, shave the
left side Of their heads, and then be
sent by Adams Express to the Free
States. While the trial was in pro-
gress, Thos. Pugh, Sen, nephew of
John Pugh, a notorious character
made his appearance in the crowd,
when he was arrested, tried, and sem
fenced To receive % lashes This Pugh
had been sworn to leave the country
w. f.. McC