The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-11-24

Wounded Soldiers.
Grand Cyclops of the X. X. KS of In
visible Empire of America to know
what to do. The Grand Cyclops or
dered the X. X. KS of Spartanburg,
Union and Jonesville to meet the
chief of the Klan on Sunday night at
the Hanging Grounds, which they did.
The Klan proceeded to the Jail and
demanded the keys, but Sheriff Rogers
had thrown them away, drew his pis-
tol and said, 81 will kill the first man
that advances. The chief called out
four selected men, viz, R. E. Brew
ton, DR.. Charles Sims, VIM. Webster
and younger brother of his. Calhoun
Long, at the same time making this
statement, eve do not want to hurt
you, but ordered my four selected men
four PAGES to the front and told them
not to shoot unless the sheriff did first
and when they shot to shoot to kill,
as we intended to have the prisoners
as we had come for them" Sheriff
Rogers left and DR.. A. w. Thomson
came running down the hill and the
pickets halted him as they had them
stationed all around the jail DR..
Thompson said, az want to see the
man in charge" Mr.. Long told his
pickets to send him down. They
passed him along, and he made this
statement to J. G.. Long, as near as
he can remember, az have come to
beg for one Jim Hardy, one of the
men charged with the killing of Matt
Stevens. Jim Hardy had made state
ment to him that he had begged the
militia not to kill Stevens. and he had
learned from several other parties that
such was the case; so they left Jim
Hardy in the Jail. They removed seven
out of the Jail at this time-had them
all tied and carried them to the first
mile rock. One escaped before they
reached the mile rock and Mr.. Long
rordered them not to shoot, as it was
dark and might accidentally kill a
member of the Klan, or disable the
horses; but to be sure and hold on
to those they had. The prisoners were
carried to the first mile rock and shot.
One of the negroes feigned dead. His
name was Slyvanus Mengg and upon
this incident one of the Klan COM
posed few verves, which they sang
to the tune of Richmond Road. One
stanza was like this:
ANDY on a Hickory, Syvanus by his
side.
The bullets would not kill them
For we've already tried.
Chorus
Oh, send them on home;
Send them on home, home, home, home
During this time the sheriffs were
changed and Sheriff Dunn took charge
and Yankee officer by the name of
Swan was stationed at the idil. EIGHT
more negroes were charged with the
same offense. the killing of Stevens.
were placed in Jail and another writ
of habeas corpus was sent up by Chief
Justice Willard to send them to Co
lumbia immediately. Owing to there
being but one train a day the sheriff
could not get them ready. The Klan
sent out couriers over North Pacolet
and all over the county. Sheriff Dunn
was not at the Jail when the second
raid was made, but Thomas Hughes
and Lonnv Hill were the deputies. The
X. X. KS demands the keys but the
deputies had hid them. They broke
into the Jail. If there happened to be
any other prisoners in the Jail they
did not want, they always fastened
them up before they would leave. The
K. X. KS carried the eight men no to
the Crooked Hickory tree. where they
hang the criminals on. The weather
was bitter cold and the Klan intended
to be as quiet as they could but as
daylight was fast approaching they
shot some and hung some. The Klan
returned to their homes before dav.
Sylvanus, who had feigned dead the
first time, did not get away this time.
During 1871 President Grant de-
clared martial law over Spartanburg.
York, Union. Chester, Laurens and
Newherry counties and suspended the
writ of habeas corpus so no one could
give bond in any of these counties.
and sent several military and infantry
companies here. Capt. French, of the
White Horse company, and Capt.
Thomson, of the Black Horse Co. Tom
Custer was the first lieutenant of
Capt. Cenchs company. Mr.. Long
made it point to become acquainted
with these men; he cultivated their
acquaintance for a purpose; he was
learning something and they were
learning something, too. Tom Custer
was brother of General Custer of the
Big Horn Massacre.
The cavalry finally made raid
for Brewton and j. G. Long and the
coolest night these men claimed they
ever saw they spent at widow lady's
home, Mrs. Mitchell The next morn-