Georgia Historic Newspapers

    (Etironicle anD
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16. 1876.
AN AMERICAN WHO IS NO AMERICAN.
It is the misfortune of the United
States to be represented at Berlin by a
Minister into whose heart there never
entered one genuine American senti
ment. A fawning sycophant of power,
a snob of snobs, Mr. Bancroft Davis
has been signally rebuked for hi* infi
delity to the principles of his own Gov
ernment by a large body of the sub
jects of the monarchical Government to
which he is our Minister.
Ashamed of his own country, he re
fused to receive a congratulatory ad
dress from a large number of Germans
on the occasion of our Centennial Fourth
of July.
The very monarch to whom Mr. Davis
has shown himself such a sycophant
must despise him, *as it is evident the
German people do, most heartily. What
would the American people say to giv
ing such an anti-American as Bancroft
Davis a life tenure in his office?
It is the rarfc misfortune of General
Grant to bring his country into con
tempt abroad as well as at home.
CURTAILING EXPENSE*.
The Centennial was commenced on a
grand scale, in the expectation that the
utmost hopes of its managers with re
gard to pecuniary returns, would be
more than realized. The intervention
of the “heated term” has caused a set
back not anticipated, and the receipts
have fallen off to such an extent that
the ability to meet current expenses has
become a serious question. They are
down now to less than average of $lO,-
000 per day. This has necessitated re
trenchment, and we are told that the
managers have had to meet the exigency
by discharging a large number of em
ployees and curtailing the wages of
others. One hundred of the guard have
been discharged, the regular gate keep
ers reduced from 84 to $3 per day, and
the keepers of the free gates from $3 to
$2 50 per day. Objection was made to
the reduction by these worthies, but
they gave in when informed that theie
were 2,700 applicants for their places.
The aggregate saving amounts to only
about S3OO per week, a small sum, com
pared with the gross expenses, which
have footed up from 83,000 to 810,000
per day. When Fall sets in, the attend
ance, it is believed, will be much larger;
but, if the Exhibition closes in October,
the time fixed for its ending, the re
ceipts will be found in lamentable de
ficiency, as compared with the expenses.
Those who went into the enterprise on
speculation will surely come out at “the
little end of the horn.”
BAYARO OR IIOITWEIJ, ?
The New York World says: Instead
of the grave judicial report which would
have become a committee of the Senate
appointed to investigate the last State
eleotion in Mississippi, a subject that
demanded the most careful and dis
criminating treatment, the majority of
that committee have produced a thor
oughly partisan document. Its authors
make no pretense even of having ex
amined both sides of the question. Not
to speak of their unqualified endorse
ment of the imbecile Ames, and their
ntatement that but a very small propor
tion of the “carpet-bag” office holders
in Mississippi have abused their oppor
tunities—an endorsement and a state
ment too ridiculous to be made by any
partisan newspaper—their report re
cites three alleged outrages upon the
persons of Republicans, and in proof of
these gives the testimony only of the
prosecuting witnesses, with not so much
as an allusion to the evidence of the
other side ! This may seem incredible,
but it is striotly true. The report con
tains only a few lines of the cross-ex
amination by Senator Batabd of one of
these witnesses, who was asked by him
at the conclusion of her testimony—
“Q. Did you ever take an oath before?
A. No, sir.
“Q. Do you know the meaning of ta
king an oath ? A. No, sir.
“Q. Do you know what the conse
quences are of swearing falsely ? A.
No, sir.”
Fortunately for the interests of truth,
Senator Bayard, whom the majority, by
thd way, appear to have treated with
signal discourtesy in preparing and pre
senting their report, has prepared his
own statesmanlike story of the investi
gation, and with this story before them
candid readers will see for themselves
how utterly false and untrustworthy are
the raw-head-and-bloody bone tales of
murders for opinion's sake collated by
the committee and their facile clerk.—
Since the disclosures in the infamously
famous case at Memphis of Frances
Thompson, the negress who appeared in
ex-Seuator Washbdrne’s report as “the
viotim of sixteen successive ravish
ments ” by white ruffians in that city,
but who has since turned out to be a ne
gro man keeping a disorderly house iu
woman’s attire ; since the case of State
Senator Twitoheli,, of Louisiana, who
was paraded from an Indianapolis pul
pit as “ the victim of fiendish malignity
in his adopted section but who was
afterward declared by the unanimous
report of a Congressional investigating
committee to be a manner of political
dead-beat, who had brought down upon
himself the vengeance of a fellow charla
tan by certain disreputable practices ;
since the case of Deputy United States
Marshal Perrin, of Alabama, who was
discovered to have shot his own coat full
of bullet holes in order to prove his
narrow escape from Democratic assas
sins ; since the exposures before the
same Alabama investigating committee
of reported murdered men who were
found in most exuberant health ; since
numberless other similar eases of de
liberate falsehoods, concocted for party
purposes, have long been familiar to the
public, the intelligent reader might well
be excused for receiving Senator Bout
vsUi'i new Mississippi “ outrages ”
with a whole sackful of salt, even were
♦hey not proven to be utterly unreliable
by the testimony of Mr. Bayard. As
this majority report stands, its animus
is so patent that it must tend to defeat
the ends of its authors, although its ef
fect upon the merely partisan crowd
could not have failed to prove mischiev
ous, had it not been so promptly coun
teracted by the plain statement ot the
minority.
The main facts in the report have al
ready been published in the columns of
:t New York paper, by a correspondent
who was at the same time clerk of the
Mississippi Committee. Without dis
cussing the question whether it is prop
er that an individual in the employ of
the Federal Government should use his
position to subserve party ends, the let
ters of this corresponding clerk have
bees marked by such extreme bigotry
and s;ich an obvious though dextrous
manipulation of facts, os to warrant the
belief that their publication must have
been a part of a general scheme of mis
representation contemplated by the
committee. They prepared the way for
the majority report now made. It has
for some time been evident that the in
tent f the investigation was to declare
the election of the Democratic Legisla
ture illegal and void, and therefore to
prevent the admission of Mr. Lamar to
his seat in the Senate. The majority
report declares that the testimony takes j
by the committee “fully supports the
“ allegation that force, fraud and in
*• timidation were used generally and I
“ successfully iu the canvass of 1875,”
and, further, that iu certain counties
named, “if there had been a free elec
tion Republican candidates would
“ have been chosen and the character
“of the Legislature so changed that
•“ there would have been 66 Eepobli
" etuis to 50 Democrats in the House,
-“and 26 Republicans to 11 Democrats in
■“the Senate; and that consequently the
-“present Legislature of Mississippi is
“not a legal body, and that its acts are
■“not entitled to recognition by the po
"litical depart ment of the Government of
“the United States.” This, of coarse,
means that an attempt will be made to
set aside the action of the L> gialature
in electing Mr. Lamar Unit' and State*
Senator, although the oomni.ttee hint
that “the President may, in bisdiscre
“tion, recognize it (the Legislature) as a
“Government de facto for the preserva
tion of the public peace.” But if not,
and the State government be overthrow
in the face of the minority report, will
the people of this country submit to a
repetition of the Louisiana inquity on
this ex parte report of a packed com
mittee ? We beliete the facts therein
stated to have been so strained from
their proper shape and so partial in their
presentation that they will.be repudiat
ed by the common sense of the nation.
The attempt to exclude a man like Mr.
Lamar from the Senate in favor of some
creature of Ames, by such a usurpation
as took place in Louisiana two years
ago, will not be tolerated by the North.
The committee has overshot its mark.
It is admitted in this rejoort about
Mississippi, as it i& in Chambbblais s
letter from Sonth Carolina, that by far
the greatest proportion of property
held in the State is owned by the
Democrats; but the belief is expressed
that “unless the tendency toward politi
cal proscription ’’—which means simply
the tendency of the Democratic party
to victory—“is ariested, every succes
sive chapter in the annals of the State
will be darker and bloodier than the pre
ceding one.” Now this miserable rot,
in view of the contrast in the present
condition of Mississippi with that pre
sented under its many years of corrnpt
and disorderly government, when con
trolled by irresponsible aliens and igno
rant negroes, reaches the very sublimity
of impudence. Benator BouTWELB, to
whose authorship this report is uo doubt
correctly attributed, has disgraced, not
himself—that long since ceased to be
possible—but Massachusetts, by this
scandulous and indecent paper. The
honest men of his own Commonwealth
will be apt to invite him to occupy him
self in accounting for the millions of
dollars of the people’s money which
mysteriously disappeared during his
administration of the Treasury Depart
ment, and to leave the work of studying
the social condition of other States to
men who can give a clear account of
their own stewardship.
It is evident that Governor Tilden’s
letter of acceptance is exercising a pow
erful influence throughout the country.
Thebe is no doubt whatever that the
Turks are waging war in a way that has
not been known in any of the recent
wars of Europe. They carry fire and
sword all over the regions which they
traverse. The English papers were, for
a time, disinclined to believe the reports
of their ferocious ravages in Bulgaria,
but the volumes of evidence that are
published leave no doubt of the truth
of the worst of them.
The troops sent from Egypt to the
Sultan have proved almost worthless,
and were routed in their first conflict
with the Servians. The Egyptian army
is of little account, though the Khedive
has spent much money on it, and has
procured Americon and European offi
cers to take command of it. Avery
large force of it ha* been engaged dur
ing the past year in Abyssinia, but it
was utterly overthrown there, and com
pelled to retreat from the country.
Senator Mortoj* proposes to conduct
the campaign on the Republican side as
he fed his cow to the palmy days when
he was Military Dictator pf Indiana—at
the expense of the Government. He has
introduced a resolution iu the Senate for
the printing of ten thousand copies of
Grant’s bloody shirt message as a cam
paign document. Should it pass, it is
to be hoped the House will find someway
of sitting down upon it s effective as that
adopted iu the case of the Finohback
steal.
The returns from Kentucky report
Democratic gains throughout the State,
notably in the cities of Lexington and
Paris, and in Jessamine county, which
have heretofore been Republican. The
election was only for county officers,
but the Democratic gains are signifi
cant, because the Republicans iu Ken
tucky ordinarily concentrate their ef
fortg upon the looal contests, beiug
hopeless of ever carrying the State. Mr.
Henry Wattebsov, editor of the Cou
rier Journal, was elected by an over
whelming majority to fill out the unex
pired term of Edward Parsons, deceas
ed, in Congress, having practically no
opposition. An interesting fact in the
election was the defeat of a grandson of
Henry Cray, who offered himself as a
candidate for a minor office to Jjouis
ville.
It is rumored that Carr Sohubz in
tends to make a bold and vigorous attack
on President Gbant in his first cam
paign speech, and that he will be sus
tained by leading Republicans who per
ceive that Grant is sinking their ship
so rapidly that unloading is imperative.
It is entirely too late for Carr Schdrz
to throw Grant overboard. He can not
do it with all his eloquence, and his
party can not do it. They failed to do
it at Cincinnati, and they will have to
carry the burden they applauded there.
The same forces which worked success
fully at Cincinnati to have Grant en
dorsed, hold the fort of Granttsm to
day, and if Schdrz attempts to kick
against the pricks he will ba pitched
overboard himself. In the meantime
GRANr continues vigorously to “reform
the party from within.”
Stilli again, and yet onqp more, the
voice of Edwards Pierrepont sounds
across the sea. He is speechifying so
steadily that we hardly see how he can
find time to breathe, or take his regular
meals, or get his natural sleep. This
time his tireless tongue has beeu a
thiDg of wonderment at a banquet given
to Her Majesty’s Ministers, which was
not attended by the principal Minister
of Her Majesty. Disraslj had, proba
bly, ascertained in advance that Pirrre
font would be there with his voice, aud
even a Lord Mayor’s banquet was no
temptation to him when thus qualified.
Yesterday’s cable dispatch told ns of
this speech of Pierrepoxt, but this
morniug we have a dispatch 6aying all
the speeches were unimportant. Here s
the trouble for Pierrepont. His in
terminable speechifying so exhausts
mankind that it becomes unimportant
at last. The newspapers cease to report
it, and its hearers merely laugh at it or
yawn over it. If Pierrepont thinks be
must earn his salary as Minister to Eng
land by perpetually delivering speeches,
he is mistaken. He will be ter deserve
his pay if he never opens his mouth,
except on business, in whioh case his
duties will be light and easy. Let him,
as American Minister in London, re
flect upon the ways of the British Min
ister in Washington, who rarely makes
a speech.
Mr Card Schcrz has his hands full
of a personal explanation which his
German fellow-citizens are just now
very numerously demanding of him.
An intelligent German, and an ex-jour
nalist of this city, Mr. J. B. Jkdp, has
published a paniphlot of a hundred dod
pages <liMctly tonching BemrßZ and the
question of finance. The Cincinnati
nines, devoting ho it a half colnmn
review, says: Qur readers Jjave not for
gotten Mr. Jecp, for so maay years
editor erf the Cincinnati Volksfreuni,
and not long ago a candidate on the
Democratic ticket in this State. He is
now practicing law at Nashville, Tenn.,
and has lately published a pamphlet of
over 106 pages on “Finance and Cur
rency," in the course of which he re
views, in a characteristic way, the Re
publican and Democratic platforms, and
speaks his mind in regard to'both Presi
dential tickets. i
AT AIKEN.
THE EXAMINATION THURSDAY.
The Hukan Affair—C l i ilete Rebuttal of
the Erideaee Belore the Caremer’a Inquest
—The Negraea the Aggreuuar*.
Yesterday morning the Sonth Caro
lina parties charged by the recent Coro
ner’s inqdest in Hamburg with murder
and being accessories before the fact, in
connection with the Hamburg affair, as
sembled at Granite ville, surrendered
themselves to Sheriff Jordan, of Aiken
county, and under his charge proceeded
to Aiken. At Aiken the usual quietude
was laid aside and excitement reigned
in anticipation of the proapective exami
nation. At 9 o’clock a body of about
forty men, all mounted, from Silverton,
reached the village, their object being
merely to witness the preliminary trial
of their fridndß and neighbors. About
half-past ten o’clock the accused, in cus
tody of Sheriff Jordan, who rode in a
buggy at the head of the cavalcade with
Colonel R. J. Butler, arrived. The
spectacle of this large number of men
submitting voluntarily to arrest by a
single officer and marching under his
charge to trial, would have convinced
the worst among the bloody shirt
snriekers at the North that the citizens
of the Palmetto State have no disposi
tion to resist lawful authority.
The formal arrest was made at the
Court House door by the Sheriff, who
called the name of each of the accused
in turn. The latter responded, and dis
mounting proceeded into the Court
Room. Among the accused were
Two Negroes,
Showing conclusively that the unfor
tunate occurrence of July Bth had no
thing to do with race or politics. After
the list was completed, onr reporter
glanced around at the material that
crowded the hall once known as the
Aiken Lyceum, but now converted into
a Conrt House. Judge Maher, a firm
and resolute looking man, occupied the
bench. In front of him was an array
of lawyers, made up of the finest legal
talent in the State. For the defense
appeared Leroy F. Yonmans, of Colum
bia; Gen. W. M. Gary, ex-Gov. Bon
ham and J. C. Shepnard, of Edgefield;
Maj. W. T. Gary, of Augusta; aDd
Messrs. D. S. Henderson, G. H. Croft
and O. C. JordaD, of Aiken. The State
was represented by Attorney-General
Stone. In the rear sat the sixty or
seventy men accused, while on all sides
was one dense crowd of eager spectators.
Comparatively few negroes appeared in
the gallary.
The Legal Aspect
Of the case was that these men were rep
resented as under arrest and that they
then appeared on writs of habeas corpus
to petition for bail.
The proceedings were opened by Maj.
W. T. Gary, who said that a large num
ber for whom warrants had been issued
had surrendered themselves to the sher
iff, bnt that some could not be found in
that county, nor in' the State, and he
would ask that the Attorney-General
take np those cases where the de
fendants were present.
The Attorney-General having consent
ed, and the Sheriff having read the
names, all but two of those from Caro
lina responded. Mr. Henderson read
the charges as made in the Coroner’s
verdict, which has already been publish
ed, and said that the defense would pre
sent some affidavits in support of the
position it would take.
The affidavit of Gen. M. C. Butler
was first read. It opens with the decla
ration that as the newspapers through
the country had done him such gross in
justice he felt it due himself that a
calm, clear statement should be read to
to the Court.
It is a lucid explanation of his posi
tion, clearly showing that his visit to
Hamburg was a purely professional OBe;
that he had no knowledge nor connec
tion with the carrying of the cannon to
Hamburg, and that it was only after the
killing of Young Merriweather that the
white people beoame aggravated. He
went on to show that the moat unfor
tunate affair was only one of the inevi
table fruits of negro rule. It was an
able and convincing letter and was read
in an eloquent manner by Governor
Bonham.
Mr. Henderson followed with the affi
davits of the Rev. John P. Mealing,
001. A. P. Butler and Dr. Hugh A.
Shaw, in which they all plainly showed
the expressed intent of the colored
men was to start a row and that the
white men were forced into it by an un
avoidable chain of circumstances from
which there was no escape. He then
read tl)e affidavit of Prince R. Rivers,
Major General of the South Carolina
Militia.
Rivers testified that Captain Doc
Adams’ company was not a duly com
missioned company; that it had “ never
had a drill" before the 4th day of July
last, and that he had told Adams that if
he took the guns of the militia be would
be iq danger of prosecution. He farther
testified ooneerutog his threatening to
imprison Adams for contempt of Court,
and Adams’ defiant reply that “Rivers
and his Court might go to hell, but his
company would die before they would
deliver their arms.” He further testi
fied aboqs his different missions of
peace between the two parties and of
Doc Adams’ final refusal to settle. His
affidavit will do much to exonerate the
whites from blame.
Major Croft presented the affidavit of
D. §. Renderson, in which he testified
that on the day before the affair occur
red in Hamburg S. J. (colored) told
him that Sparniok had Suited him fHee)
if he was not going over to defend the
negro company, and that Lee replied
that there was no money in it, where
upon Bparnick said that there would be
lots of political capital yet to be made
out of it. .
The affidavits of John L.ee, Frank
Taylor and George Henderson) all col
ored, were offered. Affiants swear that
they were asked by Doc Adams and At
taway to join the company, and when
they asfced what was the objeotof it Ad
ams replied tbatityas to kill the whites.
The affidavit of Jere Whitlock (eol.)
was read. He testified that fjharles
Turns, who was foreman of the jury of
the inquest, told him daring the trial
that alt they wanted to do was to keeo
the white men in jail until after the
elections.
Many other affidavits from both white
and colored men in rebuttal of the evi
dence given at the Coronor’s inquest
were read. It is most probable that the
Attorney-General seeing what a strong
defense the accused have will agree to
their being granted bail without argu
ment.
A telegram received last evening says:
“It is probable bail will be given to.
night or to-morrow without argument/’
Bailed.
At the close of the evidence of the
petitioners for bail, the Attorney-Gene
ral read part of the evidence taken at
the Coroner’s inquest, and submitted
the case without argument. Judge Ma
her decided, without hesitation, that
bail should be granted, and fixed the
amount at $1,009 each.
SOME STRONG AFFIDAVITS.
The Negroes the Aressors—Clear Fr#*f f
Previous Conspiracy on the Part of the
Colored Company— \Vho Fired the First
Sy.ot—No Money, Bnt Plenty of Political
tupMvL
General M. e. Butler was in the city
yesterday, and to his courtesy we are
indebted for the affidavits read before
Judge Maher, in Aiken, last Thursday.
We regret that space does not permit ns
to publish the whole of the- affidavits.
We plaee before our readers, however, a
number which place the Hamburg affair
in an altogother different light from the
report of the coroner’s jury, and the
evidence before that delectable body;
Personally appeared J. T. Bntler, who
being duly sworn, deposeth and saith:
On the 3d of July I was returning from
Augusta market, where I had been to
sell my father’s garden vegetables; when
on the outskirts of the town of IJamburg
(in Aiken county, S. C.) I was driving j
at * pretty fast speed and was attacked
•n the outskirts of Hamburg by an of
ficer of the go-called negro militia with
two of his men with State guns Qn their
shoulders. This officer commenced to
curse and abuse me in the most indecent
langna e, without any cause or provoca
tion whatever. Seeing their object was
a difficulty, and at the same time their
intent to kill me, I evaded it by not re-
f lying but in driving away from them.
had never had any difficulty with any
of these parties before. J. T. Bdtreb.
Sworn to before me this 9th day of
August, 1876. , D. S. Hendbbrqn,
Notary Public.
Personally gpjvmred Henry Getzen
and Thomas Butler, who being sworn
say ; On the Fourth of July, as we
were wkurning from Augusta to our
homes in South Carolina ( r ‘on the hills .
abcfve {Hamburg”), after crossing the,
bridge from Augusta, and .driving above j
the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta j
Railroad bridge, our attention was
drawn to a large crowd of negroes in
fremi of “what is known” as the Charles
Hammond warehouse, in the street
above this crowd was a company of
negroes going through a foriß of < * r .
gpon as this company saw us coming
they ip arched to the upper portion of
the town as far *8 fbe opening above a
well and ditch that obstructed half of
the str*et.(it being about two hundred
feet wide). After passing the well they
turned hack and marched to the well in.
time tp meet opr buggy. Seeing them
coming in a form that obstructed all
the street that was not ob*tracted by,
well and ditch, and as there was only,
one path worn through the clover and
grass (by wagons), we kept in the
ruts of that path and stopped onr
horse to let them pass, thinking they
would form their company in some other
way and pass by, rather than for ns to
have to turn round and go back; but in
stead of doing this they marched up in
front of us, beat their drums under our
horse’s head; halted their company in
abont fifteen or twenty paces of ns.
The men being eight or ten feet apar{
we thought they intended for ns to
drive through. We drove np four or
five paces, when they threw their
gnns across their shoulders so as
to obstruct the spaee between them,
and to prohibit onr passing. By
this time the captain and several of
his offioers and men commenced to curse
and aay that we most go around. We
told them that we had a right to travel
the road and all that we wanted was to
pass. They said God damned if they
didn’t stay there all night if we did not
go back. They kept us in this position
ten or fifteen minutes. Soon after a
shower of rain commenced to fall and
then the captain gave orders to let ns
pass. This made the men very mad and
they enrsed at an awfnl rate. After
passing the company, we looked back
and Baw Cook, the Town Marshal, ap
proaching, and said he would arrest us
the next day; and the next day Mr. R.
J. Bntler made complaint to Rivers
“Justice of the Peace,” and stated to
him the case in full, and said as that
was his market road which he had to
travel often several times a day, and that
it was very essential for him to be at
market at certain times to have his
goods shipped by railroad, and such de
lays would ruin the marketing of his
fruits and produce, and that two years
ago United States troops drilled on the
same grounds and they never detained
him or obstructed the pass way all the
time they were there. And Rivers said
for them to obstruct the road in the
manner they did was very wrong,and for
Mr. Bntler and his sons to come down
the next day and he would investigate
the matter. We went down the next
day, when the Captain, Dock Adams,
was arrested for contempt of Court and
the case was continued until Saturday,
and at this the negroes cursed and made
a great many threats of the worst type.
Henry Getzen,
T. G. Butreb.
Sworn to before me this 9th of Au
gust, 1876. D. L. Henderson,
Notary Public.
State of South Carolina, Aiken coun
ty : Personally appeared Prince R.
Rivers, who being duly sworn, says that
deponent resides in Hamburg, S. C.;
has held office as member of Conven
tion of the State of bouth Carolina and
as member of the General Assembly of
the State of Sonth Carolina; is now a
Trial Justice, and also holds a commis
sion as Major General of the State Mili
tia. Deponent as Major General of
Militia reviewed some regiment in Co
lumbia, S. G., about two years ago. The
militia of the State of South Carolina
is very imperfectly organized. In the
county of Edgefield, wnich adjoins the
county of Aiken, there is no colored or
whitemilitia company which is regularly
organized and which has regular drills.
In the county of Aiken the oqly com
pany which has public drills, as a part
of the militia, is a colored company at
Aiken. If Doc Adams, company at
Hamburg, South Carolina, was a regu
larly organized militia company I was
not aware of it. The Hamburg com
pany, which was commanded by Doc
Adams, never had any drills, so far as
my knowledge extends, until Fourth of
July, A. D. 1876.
The company of Doc Adams, which
was in the Sibley building, was com
posed wholly of colored persons, and of
those who resided at and near Ham
burg. As Major General of Militia I
have not ordered out my command in
abont two years. On or abont the sth
of July, .1876, Mr. Robert J. Bntler made
complaint to deponent, as Trial Justice,
that Thomas Butler, his son, had been
halted at night in the streets of Ham
burg by David Phillips and a crowd of
others, on the 3d of July, A. D. 1876,
who had militia guns iu their hands.
Mr. Butler stated that these parties had
cursed, insulted and abused his son
without provocation and had threatened
to kill him. Mr. Butler stated that he*
was apprehensive that some harm or in
gury might be done to his son Thomas
and he asked me to give to his son the
protection of the law. Upon this com
plaint I i6Pued a warrant. Mr. Robert
J. Butler also complained that on the
fourth day of July, 1876, Doc Adams
and a large number of persons with him,
bearing arms, had obstructed the public
highway in the streets of Hamburg and
had prevented Thomas Butler and Henry
Getzen, the son and son-in-law of Mr.
Butler, from passing for some time.
That the drummer had come up and
attempted to frighten the horse by beat
ing the dram under the head of the
horse—and that the oompany threatened
to k' ep Thomas Butler and Henry
Getzen as prisoners all night. Deponent
upon nearing this complaint determined
to issue a warrant and bring the guilty
parties to justice if any had interfered
with the rights of private citizens. Mr.
Robert J. Butler was perfectly respectful
in making his statement to me and I
was determined that he should have full
justice. On the 6th of July, 1876, Doc
Adams, Lewis Oartledge, A. T. Attaway,
and deponent thinks Jam-s Coleman,
were present in the Trial Justice Court
in response to summons from deponent.
Mr. Henry Getgen was examined by the
Court. The Court then extended the
usual privilege to Doo Adams to
cross examine the witness. Doc
Adams undertook to examine the witness
in an improper manner. The Court cau
tioned Roc Adams that the manner
of examining the witness was objec
tionable. Doo Adame continued to
disregard the Court, and he was arrested
for contempt of court, and the case was
continued until Saturday, the Bth July,
1876, at4o’clock, p. m. On Saturday 28 h
July, Gen. M. C. Butler appeared
at my office in the uftefnoen as attorney
for Mr. Robert J. Butler and fiis son and
son-in-law.
After the Court was organized Doc
Adams and the rest of his officers were
called, but failed to make any answer,
either in person or by attorney.
Geq. if. C. Rnflef then asked in what
capaoity deponent was sitting. Depon
ent replied that his Court was that of a
Trial Justice, but until deponent heard
the evidence deponent conld not say
whether the matter was proper for the
notice of deponent as Major General of
Militia. Ahoqt this time Samuel Spencer
informed the .Goifrt that he thought
the matter popld be arranged if the
oourt would grant a little time. Ren.
M. C. Butler expressed himself as
willing to allow the time, and asked
the Court what time would be grant
ed. The Court granted fifteen
minutes, au,d informed tho parties that
more time would fie granted if ip beoame
necessary. Samuel Spencer did not re
turn to the Court to give any informa
tion as to the result. Rate in the after
noon deponent went np into the town of
Hamburg, having previously disposed of
several cases.
After going np town deponent asked
Samuel Spencer, Joseph Thomas, Sam
uel Pixley, Paul Jefferson to advise with
deponent to prevent any difficulty. De
ponent caused Ren. Butler to be sent
for, fpy the purpose of a conference.
Gen. Butler gam® to m y back gate on
Mercer street. I asked (Jen. Rutler what
woald stop the trouble which seemed
imminent? Gen. Bntler said if the arms
are delivered up there will be no trou
ble. I asked GeD. Butler if be would
give a bond for the arms. Gen. Bntler
said yes, J will, and asked several gen
tlemen near bin) if tjiey would go his
seenrity, and they replied that they
would. Mr. Bobert J. Bntler said that
he did not wish to have any trouble, but
simply desired to have protection for
bis family. He said that if the mem
bers of the company would agree not to
interfere with hi? family and apologize
for the insults which had keen offered to
the members of bis family) that tfeen he
would consent to drop the proceedings
against them. Deponent asked General
M. C. Bntler if he would gnarantee the
safety pf the members of the company if
they would surrender "their arms. Gen.
Butler replied that depends upon how
they, behave themselves hereafter.
After this conference, in which Gen.
Bntler agreed to box the arms and ship;
them *be Governor if the company,
woald deliver them, deponent asked
Gen. Bntler for time to consult the com
pany. Gen. Butler granted the request
Joseph Tboas and deponent went
into the Sibley boil ing. Doc Adams
and Attaway came to meet deponent in
another room in the Sibley bniidtog.
Deponent told Doc Adams of the con
ference with Gen. Bntler. Doc Adams
ssid we have determined to hold the
arms. Thomas and deponent then came
down and met Robert J, Butler and told
him that the men had refused to give up
their arms. Deponent did not see the]
firing begin, and knows nothing of what
occurred in that part of the town.
jP. R. Rivers.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this Bth August, 1876.
fL. B.] Frank Abvqi,
’ f Rotary Public &C.
State of South Carolina, Edgefield
county: This is to certify that on Thurs
day, July 6th, 1876, I was in Hamburg,
S. C-. at the request of Rev. J. P. Meal
ing. ' That J. hßard part of the trial then
and there pending between JJessrs. Get
zen and Bntler on the one side, and the
militia company represented by Doc
Adams on toe other side. That after
the direct examination of Henry Getzen,
one of the'witnesses in toe case, Doc
Adams commenced to ask numerous ir
relevant questions that the Court ruled
out of order; he, Doc Adams, became
ouch excited at this interruption, and
used language so unbecoming and offen
sive to to Conrt that he was ordered
under arrist. This action ou the part
of the Coirt caused much excitement
and angry comment, not only from Doc
Adams, bit from other officers of this
company. Immediately after this and
without icnsnltation with any one, the
Court vm formally adjourned until Sat
urday, the Btb, at 4, p. m.
I prompted Mr. R. J. Bntler, who was
conducting the case, to object to the
honr named, stating to him at the same
time that on Saturday there was usually
a large namber of negroes in Hamburg;
that the erowd of men and offioers pres
ent gave ; the strongest evidence of the
bitterest and most intense excitement;
that it would not be practicable to try
the case uitil after dark and that he and
his friends would be at the mercy of this
angry and excited band of desperadoes.
Mr. Bntler did object to the hour nam
ed and suggested some day duriDg the
next week;: in fact he pressed his objec
tions with much earnestness and said,
“I want no night work about it.” The
Conrt overruled his objections and as
signed some petty private business as
an exensi for his ruling.
Immediately after the Court adjourn
ed it was evident from the unprovoked
and bittA language used by some of the
officers if Doc Adams’ company that
they wisied to provoke a collision with
the whites; nothing bnt the most com
mendabh prndence and forbearance
could have prevented such a collision.
On Sitorday, the Bth, I returned to
Hamburg in company with Rev. J. P.
Mealing] arrived between three and four
o’clock, p. m.; found at Mr. Damm’s
store Gin. M. C. Butler, counsel for
Butler agd Getzen, and a Mr. Sparnick,
counsel jfor Doc Adams & Cos., in con
sultatioi, in reference to the settlement
of the siit pending.
It wasiagreed by these counsel to have
a confeienoe with the officers of Doc
Adams’ company, with the object of ad
justing the difficulty. Mr. Sparniok said
that he aad a very strong influence over
the negioes, and thought it conld be ar
ranged vithont delay.
He left for a conference with Adams
& Coq with the promise to return with
them in a few minutes. He did not re
turn.
Abcut, or soon after 4 o’clock, we went
to thj Magistrate’s office at whioh this
ease vas to be tried. Adams, his coun
sel, nj>r no member of his company was
preseit; the Court was formally conven
ed, lut adjourned for a proposed con
ference with the officers of Adams & Cos.
Dating this delay the wildest rumors
were fa circulation as to the plans of the
negrops, viz: That they had collected in
their (armory several hupdred strong;
that tkey proposed to burn the Augusta
bridge that they had the most approv
ed guis, with an abundance of ammuni
tion; that they would not submit to any
arrest;that they had determined to fight;
that they continued to supply the garri
son with men, guus, water, provisions,
etc. All was excitement, men congre
gated fa squads within the vicinity of
the araory, in which the negroes had
taken position.
This did not remain long in this con
dition oefore the tiring commenced from
both sides, that was kept up for some
hours or more. H. A. Shaw,
Sworn to before me this 7th day of
August, A. D. 1876.
J. L. Anderson,
Trial Justice E. C.
South Carolina, Aiken county: per
sonally appeared George Damm, who
being sworn, says: That on the after
noon of the Bth day of July, A. D. 1876,
Saturday, and the day of the riot iu
Hamburg, South Carolina, General M.
C. Butler came to mybtore in Hamburg,
at about three o’clock in the afternoon.
Geneial M. C. Butler was alone. My
store is situated on the corner of Cen
tre and Cobb streets, and is the first store
on the main thoroughfare leading into
Hamburg, South Carolina, from the di
rection of Edgefield. At the time when
General M. C. Butler came to my store
there was no assemblage of white per
sons in the town of Hamburg. General
Butlei drove up to my store in a buggy.
In a short time, ten or fifteen minutes,
Mr. Robert J. Butler arrived and catue
into my store, whilst General M. C.
Butlei was in the store. There was no
crowd with General M. 0. Butler when
he came to Hamburg. I have known
General M. C. Butler for a number of
years. Whilst in my store he was per
fectly peaceable, as I have always known
him ta be. George Damm.
Subscribed and sworn to before me,
this 6th August, 1876,
D. Thompson Sims, |L. S.] Trial Jus
tice, A. C.
State of Georgia, Richmond county—
Personally appeared Richard W. Haber
sham, who being duly sworn, says: De
ponent resides in Augusta, Georgia. On
the Bth July, A. D. 176, deponent was
at work in office in the old “Christian
Chnrcb,” which is on or near the river
bank in the city of Augusta, opposite to
Hamburg. Deponent heard that there
was likely to be a difficulty in Hamburg
and went to the river bank on the Geor
gia side, at the point where the bridge
of the Charlotte, Columbia and Augus
ta Railroad crosses the Savannah river
nearly opposite the Sibley buildiDg iu
Hamburg. When deponent went to the
river bank no shots had been fired in
HamViurg to the best of deponent’s
knowledge and belief. Deponent stood
on the river bank for some time observ
ing events as they transpired. There
were several persons near deponent on
the Georgia side of the river. After de
ponent had teen standing for some time
watching events, deponent distinctly
saw two shots fired from the window of
the Sibley building, and deponent thinks
that a third shot was fired from the top
of the Sibley building. As soon as these
shots were fired a yell was heard from
the building. After a short pause a
yell was sent up from the orowd outside
and the fire was returned, and soon be
came general. Deponent positively
states that to the best of deponent's
knowledge and belief the first shots were
fired from the Sibley building in the di
rectiou of the Charlotte, Columbia and
Augusta Railroad bridge, and in the di
rection of the abutment of said bridge,
which is on the Hamburg side of the
river. There were some white persons
near to the abutment. After the firing be
gan this deponent left the river bank for
a short time. Deponent returned to the
river bank after ß short absence, and
was informed that balls were reaching
the city of Augusta, which were fired
from the Sibley building. At this point
the river is abont four hundred yards
wide. Deponent then stepped out and
observed closely and saw the flash of a
gun fired from the Sibley building,
whicl; seemed to be aimed at the depo
nent and tue gpoqp near tp depo
nent, who were in the city of Augusta,
on the river bank and unarmed. In a
short time deponent heard the bullet; it
passed over deponent into the city of
Augusta, and endangered the lives of
quiet citizens. The bullet which passed
into the pity pf Augusta and some of
which sepmej to tie aimed at pnargied
citizens, were nnproyoked by any acts
of those near deponent, and so far as
deponent knows the shots were wantonly
and maliciously fired.
R. W. Habersham.
Subscribed and sworn to this Bth An
gust, 1876. Wm. T. Gary,
Commissioner of Deeds for South Caro
lina, resident in Augusta, Ra.
SJateof Georgip, Richmond county:
Personally appeared William E. Flint,
who, being duly sworn, says that he re
sides in Augusta, in the State of Geor
gia, and that he is watchman at the
bridge of the Charlotte, Columbia and
Augusta Railroad Company, which
bridge crosses the Savannah river from
Hamburg to Augusta. On the morning
of the sth July, 1876, deponent saw
Jchn Thomas at railroad bridge of
the Charlotte, Colombia and Angusta
Railroad Company, crossing from Ham
burg to Augusta. John Thomas had a
large pistol buckled around him, and
deponent and John Murray jpgaged
him in .conversation. Deponent asked
Thomas his far having the pis
tol. Thomas said that he and the boys
expected to have a little fun that day.
Thomas said Doc Adams had been ar
rested and ordered to attend Trial Jus
tice Rivers’ Court that day, and the boys
of his company did not intend to give
Doc Adama up apd allow Trial Justice
Rivers to try him. ja the afternoon my
duties called me to the Hamburg side of
the bridge. I saw a crowd of negroes col
lected around the Sibley building, and
I also saw Robert J. Butler and several
others—about six white persons—at the
office of Trial Justice Rivers. About
this time I saw Roo Adams. John S.
Sims, A. T- Attaway. ftenry Sparnick
and Lewis Schiller talking together. I
returned to Augusta side to let the train
pass. I then returned to Hamburg
side. Only saw Henry Sparnick and
attaway of the above group. I then
heard Attaway order his men to load
their guns and to fix their bayonets up
on their gnns/ The members of Atta
way’s company who were present, John
Thomas, Jasper , Charley
and the son-in-law of Dublin, Thomas
Carroll ftloejter, gnd several others,
then WeCt up into the Sibley building.
The men went into the building on the
'corner known *8 the Sibley Building,
and aos*e qt tfaem ppt their bayonets on
after they came to the wipdof. Atta
way went into the Sibley building with
these men, and then after a short time
came down. From the sidewalk Atta
way ordered the men at the window
over him to fire into the Butlers or any
of their orowd as soon as they turned
the corner. Joba Thomas, from toe
window of the drill room, asked how
will we know when Uiot are leaving
Trial Jnstice Rivers’ office? Attaway
said I will give yon the signal. John
Thomas: If one man comes along shall
we shoot him ? I could not hear the re
ply. Attaway then said there is a man
on the bridge watching; close the
blinds. Attaway then walked to the
platfoQn, where he rsmained for spine
time. When Robert J. Bntler and the
gentlemen with him left Trial Justice
Rivers’ office Attaway went at once to
the drill room. Robert J. Butler and
the party with him turned into a side
street, and did uot pass the Sibley
building. I told 0. F. Nurnberger,
Frank Kramer and Thomas Carr the
substance of what had transpired before
any gun was fired at Hamburg, and
warned then/ that danger was imminent
I told Mr. C. F. Nurnberger and Frank
Kramer, in order that they might see
after t ieir rela ives aid friends who lived
in Hamburg. I left and did not witness
any of the firing. W. E. Flint.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this 7tb August, 1876. W. T. Gaby,
Commissioner of Deeds for South Caro
lina, resident in Augusta, Ga.
State of Georgia, Richmond county :
Personally appeared James R. Ran
dolph, who, being duly sworn, says :
That on Sunday morning, July 9th,
1876, deponent saw a crowd of about
eight armed negroes near the place
where deponent resided, four miles from
Hamburg, in Aiken county, and State of
South Carolina. That in a conversation
with this squad of negroes, the negroes
who were armed with guns said that
the negroes intended to kill the white
people; that they intended to kill the
men, women and children and burn the
houses after taking such provisions and
other supplies as they needed. The ne
groes said that they intended to kill the
white people, so that they could have a
country of their own.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 7th August, 1876.
Wm T. Gary,
Commissioner of Deeds for South Caro
lina, resident in Augusta, Georgia.
State of Georgia, Richmond county:
Personally appeared Frank Kramer,
who, being duly sworn, says that depo
nents father’s family reside in Hamburg,
S. C. On the afternoon of Bth of July,
1876, deponent met Mr. William E
Flint before the difficulty began in
Hamburg. Mr. Flint informed depo
nent that there would probably be a
difficulty in Hamburg that afternoon, as
William E. Flint said that he had heard
Attaway order some negroes to load
their guns and put on the bayouets, and
to go to the Sibley building, and other
facts which William E. Flint had, which
induced the belief that the negroes in
tended to bring on a difficulty. Depo
nent sometime visits Hamburg, and de
ponent has been halted on the streets of
Hamburg at night by armed negroes
when deponent was proceeding peace
fully and quietly on his way. These
negroed were not officers if the law, but
were armed with military guns.
Frank Kramer.
Subscribed and sworn to before me,
Bth August, 1876. Wm. T. Gary.
State of South Carolina, Aiken coun
ty—State vs. R. J. Butler, et al : Per
sonally appeared D. S. Henderson, who,
being sworn, says that at the town of
Aiken,on Saturday, the Bth of July.ult.,
or thereabouts, before the fight in Ham
burg, and whilst the trial of the alleged
militiamen was pending at Hamburg for
obstructing the highway, he had a con
versation with Samuel J. Lee, in which
said Lee said that Henry Sparnick had
asked him why he did not volunteer as
an attorney to go to Hamburg to deiend
said men; that he (Lee) replied to said
Sparnick that there was no money in it,
he was not employed and would’ not go;
that thereupon Sparnick said it was a
matter of politics, that a good thing
oould be made out of it, and that he in
tended to go to Hamburg and defend
them.
That as this deponent is informed,
said Sparnick did go to Hamburg and
appear for said men, and after the fight
conducted the investigation at the in
quest on the part of the State.
D. S. Henderson.
Sworn to before me this 4th day of
August, 1876. A. D. Beckman,
Notary Public S. C.
State of Georgia, Richmond county :
Personally appeared John Lee, who, be
ing duly sworn, says : Deponent was
called upon by Doc Adams about last
June and was requested by Doo Adams
to join his company. Deponent asked
Doc Adams for what purpose was he
forming a company. Doc Adams re
plied, we are forming a company to kill
the white people; that Governor Cham
berlain had promised to furnish the
arms and ammunition. Doc Adams
said that Governor Chamberlain had
said that it was necessary to do this to
carry the next election and to keep the
State under the control of the Republi
can party. Deponent then refused to
join the company. Deponent is a col
ored person and is a brother of the Hon.
Kamuel J. Lee, who was the Speaker of
the House of Representatives when F
J. Moses was Governor of the State of
South Carolina. Deponent resides on
Shultz’s Hill, about half a mile from the
town buildings in Hamburg, and within
the corporate limits of the town. De
ponent has often seen crowds of colored
men passing at night with guns for
several weeks before the difficulty at
Hamburg. Deponent resides in the
corporate limits of Hamburg, and was
frequently in the town of Hamburg dur
ing the day and at night. Deponent
never saw or heard of any public drill
of Doc Adams’ company before the 4th
of July, 1876 ff the company of Loc
Adams was a regularly organized militia
company deponent was not aware of it.
So far as the knowledge of deponent ex
tends, it was not publicly known that
there was a company of armed colored
persons in Hamburg until the 4th day
of July, 1876. his
John [*) Lee.
mark.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this Bth August, 1876.
Wm. T. Gaby,
Commissioner of Deeds for South Car >-
lina, resident in Augusta, Ga.
South Carolina, Aiken county; Per
sonally appeared before me, D. Thomp
son Sims, a Trial Justice in and for said
State and county, Jeremiah Merriweth
er, who being duly sworn, says; That he
is of the age of about seventeen or eight
een years. That he resides in Aiken
county, and within about a mile of the
corporate limits of the town of
Hamburg, South Carolina. That on
the 4th day of July, A. D. 1876, de
ponent was in Hamburg. Deponent
heard Attaway (the one who was killed
in Hamburg, S. C., on the Bth day of
July, 1876,) say to George Henderson
(who, like ipyself, is colored) that he
wished George Henderson to
join the company at Hamburg. George
Henderson replied I belonged to a com
pany which was broke up, but I do not
want to join any company now. Atla
way replied, yes, that is the way with
some of you damned negroes. We want
to forn} the company to kill white peo
ple, and some of you damned negroes
won’t join it. George Henderson re
plied; “I am working for part of the
crop, and have a steady home, and I
rather stay and work for part of the
crop than to quit and have no home.”
Attaway said well if you won’t join the
company I can’t make you join it, and
then went off and left him. Attaway at
the time of the aboye conversation tried
to get deponent to join the company to
kill the white people, telling both Geo.
Henderson ana deponent that he (Atta
way) would furnish the guns and the
ammunitipn. Deponent told Attaway
that he had never joined any pompany,
and that he did not wish to join any mili
tary company. Attaway, after telling us
that he could not make us join the com
pany if we would not consent to do it,
then Went off. On the night of the 4th
day of July, A. D. 1876, the same day
that Attaway talked to us in Hamburg,
deponent wept to Mr. Harrison Butler
and told "Hini what Attaway had said.
Deponent told Mr. Harrison Butler that
the white people had better look out,
that the company in Hamburg was or
ganizing to kill white people. I knew
that Mr. Harrison Butler and his family
were good to me. T liked them and 1
did not wish to have them hart, and
that is the reason why I toid Mr. Har
rison Bntler what had taken place in the
conversation with Attaway.
his
' Jerry H Mebbiwetheb,
mark.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
sth August, A. D. 1876.
[ii. s.] D. Thompson Simb,
Trial Justice A. C.
Sopth Garolina, Aiken county; The
State against Robert et al. : Per
sonally appeared A®ron Tyler, wjjo be
ing duly sworn, says that on the §tb day
of July, 1870, while he, with his family,
were sitting on his piazza near Ham
burg, a part of this so-called militia
company came by his fence scraping
their bayonets on the fence and swear
ing and cursing furiously; deponent
‘poke to them add they continued curs
ing and threatriing what they would do.
Deponent farther says that on the night
before as he was going to Augusta he
was halted on the ~road by five bf these
same men, who presented their bayonets
at his breast; deponent asked them why
they had halted him; they replied be
cause they had a right to d q it. Pepo
neut told them he thought not; they re
plied that it did not make a damn bit of
odds whether they had a right or not,
they would do as they pleased.
Aaron F. Ttxrb.
Sworn to before me this 3d day of
August, 1876. D. S. Henderson,
Notary Public.
State of South Carolina, coun’y of
Aiken ; Personally came before me, Pr t
H. A. Shaw and Rev. John P. Mealing,
who being duly sworn, each for himself,
depose and say : That they have reason
to believe, and they do verily believe,
that the county of Edgefield and por
tions of the county of Aiken, have for
several years been the victims of a sys
tem of lawlessness, violence and despe
ration, imposed by organized bands of
negro desperadoes, which are intolerable
to any well regulated community, and
which reflect great discredit and dishonor
upon the police organization of the
State and said counties, and which are
disgraceful to the civilization of the age.
That numberless acts of violence and
lawlessness, of various kinds and de
scriptions, inflicted upon the white citi
zens of said communities, created appre
hensions that similar outrages were to
be perpetrated and multiplied, placed
the said citizens in an attitude of pre
ventive defense, and justified measures
that tended to obviate the recurrence of
such disgraceful scenes. That there are
organized bands of negroes in said com
munities, armed and equipped with all
the paraphranalia of war, that periodi
cally disturb the peace of said commu
nities, establish circles of confusion and
terror, disorganize the labor system of
the country, and by numerous and va
rious violations of law impeach the dig
nity of the State and imperil the peace
and welfare of the citizens. That dur
ing the year A. D. 1874 and 1875, one
Ned Tennaut, then a resident of the
county of Edgefield, with a pretended
company of militiamen, organized, as
they believe, without authority of law,
and in violation of law, subjected the
people of Edgefield to a system of tur
bulence and lawlessness that had no
parallel in the memory of the oldest
men living, and by the conduct and in
fluence of whom whole communities
were thrown into a state o£ confusion
and dread, that constituted a constant
and permanent souroe of apprehension
for the prosperity, liberties and lives of
the people. That subsequently thereto,
and in the vicinity of Ridge Spring, in
said county, similar occurrences as those
above mentioned were perpetrated. That
duriog the present year, in the county
of Edgefield, John L. Harmon and his
wife, two aged, infirm, helpless, unpro
tected and respected citizens, were in
humanly, brutally and barbarously mur
dered by a baud of negroes, who had
combined and conspired for the avowed
purposes of robbery and murder. That
dnring said year, in said county, and
on the plantation of said Dr. H. A. Shaw,
one Mrs. Eliza Foster, a respectable,
popular and much beloved lady, was
murdered in cold blood, and as depo
nents believe for the purpose of con
cealing a crime of which she was imme
diately before the victim, if possible
even more dangerous to the peace of so
ciety, more revolting to the principles
of humanity, and more condemned by
the laws of God. Added to which and
to conceal all of which, the fearful crime
of arson was attempted to be committed.
That these occurrences and others too
numerous and too horrifying to men
tion, have made the county of Edgefield
odious in the estimation of adjoining
communities, and have subjected the
white citizens thereof, who are only
blameable for not having by all the
means known to man, prevented their
recurrence, to disparaging criticism and
comment throughout the entire country.
That the town of Hamburg has been the
home of the most corrupt, lazy, aud
thriftless gang of desperadoes that ever
existed in any country, who have sub
sisted entirely by their devastations upon
surrounding communities, and was gen
erally regarded as the asylum of plun
derers and murderers. That their town
ordinances and municipal regulations
were partisan, olFensive and oppres ive,
and subjected every gentleman who was
so unfortunate as to be subject to their
influence, to annoyances, provocations
and insult, that no human forbearance
could endure. That peaceable and harm
less travelers upon the public highways
would be assaulted, fined, imprisoned,
and in various ways maltreated, until
the patience and forbearanoe of citizeus
were exhausted, and protestations
against such lawlessness necessary.
Added to all these, aud even since the
recent occurrence in the town of Ham
burg, and as a culmination of the vile
and wicked purposes that characterized
the life and fill up the history of the
desperadoes with which said county is
infested, a small, beautiful and innocent
child, aged five years, of Mr. L H. Pres
cott, one of the oldest, most respected
and most honored families in said coun
ty, was most unnaturally aud cruelly
outraged. Such an outrage, and others
similar, which in deference to the feel
ings of the aggrieved families wo sup
press, have inspired a sense of dread
and alarm throughout said ,co nty, and
constitute a positive menace to the se
curity of citizens and the peace of so
ciety. H. A. Shaw,
J. R. Mealing.
Sworn to before me this 9th August,
1876. J. 0. Shepherd,
[L.S.] Notary Public, S. C.
Personally appeared A P. Butler who
being svorn, says : That he lives in that
portion of Aiken county which was
ormerly a pa't of Edgefield county,
about seven miles from the town of
Hamburg; that he ft the President of the
Democratic Club of Schultz Township,
which met at Summer Hill, about two
miles from Hamburg on Saturday after
noon, the Bth of July last; that after the
adjournment of said Democratic Club,
and the members had dispersed, hearing
that a trial was to be held in Hamburg
in which his kinsman, R. J. Butler, was
a party and Gen. M. C. Buttler an at
torney, he started to Hamburg in a car
riage with A. J. Twiggs, said carriage
being driven by Sam Oliver, and not at
the head of any body of armed men, or
as the leader of ; any set of men; that
when he arrived at Hamburg he found
things in confusion, and a contest immi
nent; that when be arrived in Hamburg
the last conference between General
Butler and P. R. Rivers had ended; that
shortly after this the firing began, and
the mob and riot became general, led by
no one in particular, but was general
and indiscriminate; a large crowd of
people came over from the city of Au
gusta and elsewhere, and the confusion
became more general; said disturbance
lasted about one hour and a half or
longer; that during this affair deponent
succeeded, by-his own exertions and
those of his friends and neighbors, in
closing the various dram shops in the
town, and assisted General Butler in re
straining the mob from burning the
Sibley building and others, and en
deavored to restrain them from all
violence and pillaging and sacking the
town; that deponent left the town of
Hamburg about twelve o’clock at night,
in company with his friends and neigh
bors long before the killing of Attaway,
Minyard, Stevens and Phillips, and had
arrived at Mr. Eansom’ B when be heard
the shooting at Hamburg, from which,
it is said, the said parties were killed;
that with him on leaving Hamburg were
P. M. Butler, H. A. Shaw, J. W. Bunch,
G. A. Bunch, L. A. Ransom and others.
That deponent most positively states
that he did not fire a gun or pistol that
night; that he did not order the shoot
ing or killing of any man or set of men;
he swears positively that be did not as
sist in or order the shooting or killing
of any of the parties, whomsoever, who
were killed that night. A. P. Butler.
Sworn to before me this 10th day of
August, 1876. D. 8. Henderson,
N. P.
The State of South Carolina, county
of Aiken; before me personally came
John Lee, a person of color, who, being
sworn, says: That on the Wednesday be
fore the Saturday of the row in Ham
burg, whioh was the sth day of July,
he saw Mr. Louis Schiller take the
train for Columbia, and on the next
morning (Thursday) he saw him return
saw him when he got off the train at
Hamburg. Deponent saw Schiller have
a large tin can taken off the train. A
large number of Doo A^Ste ß ' company
were waiting there at - the platform for
him (Schiller), and three of tfieir Dum
ber took np the can and carried it to
John Williams’ house. One of the three
was Judge Blonnt, who was a mem
ber of Doc Adams’ company. Deponent
asked Judge wfiat was in the tin can,
and Judge Blount pulled out from his
pocket a hand full of cartridges, and
said “this is what is in it,” showing de
ponent the cartridges. Deponent fur
iher says that since the Hamburg row,
Tom Carroll, a member of Doc Adams’
company, told i bis deponent that the
first ammunition carried into the drill
room from John Williams' house was
carried there by Doc Adams in a basket,
on Saturday, the day of the row, about
1 o’clock, and that the next was carried
there by Alferd Mingard, and that he
carried two boskets fall, and that Bntler
Edward carried two baskets full, and
that the baskets wofiM fcffifj bont three
quarts. Tom Carroll also told this de
ponent that John WiUiam ß issued this
ammunition out to the men, that the
ammunition was all earned np to the
drill room before four o’clock, p. m.
niff
John X Lee.
mn r k
Sworn to before me, this 6th of Au
gust, A. D. 1876. D. Thompson Simms,
[L. S.] Trial Justice, A- 0.
Wb. P. Johnson; The first shots were
fired from the window of the Sibley
building in the direction of the abut
ment of the Charlotte, Columbia and
Angnsta Railroad bridge.
John Sullivan: Was standing on Geor
gia side of the river, and coaid plainly
see the Bibley building, in town of Ham
burg. Party at the bridge did not shoot
until the occupants of the Sibley build
ing had fired towards them.
Charles E. Coffin: Is positively cer.
tain that first shot was not fired from
abutment of bridge.
Robert Virgil, colored: First shot was
fired from the Sibley building.
H. H. Bliss: First shots were fired
from the Sibley building, two from win
dows and one from roof.
J. C. Kirkpatrick: Is positively cer
tain that the first shots were fired by the
armed negroes in the direction of the
spot where young Merriwether was kill
ed.
E. R. Cunningham: Saw two shots fired
from window and one from top of Sibley
building. These were the first that was
fired.
G. Kramer, who lives in Hamburg,
was frequently halted and molested by
negroes with guns before the difficulty."
■ Thos. G. Kerr: On the afternoon of
the Bth July, 1876, Mr. W. E. Flint re
ported to deponent the substance of a
conversation had that day wit.h John
Thomas, to the effect that Doo Adams'
company had agreed not to let him be
arrested and tried by Trial Justice
Rivers’ Court.
J. H. Corley: Sunday morning, the
9tb, Ed. Williams, colored, said to de
ponent that the colored people were go
ing to get together and kill out all the
white people; that they would kill the
men, women aud children, and burn
their houses; that they would kill dur
ing the night and hide during the day.
Stephen Whightman heard Rivers say
to Doc Adams that he (Rivers) had told
him (Adams) that if the company used
the State arms he would put them under
arrest; that the first he (Rivers) knew
of their having the guns was what June
Williams told him, and that was that
they had come to her and said that Rivers
had given an order for the guns. Rivers
said in the presence of Doc Adams that
he had never given any order for the
guns. Rivers then told deponent to go
and report this to Mr. Robt. J. Butler,
which deponent did on the next Monday
morning.
General M. 0. Butler’s affidavit was
the same as his statement already pub
lished in the Chronicle and Sentinel.
Who Were Bailed.
The following is the list of those who
gave the required bond, which includes
all who were present:
R. A. Chaffee, B. D. Lamar, R. J. But
ler, 8. D. Page, M. C. Butler, Isaiah
Marshall (col.), J. A. Crawford, Hugh
Shaw, J. C. Lanhain, L. W. Reese, J. C.
Swearingen, Ben Vandiver, G. A.
Adams, D. M. Glover, W. A. Glover,
James Smith, Arthur Johnson, Aaron
Tyler, J. D. Roper, 0. B Glover, John
Oliver, G. K. Chaffee, R. M. Gardner,
John F. Bunch, T. M. Glover, J. Henry
Getzen, H. A. Shaw, G. A. Bunch, T. S.
Oliver, John Twiggs, Luther Ransom,
P. M. Butler, J. A. Merriwether, A. J.
C. Matbeny, J. Thomas Butler, Harri
son Butler, Frank Taylor (col.), J. C.
Hammond, J. B. McKie, B. J. Lamar,
J. A: Butler, Jr., Wm. Briggs, A. P.
Butler, T. E. Settles, B. R. Tillman, J.
P. Mealing, Charles Kernaghan.
NATIONAL cotton exchange re
ports.
District of Augusta—Crop Report for July,
1876.
The Augusta Exchange, (
Augusta. Ga., August 10, 1876. j
To the President and Board of Direc
tors of the Augusta Exchange :
Gentlemen —We respectfully submit
the following report for the month of
July, as to the prospects and condition
of the cotton crop in the district allot
ted to this Exchange. Our report is
based upon forty (40) replies from twen
ty-four (24) counties. Average date of
replies, first of August.
First question : What has been the
oharcter of the weather since July Ist ?
Answer : Four (4) correspondents reply
too much rain; four (4) reply dry and
hot: twelve (12) reply that the first three
weeks was dry and hot, with some pass
ing showers—last week favorable rains;
twenty (20) reply “very favorable.”
Second question : Has the weather
been more or less favorable up to this
period than during same time last year?
Answer : Seven (7) reply less favorable;
six (6) reply about same, and quite as
“favorable;” twenty-seven (27) reply
more favorable, and much more favor
able.
Third question : How are the stands
in your section, and how do they com
pare with same time last year ? An
swer : Three (3) reply poorer than last
year; twelve (12) reply good—equal to
last year, twenty-five (25) very good
better than last year.
Fourth question: Is the cotton plant
forming, blooming and bol ing well?
Answer: Seven (7) complain that the
plant is shedding—cotton backward
blooming, but not boiling well as usual;
thirty-three (33) reply that the plant is
forming, blooming aud boiling very well,
promising a fine yield.
Fifth question: What is the present
condition of the cotton crop in your sec
tion, and how does it compare with the
same time last year ? Answer: Five (5)
reply small and not so good as last year;
thirteen (13) reply good condition, but
about five to fifteen days later than last
year; twenty-two (22) reply condition
good, better than last year.
Sixth question: State any favorable or
unfavorable circumstances relative to the
growth aud condition of the cotton crop
in your section not covered by the above
questions? Answer: One (1) correspon
dent speaks of a local wind and hail
storm damaging the cotton in one sec
tion of his county; one (1) correspon
dent speaks of excessive drouth in his
county, but says there are now indica
tions of rain; two (2) complain that the
plant is making weed too fast, and not
making fruit as it should at this season;
nine (9) complain of too much rain;
four (4) complain of rust and too much
rain for sandy land, but say stiff clay
lands indicate large yield; eight (8) com
plain of the appearance of grasshoppers,
but all agree that they have as yet done
little or no damage, still some apprehen
sion is felt; nine (9) make no complaint,
and report the crop is as good as could
be desired; six (6) do not answer this
question.
Taking a broad view over the section
allotted to this Exchange, we conolude
that the crop generally is in a very flat
tering condition as a whole, pointing
(should theri.) be no future disaster) to a
large yield.
L. L. Zulavsky, Chairman; J. J.
Pearce, J. W. Echols, R. W. Heard, 0.
A. Rowland, A. M. Benson, W. M.
Read, Committee.
THE COTTON CHOP.
Norfolk Exchange's Report.
Norfolk, August 10.— The Cotton Ex
change makes the following report on
the condition of the cotton crop for
July: From 00 replies received from 28
oounties in North Carolina and Virginia
this report is compiled. Ten r.port the
weather very favorable; eight report that
the weather has been exceedingly hot
and dry; thirty-six that the weather was
hot and dry until übout 24th July, since
which time they have had frequent rains;
and two complain that the weather
turned too cold; twenty-two report the
weather more favorable than last year;
fourteen that it is about equal; and
twenty-four less favorable; nineteen re
port the stands much better than last
year; thirty-three equally as good; and
eight not as good, though on a fair ave
rage; six report this week that ootton is
forming, blooming and boiling better
than years past; forty-six equal to last
year; two expect shedding and six re
port that it is not forming or blooming
well; twenty-four report the general con
dition of the crop good and better than
last year; twenty-four report the condi
tion equal to last year; twelve that the
condition is not good but weak—being
very small and the appearance of rust
caused by excessive rains. All report,
with few exceptions, the crop being laid
by in a good healthy condition, clear of
grass and weeds, though rather smaller
in growth than last year. One county
reports the appearance of Hoe, and one
county, having suffered so mnch from
drouth, they do not expect to make
more than a half crop.
Tlie Savannah Report.
Savannah, August 10.—The present
condition of the crop' is favorable,
though it is critical. A yield of from 10
to 20 per cent, oyer the last is expected.
There are complaints of rnst from the
light pine lands, and of caterpiller from
the rich bottom lands. The extent of the
damage therefrom depends upon the
character of the weather during this
month.
New York, Angnst 10.— The Execu
tive Conncil of the National Ootton Ex
change of America met at the New York
Cotton Exchange, yesterday. The Sec
retary presented a report concurrent
with the International Cotton Conven
tion held in London, to-day.
The .Mobile Report.
Mobile, August JO.—ln Alabama,
from July first to. Angnst first, forty-six
counties sent 133 letters. The weather
daring the period above named has been
generally favorable, taking the average
of the State, and, as compared with
last year, has been equally as prosper
ous. The reports from the uplands,
however, are much better than from
the bottom lands. The stands are re
ported to be almost unusually good,
very few reporting them poorer than
i*st year, an j many that they are better.
The plant is forming, blooming and
boiling fairly, and its general condition
is equal to that of last year. The un
favorable cironmstanoes", relative to
the eondition of the crop, are the
weedy growth of the plant in bot
tom land, and the appearanoe of
worms in greater or less qnanties. Most
of these prairie and eanebrake counties
qre located in Middle and West Ala
bama, In Mississippi, twenty counties,
74 letters. The weather has been gene
rally favorable, and, compared with last
year, equally as favorable. The stands
are good io all the counties except Ita
wamba aud Pontotoc. The plant is
forming, blooming and boiling well, and
its general condition compares favorably
with last year. Worms are reported in
five counties, and there is some com
plaint of cold nights and weedy growth
in the counties where there have been
rains.
Charleston Report.
Charleston, August 10.—The July
report of the Charleston Exchange,
made up from 86 replies from 30 coun
ties, says the weather from the Ist to the
18tli, was hot aud dry. Since then
rains have been very frequent and in
many sections it has been too wet and
the nights too cool for ootton. Fifty
seven report the weather as more favor
able than during the same period last
year. Fire about the same and twenty
four less favorable.
The stands of ootton are generally
good aud compare favorably with the
same time last year. Cotton is forming,
blooming and boiling well, the present
oonditiou of the plant is healthy but
small and from ten to fifteen days later
than last year. Rust is reported in
seven counties; lice in five, and cater
pillers in one county in the interior of
the State. The latter have also appeared
on the sea islands.
THE HELL. GATE EXPLOSION.
Tlie Great Blast Will Soon Ocoar—The Time
About September 13—Blowing Out the Bot
tom of tlie Sound.
The Ibpeatedly postponed explosion of
the mass of nitro-glyoerine and giant
powder stored in the rocky galleries un
der the bed of the East "river, at Hell
Gate, will probably take place about the
middle of September. That is General
Newton’s belief, and he has got nearly
everything ready. The Brooklyn Eagle
gives this interesting account of the
work: *
The Heli Gate obstruction oonsists of
a ledge of rocks stretching from Long
Island shore near the village of Astoria
to one of the Islands opposite, a dis
tance of perhaps a quarter of a mile or
more. The channel through which
light draught vessels pass is on the
Long Island side of the centre, and here
it is that the extensive mining works
have been carried on for the past few
years. The rock had to be removed by
blasting, and there was so much of it
that it was determined to do it on a large
scale. For this purpose a coffer dam
was built on the Long Island shore.
After the water was pumped from the
enclosure, a shaft about 50 feet broad
was run to a depth of thirty-five feet
below mean water mark. The shaft
went down through the rock. It forms
more of a pit than what now is known
as a shaft. Tuunels or “headings” were
then began iu the rearward face of the
shaft, aud these were carried out to a
varying distance, according to the loca
tion. The longest extend about 250
feet; keep in your mind the idea of the
section of a wagon wheel. The hub will
represent the shaft, and the radiating
spokes the tunnels or headings, and it
will give yon a good idea of the giound
plan of the Hell Gate improvement.
As the headings progressed of course
the intervening rock grew broader, and
it became necessary to open supplemen
tary tunnels. Connecting passages and
openings were made until, when the ex
cavation was finished, the whole aore or
more of rock stood supported on nu
merous pillars, forming an extensive
oavern under the bottom of the channel.
The floor of the tunnels is about level,
perhaps with a slight pitch, but the line
of the roof is slanting, conforming to
the pitch of the rock at the bottom of
the channel. At the extremity of the
tunnels you cannot begin to stand up
right, and to reach the extreme end you
must crawl on your hands and knees.
The blasting was done with nitro-gly
cerine, and it required constant pump
ing to keep the chambers free from
water. The rook was of a hard flinty
natnre, with seams and crevices that ad
mitted the water somewhat. The exca
vations are completed, and at present
the only work is done by pumping en
gines which keep the headings free from
water.
General Newton, of the United Statm
Engineers, who has charge of the im
provements about the harbor, says the
blowing out of the bottom will probably
take place about the middle of Septem
ber. There is money enough appropri
ated to carry the work to its comple
tion, and there need be no more delays
on that score. It will require 50,000
pounds of the explosive to do the work.
The materials used will be nitro glyce
rine, reud-roi k and dynamite, according
to the nature of the rock to be blasted.
Instead of placing the explosives in
several large masses, it will be scattered
over the rock in small charges. The
method by which this will be done
will be as follows: Holes have been
drilled in the rock columns that sup
port the roof, the number varying ac
cording to the height of the column.
These will be charged with the explos
ives, and then it will be exploded by
means of electricity. The blowing up
will be done in three sections, and the
effect will crumble the pillars and allow
the roof to sink in.
The general opinion that the whole
mass will be burled into the air at one
grand blast is erroneous. Beyond a few
beautiful jets of,water shot into the air,
and perhaps a few pieces of rock hurled
above the surface of the water, nothing
will be seen. The terrible shock that
was anticipated when the explosion
takes place will then be avoided. The
bids for the explosion have been receiv
ed, and the contracts will be given out
very shortly. It will then require about
three weeks to deliver the materials, and
the work of placing the charges will
take about three or four weeks more, so
that about the middle of September the
work will be ready for blasting. When
all is prepared the water will be let in
and the chambers filled, thus forming
what is called in engineering parlance
“a wet tamp.”
The water will confine the force of the
numerous blasts, and enable them to act
with greater foroe. After the explosion
it will be necessary to do considerable
dredging in the way of hauling ont
pieces of rock. This will take several
months, but will probably be completed
by next Spring. The work has been
hindered from time to time by the fail
ure of appropriations, but now no more
delays are expeoted from that sonree, as
the money in hand is sufficient to com
plete the work. The explosion will
doubtless be a pretty sight. Masses of
water will be tossed into the air like
enormous fountain jets. There will be
three of them, and those who may have
witnessed the blowing up of Diamond
and Canties reefs in the East river can
well reoollect what a beautiful display
that was. The persons operating the
blast will occupy a position about 300
or 400 feet away, and it is not expected
that the shock will be very great.
A visit to the works is very interest
ing. The visitor is provided with an
umbrella and a small oil torch, and de
scending into the shaft by a staircase
can explore the tunnels and chambers at
leisure. You are constantly exposed to
the drippings from the roof, which in
some places come down in small cas
cades. It is wonderful how little light
is received from the torches. They only
serve to make the intense darkness more
visible./ No work of this magnitude for
the improvement of the harbor has ever
before been carried ont. The idea of
tnDneling under the bottom of the
Sound and then blowing it np is novel
work, but the engineering difficulties
which it presented were not great.
The benefit to be derived from the im
provement is almost incalculable. It
will deepen the channel abont thirty
feet, and allow of the passage of the lar
ges 1 , vessels, where before only crafts of
lighter draft oould go. It is expected
that the oeean steamers will take this
route to and from Europe, as it is short
er than the Sandy Hook route by about
eighteen hours, and that is too much
time to lose in these days of rapid trav
el, when it can be avoided.
POLITICAL NOTES,
Hon. O. A. Bacon has withdrawn from
the raoe for Congressional honors.
The Republicans of the Fifth Con
gressional District have nominated Wm.
Markham.
Hon. T. C. Furman, of Baldwin, has
been nominated for Senator from the
Twentieth District.
Col. George W. Bryan, of Henry
county, will receive the nomination for
Senator in the Thirty-fonrth District.
The Warrenton Clipper declares for
Governor Herschel V. Johnson for
United States Senator against the field.
Gwinnett county cordially endorses
Hon. B. H. Hill, and pledges him her
support in the Nominating Convention
and at the polls, if no nomination is
made.
Judge Augustus R. Wright, in a letter
dated Bth instant, says he is in receipt
of many letters asking him to announce
himself for the Governorship. He con
cludes as follows : I am in my sixty
third year. Age is making inroads upon
me. A campaign requires me to talk to
. the people all over the State. Of oonrse
I can get nothing I want, before the peo
ple through the press. It follows “or
ganization” though it lead to—death.
The eyes of thousands of political dead
beats will be cocked at me in scorn.
There is no crime in the catalogue of
crime with which I will not be charged,
and even friends and honest men will
think there are leprous spots, although
not visible. “I am in a strait betwixt
two, having a desire to be at peace.” I
will settle the matter in a few days,