◆ SpookStack

a ‘ig * *. re ‘ a witnesses to the incident who would ity to these facts. [t is sigaifi- cant, however, that the Negro witnesses asked that they not be named for fear of their lives. News of the disturbance spread quickly through the town and rumors of impending mob violence assumed ominous proportions as reports of the development of mass public opinion against the Negro community were discussed openly in the street. Sheriff J. J. Underwood called in Saul Blair, Negro businessman, and other Negro citizens for their cooperation in spiriting the Stephensons out of town. In the courthouse square, which is less than onc block from the Negro section of Columbia, groups of white men had been congre- gating all day, It was fram the windows of this same courthouse that a howling. liquor-reeking mob hanged 14-year-old Cordie Cheek several years ago. Negroes in the town remembered too well how that boy, declared innocent of a rape charge by the erand jury, had dangled at the end of a rope from the courthouse window and how town officials, several of whom had been identificd as members of the lynch-mob, left the rope hanging in the square as a warning. Quietly the Negro citizens left other sections of the town and re- tired to the doubtful security of their own segregated community. By six o'clock that evening the mob in the square numbered approxt- mately 75. Sherif! Underwood claims that he approached the men and asked them to disband and go to their homes. He then went into the Negro section where he talked with Mr. James Morton, the Negro undertaker. He assured him that the people had nothing to fear from the mob which they could plainly see only a block away. Yet in spite of the sheriffs assurances, the Dixic-wise Negroes, grimly watchful in their surrounded community, knew that the mob was hell-bent on another lynch spree. They knew that members of the mob had pur- . qr, Fal Lote chased rope and the purchasers hadn't tried to hide the grisly job they had in mind for that night. At about seven o’clock in the evening the sheriff was aroused by the hooting mob outside the jail. Men were pounding and kicking on the door while muffled voices demanded that the prison doors be opened. The sheriff claims that he epencd the door and faced the mob with levelled tommy-gun. The leaders demanded that the Stcphensons be turncd over to them, refusing to leave until they'd been assured that the boy and his mother were not in the building. Two of the mobsters were in such a drunken state that they were unable to leave with their companions. They were lodged in the jail to sleep it off until morning when they were released. As far as the investigators were able to determine there were no charges against them. The town’s Negro population was certain that the section would he invaded that night. Doors were locked and window shades drawn. The children were swiftly herded into the back rooms or in the attics. There were no lights. The area huddled silent and blacked out except for ane feeble street lamp. The families huddled together in their tiny houses and waited. Shots were fired into the Negro community by members of the mob. Bands of white men, fully armed, roamed the adjoining streets. Several cars tore through the darkened area pump- ing shots into the houses. Then a dark car, carrying a group of city policemen and showing no ‘Humination, drove slowly into the tense, blacked-out section. The Negroes, certain that the mob was finally moving in against them, waited. And then someone shouted hysteric- ally, “Here they come!” Scattered shots rang out. No one knows who fired the shots hut they were aimed at the dark car moving through a dark street. Although there were no serious wounds four of the police- men were hit with buckshot. According to the sheriff, a cordon of state patrolmen and helmeted state guardsmen was thrown about the. section so that no one could enter or jeave. oe ced Zero hour was at dawn on Tuesday morning. State patrolmen and 4 guardsmen in full battle dress, armed with tommy-guns, automatic ; Alee and machine-cuns, lay down a barrage, battle fashion. After a