The Nation's Peril Part 7

THE a.s.sAULT UPON ASA THOMPSON.

_Singular Conduct of the Klan._

In the latter part of the year 1870, there resided in Clinch County, Georgia, a gentleman by the name of Asa Thompson, who, although a Southerner by birth and education, was an outspoken Radical Unionist, and had directly identified himself with the Republican party.

In his intercourse with the people he was frank and free in the expression of his sentiments, and always exercised the right of suffrage, conducting himself in an orderly and acceptable manner, at all times, as a good citizen should do. He was proprietor of a thrifty plantation, upon which he employed a large number of hands, and stood well generally in the community.

These essential requisites to a good citizen were altogether insufficient, in the eyes of the Ku Klux Klan in that vicinity, to balance the bad points (in their esteem) which characterized him, inasmuch as he was a Radical in principle. This fault was considered good cause for forwarding to Thompson a sharp "warning" from the camp, which was sent him in the customary form, and he was ordered to restrain himself in the utterance of his Radicalism, or quit the country.

If he failed to obey, then he would receive a visitation from the K. K.

K.'s, and that meant death. To this notice he gave no attention, but laughed at the threat and awaited events. A second warning was then sent him, couched in the following terms:--

"One of three things will happen to you, very shortly. You will leave the country, so that we can never find you--change your politics--or be turned into Buzzard Bait.

K. K. K."

To this expressive, but not over polite missive, Thompson returned a somewhat defiant reply, proceeded at once to fortify his cotton gin-house, in which he remained at night, and dared the Klan to come for him.

During the month of September, 1871, matters had a.s.sumed such a position in this man's case, that the Klan felt that Thompson must be annihilated, or the "reign of terror," which they had inaugurated in the county, would be broken--and a reaction take place among the people, inimical to themselves.

Numbers of the band were accordingly detailed by the Commander of the Camp of Clinch County, to put Thompson out of the way. They were headed by Shimmie Timmerson, formerly sheriff of that county; a man notable for his unusual brute force and personal resolution.

The Klan approached Thompson's gin-house on the night of the a.s.sault, cautiously, and as they supposed, un.o.bserved. Each one of them was well armed, and disguised in black gowns, masks and hats.

Thompson, who had been constantly on the watch, discovered them upon their first appearance. He relied upon the solid door of the gin-house, which he supposed would withstand a much heavier shock than it did. It gave way upon the first a.s.sault, which was made with a heavy piece of timber, battered against it by the a.s.sailants; and which shivered it to splinters.

As the door crashed in, Thompson opened such a rapid fire upon the marauders, as to lead them to suppose that the gin-house was full of armed men. This belief had been strengthened, from the fact that its only occupant shouted simultaneously with the discharge of his weapons: "Give it to 'em, boys! Don't spare a man."

Timmerman (the ex-sheriff), who led this gang, fell at the first fire, seriously though not mortally wounded. Several others of the party bit the dust, and the entire band at once beat an ignominous retreat--bearing with them their wounded; and leaving their single-handed and brave opponent master of the situation.

The most singular and unexpected result of this was, that the band were so thoroughly chagrined at their failure, that they had a quarrel among themselves after leaving the place, and charged their defeat upon Timmerman, who led the van--and whom they adjudged guilty of death on the spot, on the ground that their defeat was due to his bad management.

This sentence would actually have been executed upon him, but for the interposition of some of the Klan, who declared their belief that Timmerman could not recover from the wounds he had already received, and that he might as well be left to die in the woods; that they did not think he was a traitor, and hence ought not to suffer a traitor's doom.

The ex-sheriff was greatly weakened from the loss of blood, caused by these wounds, and was so thoroughly panic-stricken at the idea that he might possibly be murdered by his a.s.sociates, that he swooned, and his body was carried nearly a mile into the wood, where his "brethren" of the Camp threw it down, and left him.

On the following day Mrs. Timmerman, having missed her husband, employed a gang of negroes to go in search of him. The hunt was successful, and the wounded man was removed to his house; where, after the most careful nursing, he was partially restored to health, but was so badly crippled as to be unable ever again to perform manual labor.

The treachery and inhumanity of these men towards one of their own number so enraged Timmerman that he declared himself ready to expose their whole operations, their modes of working, and their secrets; and it was from him and Mr. Thompson that the writer obtained the facts, as herein set forth.

This raid ended the operations of the Clinch County Ku Klux Klan, for sometime, so far as the influential whites were concerned.

Outrages upon negroes were continued, however, but with less severity--the subsequent vigorous action of the Government in enforcing the laws, in other parts of the country, being felt to some degree in that place.

BRUTAL WHIPPING OF WOMEN.

The outrages committed by members of the Klans, upon both individuals and property, in the county of Chatham, and in Moore county, N. C., were so numerous and oppressive, during the spring of 1871, and finally became so brutal in their character as to occasion the direst consternation among the whole negro population, as well as among such of the whites as dared to exercise the right of suffrage in accordance with their own convictions, which were not in accord with the tenets maintained by the Ku Klux or democracy of the place.

About this period, the more intelligent of the colored people were in the habit of gathering together at stated times, for consultation in company with the friendly whites, as to the course it was deemed best for them to pursue for the protection and security of their lives.

A favorite place for holding these meetings, was at the dwelling of Mrs.

Sallie Gilmore--a woman then residing with her family in Moore county.

These frequent a.s.semblages were soon brought to the notice of the Camp in Moore county, and it was decided that such an example should be made of the parties as would deter others from pursuing a similar course; and compel these to abandon their radical views, or quit the country.

The house occupied by Mrs. Gilmore, was rather of the better cla.s.s, and Mrs. G. was known as an intelligent woman, who, in her sympathy with the colored race, was anxious for the day when the rights and privileges guaranteed them by the Const.i.tution and the laws, could be enjoyed without molestation.

The opinions and teachings of Mrs. Gilmore becoming known, the heresy was sufficient for the Klan to commence a crusade upon her and her family, and an edict was issued that she, and all the others found upon her premises, should be scourged.

Thirty men of the Klan were, accordingly, detailed to carry out the order, and the "visitation" was fixed for the night of April 15th, 1871. The Klan were disguised, as usual, and were under the leadership of Roderick J.

Bryan, a prominent citizen of Moore county, who was violently opposed to Republican principles. They met and organized in a field about a mile from Mrs. Gilmore's house, where they held a counsel, and finally completed arrangements for making the proposed raid.

Sat.u.r.day night (the night in question) was the favorite time when the negroes met there, but, on this particular evening there chanced to be but three present, besides Mrs. Gilmore, her son and daughter, and a young woman named Mary G.o.dfrey.

For greater security, no lights were used when these meetings were held, and when the Klan arrived, the place was found to be entirely darkened.

The doors were at once broken in, and Murkerson McLane, one of the negroes, taking advantage of the darkness, crept through the doorway stealthily, and darted towards the woods; but he was observed by some of the Klan, who pursued and soon came up with him.

They had fired upon him as he ran, and when overtaken, he had sank down exhausted, and begged hard for his life. Roderick Bryan and Garner Watson replied to his earnest supplications for life by discharging their revolvers at him a second time. Both shots took effect. McLane gave a spasmodic leap into the air, and dropped motionless by the roadside.

Supposing him dead the band left him there, where he lingered through the night in great agony, and died next morning.

Having murdered McLane, his pursuers returned to Mrs. Gilmore's house, where the rest of their party were awaiting them before commencing their inhuman indecencies. A light had been struck, and Mrs. Gilmore, her son and daughter, the negroes, and Mary G.o.dfrey, were found fastened to the bed, in the most indecent positions. The negroes were first released, and were fearfully beaten with clubs and twisted switches, until they became utterly unconscious, when they were rudely dragged to the doorway, and their bleeding bodies tumbled, unceremoniously, into the mud.

Mrs. Gilmore's son and daughter were then stripped of their clothing and compelled, in this condition, to _dance_, for the edification of their tormentors; the music of this wretched exhibition being provided by the switches in the hands of the Klan, who applied them to the naked bodies of their victims with terrible severity, mocking them wickedly, meantime, as they were forced through the unwilling and miserable antics they performed!

The son was entirely nude, but the daughter was allowed to retain her chemise. Both became exhausted, and sank down under the terrible punishment inflicted upon them, and the vigorous switching kept up, failed to revive them into further action. The attentions of the Klan were then directed towards Mrs. Gilmore.

One of the band said, "Let's make the old she radical dance now!"

"We can do better than that," said another; "we can lick the d-- n.i.g.g.e.r-loving blood out of her."

Mrs. Gilmore, now upwards of fifty years old, was then seized and thrown violently upon the floor. Her clothes were drawn up over her head, and the cotton under garments covering her limbs were rudely torn off, exposing her naked person to the demons in human form who surrounded her. The switches were then applied with all the vigor of which the executioners were capable. The old lady uttered a few heart-rending shrieks, but speedily fainted, and continued unconscious during the remainder of the infliction.

The punishment of the young woman, Mary G.o.dfrey, was reserved to the last.

She was stripped of every thread of clothing, and was thus compelled to experience the shame of indecent exposure, added to her other tortures.

During the process of scourging this young woman the vilest and most obscene epithets were bandied about by the Klan, and she was subjected to many other indignities.

She sank under the treatment at last, and lie upon the floor, her life apparently extinct. Cold water was dashed over the faces and bodies of these unfortunate women, who, by this means, were rallied sufficiently to render them conscious enough to listen to the final edict of the Klan, which was, "To cease indulging in and promulgating their heresies, from that hour forward, and abandon the country, on pain of certain death!"

With this admonition the defenders of the white man's government left the house.

Of a truth, "all cruelty springs from wickedness." But the weakness which could prompt the brutality--exhibited in such cases as those above recorded--is utterly inexcusable in any being wearing the shape of man.

The brutal whipping of these inoffensive women, and the murder of the negro McLane, add one more to the many evidences of the degradation to which the members of the Ku Klux Klan had reduced themselves, in their endeavors to crush out freedom of thought and expression, and compel adherence to their own peculiar tenets. Thank G.o.d, and the wisdom that now guides and controls the destinies of the nation, these dark hours of the Republic, fruitful with scenes like those described above, are pa.s.sing away. A gleam of light appears in the horizon, as a glad harbinger of the dawn that shall usher in the day when

"All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail; Returning justice lift aloft her scale; Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, And white robed innocence from heaven descend."

MISCELLANEOUS OUTRAGES.

WHIPPING OF STANFORD AND NASH.