Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1901 — Riot in South Carolina. [ARTICLE]

Riot in South Carolina.

The first blood in a strike riot in South Carolina has been spilled in the Southern railway shops in Columbia, S. C. Sunday morning about 125 men with faces blackened or wearing black masks attacked the north fence of the yards, which comprise twenty acres, quickly made a breach and marched in. There were forty-two men in the yards, sleeping in two cars. Twice the guard, Myers, ordered a halt, and when the leaders were within thirty yards fired both barrels of a shotgun into the midst of the mass. At the same moment a pistol ball struck Myers in the temple, but glanced off. He got behind cover and used his revolver. The strikers attacked the car and called on the men within to come out. There was no response, and the rioters opened fire. The car looks as if it had run the gantlet of Boer sharpshooters. There are 200 bufet holes in it. The occupants escaped by throwing themselves on the floor.