Logansport Weekly Journal Saturday, November 05, 1870

Ku-Klux Outrage in S. C.
Logansport, Nov 1st 1870

Editors Journal:
I take my pen this morning to give you a few particulars concerning the recent massacre of Northern and Union men, at Laurens, South Carolina, by a band of outlaws and desperadoes. It occurred on the 20th ult., the day after the State election. There was a company of United States soldiers in the place, on the day of the election: but everything passing off quietly and in good order, it was thought they were no longer needed, and so were ordered to New York, and left on the morning following the election. This proved a grave mistake; as they had been gone but a few hours, when a band of Ku Klux, numbering some 75 or more, mounted on horses and armed to the teeth, came dashing into town, and in twenty minutes, some 300 citizens, who had all along professed to be in sympathy with State government, were in arms eager to assist the marauders in their work of death and destruction. But 10 members, only, of the State constabulary, or police force, had been left on duty. Of course, resistance under such circumstances would have been madness, and flight, as the sequel proved, was attended with the utmost peril. Union men fled, however, in every direction in order to save their lives. From shelter to shelter they were pursued by the desperadoes, and were shot down like beasts of prey wherever and whenever found. Gov. R. K. Scott and Maj. Everson, from whose letters the facts which I am writing are taken, barely escaped the sad fate of others. In a letter of condolence to the Hon. John Powell, of Napoleon, Ohio, whose son Volney, was among the killed. Capt. E. L. Mann, commander of the post at Abbeville, states that eleven are known to be killed, and many others are missing whose fate has not been ascertained. Among those who were involved in this sad affair, which has brought a stain upon the character of the civilization of the State of south Carolina as indelible as the impress of time, were many with whom I am personally acquainted, and they were all good men and law-abiding citizens, who had gone south for the purpose of becoming permanent settlers there.
Robert Kablo, (a brother, I think, of the gentleman now engaged in erecting a Spoke and Hub factory in this city) was reported among the killed: but a letter from Maj. Everson, dated Abbeville, October 24th, states that Kablo and R. C. Tyler had just been reported safe, but hors de combat.
The barbarity of these outlaws beggars all description, as not even the lives of women, in several instances, were spared. We might fill a column with instances of their savage brutality, but one instance must suffice. I give it in the language of major Everson as nearly as I can recollect, not having the letter before me. He states that when he had got about five miles from Laurens Court House, he was hailed from his hiding place by Mr. Powell. He told the Judge – for to that position Mr. P. had been elected – that he should be more discreet as the woods were full of their pursuers. They then separated, thinking that the surest way of escape. When Mr. Powel got about thirty rods for him, he saw him surrounded by twenty or thirty of this rebel herd, who immediately commenced firing at him. He fell, pierced with more than twenty bullets, and then one of these representatives of Southern chivalry, dismounted from his horse, and placed the muzzle of his gun close to his head and fired, while another struck a blow which fractured the skull, just back of the ear. His mutilated remains were put in an iron casket, by order of Gov. Scott, and sent North. He was buried in the cemetery at Napoleon, Ohio, on the 29th ult., and followed to his last resting place by a vast multitude who knew and loved him.
When he had been killed, his murderers turned upon Major Everson, but he escaped with only a slight flesh wound. Making a sign pertaining to a secret order of which he is a member, he was recognized and his life was spared.
We have no word of comment to offer in reference to these facts. We have written the unvarnished story and will leave the reader to make his own comments and draw his own inferences.
I have the honor to be, yours &c.
N. S. Sage.