James Powers from Wexford in the US in 1860 Part 1 Family History Local History

IRISHMAN'S SUFFERINGS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Northern newspapers have recently republished a brief paragraph from The Charleston Mercury, announcing in a very nonchalant style, that a workman engaged on the State house, in Columbia, S. C was recently seized by a mob on account as was alleged, of holding anti-slavery opinions, and that he received 29 lashes, and that he was tarred and feathered, and escorted out of the State. We have seen this unfortunate man and heard his story, and looked at his wounds. His name is James Power. He is an intelligent young man about twenty-three years of age, a native of Wexford, Ireland, and a stone-cutter by trade. He went from Philadelphia to the South and obtained employment in Columbia, where he had worked for nine months. The only opinion he ever expressed against slavery was that it caused a white laborer in the South to be looked upon as an inferior and degraded man. But this was enough! The remark was reported to the vigilance committee (composed of twelve members), who immediately ordered the police to arrest him. He was seized two miles away from town, in attempting to escape. He was brought back and put in a cell, where he remained for three days, during which time he was denied the use of a pen and ink, and all communication with his friends outside. At length he was taken before the mayor. Four persons appeared and bore testimony to the remark which he had made. The evidence was conclusive. He was returned "to prison and kept locked up for six days. During this time, he was allowed only two scanty meals a day and the food was carried to him by a negro. He was then taken out of jail in the custody of two marshals, who said to him, "You are so fond of nlggers that we are going to give you a nigger escort." He was led through the main street amid a great crowd, hooting and yelling, the marshals compelling two negroes to drag him through the puddles and muddy places of the street, and of the state house yard ! As he was taken past the state house, three members of the legislature, including the speaker, stood looking on and laughing! The crowd gradually increased until it numbered several thousand persons, headed by a troop of horse. After a march of three miles out of the city to a place called "the junction," the procession was stopped, and preparations were made for punishment. The populace cried "Brand him " "Burn him !" " Spike him to death " and
made threats against his life by pointing pistols at his
head, and flourishing sticks in his face. The vigilance committee ordered him to strip himself naked, and forced a negro to assist in taking off the clothes. A cowhide was then put. into the negro's hands, who was ordered to lay on thirty-nine lashes (not twenty-nine, as reported), and to draw blood at every stroke. Our informant describes the pain of this infliction as exceeding in severity anything which he ever suffered before. His back and lower limbs are still covered with the scars of the wounds! A bucket of tar was then brought and two negroes were ordered to rub it upon his bleeding skin, and to cover him from head to waist. His hair and eye-brows were clotted with the tar. After this part of the ceremony was concluded he was covered with feathers. His pataloons were then drawn up to his waist, but he was not allowed to put on his shirt or coat. He was conducted in this exposed condition amid the shouts of the populace, to the railroad track, and was put on board the negroes' car. The engineer blew a continuous blast on his whistle to signalize the performance. A citizen of Charleston on the train who saw the poor fellow's unhappy condition, stepped into a neighboring hotel, before the starting of the cars and brought a cup of coffee and some biscuits to relieve the sufferer's faintness, it was a timely gift and gratefully received. But the Southern chivalry gathered around the Southern gentleman, and threatened him with summary vengenance if he repeated his generosity. The exasperated crowd detained the train and called for more tar and feathers, for a further infliction upon their bleeding victim. More tar was brought, but more feathers could not be found; and after fresh tar was applied cotton was stuck upon it instead. When the train started for Charleston, the mob bade him good-by, and told him that when he reached this city he would receive 180 lashes.

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