In some parts of Wilkinson County, there seemed to be a disposition to
destroy every member of the colored race who should be found voting the
radical ticket.
It was contended that scourgings and general maltreatment had not produced
satisfactory results; and, on the other hand, blood was accumulating on
the heads of the Klan, too fast even for their blunted consciences. Still
the war must go on in some way, and something must be done to destroy the
little leaven that bid fair to "leaven the whole lump." The subject was
discussed in the conclave of the Camp, and it was finally decided that a
more effectual way could be devised to accomplish the extermination of the
colored race than either by whipping or murder. This was the fiendish
resolve to castrate every negro who was guilty of radical proclivities,
and who voted the radical ticket, a design worthy alone of the men who
originated it.
In that county, and at that particular time, there were many colored men
known as Republicans; and an opportunity was speedily afforded the Klan,
to carry out this terrible species of cruelty; a greater crime against
nature than all the others since it looked to the entire destruction of
the species.
There had been, for sometime previous to September, 1871, a colored man in
Wilkinson County, by the name of Henry Lowther. This person was favorably
known among the negroes of the county, and expended a good deal of his
leisure time in going from place to place, and talking Republican
sentiments to members of his race, and urging them to vote the Republican
ticket, as the only means of maintaining their right to freedom.
Previous to the dreadful visitation which subsequently came upon him, he
had voted the Republican ticket upon two occasions, and had expressed his
intentions to continue on in his political course in the future.
This had roused the indignation of the Ku Klux Camp at Irwinton beyond
measure. A meeting of the Klan was called in which the edict was
promulgated, that since Lowther would not abandon the propagation of his
political opinions, he should be deprived of the power to propagate his
race, and further, that he should receive no "warning" in the matter, but
be proceeded against summarily, and "at once" was the time fixed for this
outrage. Lowther had been followed all the day previous, and just after
dusk was seized and thrown into a carriage, and driven rapidly away to the
woods near Irwinton, by four men armed and disguised. While in the
carriage, he was told that if he moved or made any resistance, his life
would pay the forfeit; but that, otherwise, it would be spared.
Upon arriving at the woods, he was taken out of the carriage, and found
himself in the midst of nearly one hundred persons. Notwithstanding the
promise made by his first captors, he supposed his time had arrived and
begged for his life. He was then told that he would not be killed, if he
did not make too much resistance; that he had been preaching too much
politics, and they intended to fix all the d--d radical breeders in the
country; and had made up their minds to begin on him. Lowther did not
fully comprehend them at first, but soon learned the awful significance
of the words.
His arms were then firmly pinioned, and he was thrown upon the ground
where he was tightly held by several of the band, and castrated in a most
rude and brutal manner, begging piteously and writhing under the pains
inflicted by his tormentors. After the operation had been performed, he
was unpinioned and asked if he knew the residence of any doctors and on
his replying that he did, he was told to go for one as he valued his life;
and further, that if he ever voted the radical ticket again, or influenced
any one else to do so, he should suffer death. Although shockingly
mutilated and bleeding from the dreadful manner in which he had been
treated, Lowther started to find a physician. Three different surgeons
were applied to before he found one sufficiently humane to afford him
assistance in dressing his wounds.
It was several weeks before the unfortunate negro was in a condition to
walk about. The facts coming to the ears of the officers of the U. S.
secret service, they made diligent search for Lowther, whom they learned
dared not complain of his treatment for fear of death; and having found
and assured him of protection, he made affidavit to the facts as above set
forth, affirming that, with other parties who instigated and consummated
this outrage, were Eli Cummings, the Mayor of Irwinton, Lewis Peacock,
then Sheriff of Wilkinson County, and others of equal prominence. Shall it
be said after this that only the ignorant and uninfluential whites are
engaged in the gross outrages charged upon the Southern community? and
that there is no need there of the rigorous enforcement of the laws to
secure to the well-meaning citizen, black and white, the security for life
and property denied them under the rule of the lawless mob?