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 assemblages 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 class, 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 Constitution 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.
Saturday 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 Godfrey.
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 Godfrey, 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.