Strange and Mysterious Waters:

The History of Wakulla County

“Free Fight in The Court House”

By Henry Clay Crawford

“At a Republican mass meeting, Rupert Charles, a white Republican, then Custom House officer at St. Marks, was Chairman: Otis Fairbanks, (John) Hogue, (?) Goode and other white Republicans, all of the sons of ham in Wakulla County and a few white Democrats, who had assembled from curiosity and who occupied the rear of the Court House, were present. After a bitter speech by Otis Fairbanks, who used invectives of the vilest kind against the Democrats, the Democrats present call for Mr. (?) Causseaux, an old (Civil War) veteran and Democrat, to make a reply to Fairbanks. This privilege was denied him by the Chairman, which caused excitement to run high and someone shouted to Fairbanks that he was a LIAR. This caused a stampede: more than five hundred people trying to get to the door and down the stairs. C. K. Miller was the Sheriff and was in front of the crowd, calling on everybody to help him. No one paid any attention to him and in the great scramble descending the stairs, walking sticks, umbrellas and in one or two instances pocket knives were used on negros (who were registered Republicans). On reaching the ground (outside the courthouse) the white Democrats ran to the public well which was inclosed by a picket fence and each pulled off a picket and went after a NEGRO. The only white man struck by a negro was Jacob Raker, a stalwart man, and on reaching the ground he pulled up a small tree by the roots but failed to reach his man. In less than five minutes, there was not a NEGRO in the village, except those who had lost their power of locomotion by the sever treatment they had receive. Fortunately no one was killed, but it was late at night when tow of the NEGROES regained their consciousness.”

Sources used:

Henry Clay Crawford Memoir