The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, April 27, 1909, Image 1
F
VOL XLVI Q.4NWBRYS.(. UDA.ARL2.10PTIEAWE.S50AER
WInMG THE WALLACE HOUSE
Statement of Facts by One Who
Knows .-How Samps Bridges
Was Secured.
Some time ago, Dow, Jr., wrote an
article for the State, giving the inside
story of the "Winning of the Wal
lace House." For good and valid
reasons, I suppose, it was not pub
lisehed. That paper may have doubt
ed the truth of the matter and feared.
a suit for libel or a prosecution of
some of its friends for bribery. What
I write is truth, but -those concerned
-who wish to deny it, can do so.
Col. Keitt gave a graphic account
of what he knew of the "getting over
of Bridges," but that was all ancient
history, and published in all of the
papers of the day. Then Logan Wyse
comes forward and says, he knew
where "Tony hid the wedge.'" But
he didn't tell.
Well, Loge is a great, good fellow,
veteran and Democrat to the bone,
but during those stirring scenes of
'76, Loge like Dow, went too often
to Abram Stork's. and that makes us
all forget.
Jokes aside, here are the facts, and
those who think they know better.
Ghould tell it better.
The State, protected ty U. S.
troops, had been hopelessly Republi
can during the whole of reconstrue
tion days. It had submitted to rob
bery, negro domination ahd infamy,
till forbearance ceased -to be a virtue.
An informal meeting of the leading
men of the State was held in Colum
bia; there they declared for reform
or revolution. Gen. Hampton was
brought back from Mississippi to lead
the Democratic forces, then, if that
failed, well
The Democrats had learned some
tricks from the Carpetbaggers, and
no doubt there was some "ballot box
stuffing." Anyway when the elec
tion 'was over, both sides claimed a
victory. Contesting delegations were
sent to the Legislature from most of
the counties. The Democrats were
the first in the Legislative hall and
elected as speaker, Brigadier Gen.
W. H. Wallace, of Union.
In a few minateN thereafter, the
Republicans chose E. W. M. Mackey,
of Charleston, their presiding officer.
Both sides undertook to transact bus
iness, but eonfusion became more
confounded, the longer tihis dual as
semblage sat. The Republicans
brought from Charleston, the "Honk,
A Dory,'' club, a gathering of the
worst element in that city, composed
of cut-throats, thieves, scallawags and
negroes, to occupy the galleries and
should trouble begin (everything
pointing that way,) this elib was to
clean up all the Democrats in the
House. Tiese facts were all published
in the papers of the time. Whether
to avoid a conflict or overawe the
Democrats, the Republican Governor
Cham.berliain, <had posted at the en
trance of the State House, guards of
U. S. soldiers and forbid any to en
ter, unless they had credentials from
the returning board, or commission
ers of election. These the great ma
jority of Democrats did not have.
Speaker Wallaee called his follow
ers together at the Carolina Hall. He
had no quorum, neither had his ad
versary. T wo negroes from Berkeley
came over to the Wallace House
early, before they knew trhe price of
votes. This brought the two houses on
an exact equal, 62 and 62. About this
time a telegram from President Grant
was reeeived by the authorities, that
he would recognize as "de facto'' the
first government that had a quorum.
Not Hayes, as friend Loge thinks,
that worthy coming in months after
wards. You see what effect Abram
Stork can have on one's recollection.
The Na-tional Democratie party on
lv lacked the vote of one more state
to make Tilden president. There were
millions at stake. South Carolina,
Florida and Louisiana were the three
states with contesting electoral votes.
One vote could make South Carolina
Democratie and South Carolina Dem
oratie would change the zovernment
of the United States. This aceounts
for the State being flooded with
Northern money during t-be campaign.
The white members of every c'on
testing county centered upon some~
or.e negro in the Mackey House' to
try and bribe or beg him over. But
th Reubian oranization was "as
solid as a stone wall."
The delegation from Newberry
tackled Samps Bridges. He put hii
ear to the ground and smiled. He even
listened to overtures, but the gulf
was wide yet. Maj. L. B. Maffett and
Capt. U. B. Whites from Bridges'
home town were brought to the cap
ital to help convert Bridges. A con
ference was agreed upon at the hotel.
Bridges was there, the delegation and
the two men mentioned above. No one
else, Loge to the contrary notwith
standing. Sparring was cautious at
first, but became more reckless as
time wore on. Bridges did not deny
that he was in the market, and had a
price.
"But,'' Bridges said, "if I go in
to the Wallace House one of you
white men will have to give way."
"There can be but three members
from our county and I will, under no
cireumstance give up my seat."
Col. Keitt, with patriotie zeal, sel
dom equalled, said "you shall have
my seat.'' Then the Colonel left and
,his information ceases.
Y. J. Pope one of the white dele
gation, attended to the legal and ar
gnmentative end of the discussion,
while Maj. Maffett and Capt. Whites
looked after the persuasive and rea
soning end.
Y. J. Pope put some figures on a
piece of paper and showed -them to
Bridges. He only smiled, didn't even
shake his head, then some more fig
ures were made.
That woke up Bridges' horse sense.
"Gentlemen. let me tell you, I ain't
no cheap man, I know what I am
worth and I know what you can
pay.''
This brought up more talk. The fig
ures had started at $300, $500, $800.
It was then Bridges wo-ke up good.
Pope put down $1,000. This seemed to
anger the negro. "That's baby mon
ey, white folks. I am a man, if I is -a
nigger. You must talk a heap louder
or I will never hear."
Then Pope who seemed to guide the
money venture asked, "What will
satisfy you?"
"Twenty-five hundred dollars, all
cas6, and my seat not to be dis
turbed.'"
That gave the boys a rift. "Every
thing is off. We will all go home and
trust to luck. Can't raise the money,
and wouldn't if we could."
This brought Bridges' ear lower to
the ground. "Well, split the differ
ence, $800 offered and $2,500 asked,
give me $1,650 and the 'thing is
done."
Chairs began to shuffle as if the
party was about to disperse. Then
spoke up Pope. "Bridges, this is our
last offer. We will pa you down to
night $500, then as soon as you are
sworn in. will pay you $1,000 more."
Then, drawing a long breath, scan
ning the eeiling the while, Bridges
said: "Well, I'll 'take it, give me my
money."
The money -was counted out, then
after he had been sworn in, he repair
ed to the back end of the hail and
there Y. J. Pope counted out the~ re'
maining $1,000 in new crisp ten dol
lar notes.
Now these are tihe facts of the
buying of Bridges, and there is no use
of denying or lying about it. "If this
be treason, make the most of it.''
Dow, Jr.
SENATOR TTTJMAN TALKS.
Senior Senator, Speaking at Banquet
Says He is a Democrat Because
He Is a White Man.
The State.
New York, April 22.-Senator Ben
jamin R. Tillman talked on the Taft
policy of breaking up the solid South
tonight b)efore a dinner of the South
Carolinians at the Hotel Knicker
boker. Senator Tillman does not ap
prove of it and he said so without
making much ado over it.
"I'm not the sort,"'said he, "that
likes to throw bouquets at anybody.
I'd rather throw rocks instead.''
Then he got to it. " There is one thing
that is on my mind, and it stays there
most of the .time. It boils up once in
a while and when I'm called on 'to
make a speeeh, why, it just naturally
comes to the surface. t mean the
problem. the South 's problem, the
pobem oif the Sphinx.
"'Why is the South solid? Why
dee it always vote the Democratic
ti.ket? Wearwe in the minority. Why
should the other fellow be coming
along now and try to bamboozle us
and lead us off after false gods after
ll these yearsT Why the Democratic
ticket-the Democratic ticket in this
day and time? Why do I vote for
the Democracy? Because I'm a white
man, that's why.
"Taft thinks seriously and ear
nestly that it would be good to have
the South split up. It would he a
great thing for this Republican grab
game in Washington. He says th3
election laws that the Southern
States have passed have made us
free of this black peril, and that it
would be well for us to get some of
the good that comes from being
members of the dominant party?
"You might think, if you, only
think on the surface, that there are
benefits to be -derived from what Mr.
Taft urges.'
AN ARCTIC TRAGEDY.
The -Story of the Ill-Fated Erichsen
Expedition.
There is a romance and fascination
about the frozen reaches of the unex
plored region which appeals even to
those who are quite willing to accept
their knowledge of the* bleak North
land at second hand.
It is this whieh gives interest to
the story of the expedition headed
by Mylius Erichsen which left Copen
hagen in 1906 to survey and chart
the uncharted section of. Greenland
and to determine whether this north
ern possession of Denmark was an is
land. The expedition accomplished its
object, but only at the cost of life
and great hardship.
The party sailed from Copenhagen
June 24, 1906, on the steamer Den
mark. Its object was that of charting
Greenland between Koldeney island
on the east side and Cape Bridgman,
Peary Land, at the northerly end of
the island. The distance to be covered
was approximately 1,400 kilometres,
or 870 miles-a distance greater than
the air-line distance between New
York and Chicago. The vessel was an
chored in an inlet beyond Cape Bis
marek, on the east side of Greenland,
which was christened port of Den
ma-rk. Here the vessel remained two
years while explorations were made.
On Mareh 28, 1907, a caravaii of
ten men and ninvety dogs set out to
establish stations and take up the
work of the expedition. It was di
vided into four groups. One of these
was made up of IErichsen, the leader;
Lieut. Hagen, eartographer, and
Bronund. Greenl'ander who could
write. The second group was com
posed of Capt. Koeh, Behtelsen, an
artist, and Tobias Oabvielsen, of
Greenland. This group, after travel
ing for three months -toward the
northeast, reached Cape Bridgmain,
Peary Land, 'and turned back, hay
ing reached its goal. On the way
ack they met Eriehsen, who bed en
countered difficulties. Eriehsen or
dered them -to continue on the back
track, and with his party continued
toward the northwest, .hoping to find
Cape Glacier, in Independence Bay.
He 'and his two companies were not
seen alive again. The progress of the
party was made known by the diary
kept by Bron'lund, which was found
with other documents, carefully pack
ed, slying beside his body. From the
journal it was learned that within a
week after leaving Koeh's party the
supply of provisions became exhaust
ed. From this time Eriehsen, 'his
companions and their dogs, lived on
such game as they could shoot. It
ws under the same date, June 4, that
these triumphant words appeared in
the journal. "Cape Glacier is reach
ed. The problem is solved. Greenland
is an island.''
The journey back was a trying one.
The ice had broken up, and it was~
evident that th-ey must wait until
the autumn ice formed before they
could advance. In the meantime the
game heecame scareer and scarcer. On
August 8 the journal recorded that
several days had passed without a
taste of meat. The dogs were losing
strength and the men's boots were
worn out. They tried to go further,
hoe ferd geme, 1vt succeeded
onNv in >nding on n'ye ice pack,
where they found themselves sur
rounded by water. They began to
kill the dozs, whi'eh were unable to
drag t.he sledges, feeding the remain
their fellows. Sixteen days after be
ing stranded on the ice floe they were
enabled to reach land, They w ad
only eight dogs.
There was a break in the journal
at this point, but the entries begin
ning with October 19 indicate that
the interval was a period of etruggle
for life against hunger and *cold. On
October 19 there were only four dogs
-left, and they were without strength
to pull the sledge. Their thought now
was of saving the documents at any
cost. On October 23 their boots gave
out, and they were suffering agonies
from their frozen feet.
The last entry in Bronlund's diary
bore no date. It read "Dying, 79 de
grees in the fjord, after the attempt
to cross the interior ice in November.
I arrived here at the setting of the
moon. I cannot proceed, as my feet
are frozen and it is dark. The ,odies
of the others lie in the midd&x of the
fjord before the glacier. Hagen odied
on November 15, Mylius ten days la
ter. Jorgen Bronlund.'"
Bronlund's body was found by the
party which set out from the ship in
search of the delayed group. By its
side lay the journal and the precious
documents, for the making and pre
servation of which men and dogs
willing and unwilling martyrs--had
paid the price of their -ives.-Illus
tration.
SOCIAL.
*
* * * ** ** * ****0** *
On Friday afternoon, April 16th,
the members of the Philatea Class of
the First Baptist Church gave a de
lightful birthday 'party at the honre
of Mrs. J. R. Davidson. A most de
lightful afternoon was spent and
much interest was taken in the gues
ing contest which was had. The an
swers to the questions were to be the
names of flowers, fruits or vegetables.
Miss Ethel Bowers received the prize
for the best answers given, and the
prize itself was a basket of flowers
and fruits. The funds realized from
this guessing contest will be used in
furnishing the class room. Dmring the
afternoon the hostess served a salad
course.
Saturdtay afternoon, Miss Carrie
Pool gave a luncheon in honor of her
friend, Miss Mary Camp, of Frank
lin, Va., who ison a viit to her.
Those who enjoyed Miss Pool's thos
pitality were Misses Fannie Me
Caughrin, Lucile Wilson, Blanche
Davidson, Maud Langford, Lulie
Hunt, Ethel Bowers, Mable Meador,
Vanessa Williams, Semfih RIobinson,
Florence Bowman, Adeline Johntone
Annie Harms, Cora Dominiek, Elisa
beth Dominick, Fannie Mae OC.rwie,
Gertrude Carwile, Annie Jones, Ca
mille Evans, Bessie Gilder, Mary Car
wile Barton, Mesdames R. Herman
Wright, David A. Langford, R. C.
Boylston, A. T. Brown, J. W. Halti
wanger 'and C. D. Weeks.
The dining table at thi exquisite
lunheon was most tastefully decora
ted in pansies and nareissis. In the
center of the table was a vase- of the
narissus and banked around *tis
were pansies and narcisus, and seat
tered over the table were pansies. A
delicious course luncheon was served,
and between the courses the guests
were entertained by post card puz
Miss Sarah Robinson entertained
the Wednesday Morning Club this
week. The young ladies present
amused themselves for a short while
making embroidered ties, and the
prize, a very dainty tie, was given to
Mrs. W. C. Sehenek, as it was con
eded she had succeeded in making
the best tie made during the morning.
The consolation prize, a bunch of
violets. was given to Miss Maud
Langford. Miss Robinson served
ream and cake to her guests. Only
the members of the clnb were pres
ent wit'h the exception of Miss Camp,
who is visiting Miss Carrie Pool.
Mrs. W. K. Sigh entertained the
Woman's Club this week, and she
gave a talk on domestic science. Mrs.
R. D. Wright was the leader of the
lesson during this meeting. It was also
tie time for electing offieers and the
followinZ were elected: Mrs. S. B. Au-ll,
prsidet: Mrs. W. H. Hunt, first vice
president: Mrs. J. H. Harms, second
vice president; Mrs. I. H. Hunt, sec
retary; Mrs. M. L. Spearman, treas
.urer, is Eiabeth Dominick, critic.
Mr. Sam Dixon, from a Photograph Col. D. A. Dickert, from a Photo
Made in 1877. graph Taken in 1872.
A DANCE WITH DEATH E
By Col. D. A. Dickert.
Written for The Herald & News. All rights reserved.
Some time in March, I enclosed a letter to one Mr. Sam Dixon,
whom I had heard by chance, lived near Florence, to the Postmas
ter of that -place, and asked him the favor -to see that it was de
livered. In my -letter to the Postmaster, -I stated my reasons, for
wishing it safely given to Mr. Dixon. That he ihad been my sole
companion on a long and dangerous trip, as bearers of dispatches
from the Army on the Santee, to the commander of Hood's army,
that was supposed to be somewhere in Georgia or the western part
of this State. Gen. Sherman's army was moving between and we
had to pass twice through it, disguised as -tramp Federal soldiers.
That Dixon had been so loyal and true, that now, that he still
lived, I wished to -communicate with him, after having passed out
of each other's lives, for forty-five years. The Postmaster was
kind enough to have it delivered, and Mr. Dixon -was still suffi
ciently interested in me, as to come to see me at once. The editor
of the Florence Times, thought enough of my letter to .the Post
master as to publish it in his paper. This was copied by other
County papers in the State.
Since that time I have received many letters from over the
State, asking me to -write the story of our trip. I have never spoken
or 'written of our experience, for two reasons; first, that for ten
years after the war, such ineiden'ts of which I here write, were so
common 'to all, that ours would not have been interesting. Thous
arids of Southern soldiers suffered far more than we, and thous
ands went through far more exciting and dangerous scenes than
either of us. Second, 'that should Mr. Dixon be dead, his family
might, have takien umbrage at my writing of him, whi-le not living,
to defend 'himself, or deny incidents that might be considered
detrimental t'o his moral character. But now, 'that hre is still living
and gives his consent to the -telling of the story, I do so, 'with
truth, as I remember it. Mr. Dixon can deny such as he thinks is
error, and be silent about .those he knows to be true. So much for
*explanations, now for the story.
Gen. Hardee, of the Confederate Army, had evacuated Charles
ton, and all the coast defences in his military district. Had eon
centrated his little army on the North Eastern R. R. at .a small
hamlet, St. Stephens, on the south side of the Santee. The Con
federates under Gen. Hood had been disastrously defeated at
Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, and -were now making their
way southeast, to' join Gen. Hardee. Gen. .Sherman, of the Uniorn
army, with 60,000 troops was marching between, and nearing Co
lumbia. It was imperative, to Gen. Hardee, that he should com
municate with the command-er of Hood's beaten army, now Lieunt.
Gen. Stewart. He made enquiries among his subordinate Generals,
for a good. reliable officer, who would undertake the doubtful.
mission of bearing orders to General Stewart. Maj. Gen. McLaws,
for whom I had done much service, scou-ting down in the direction
of Poc-otaligo and Savannah, recommended me to Gen. Hardee, and
I was ordered to -that General's 'headquarters..
When the old Gen. saw me, he 'looked surprised, as well a-s disap
pointed. He was looking for a man, not a st ripling, tow-'headed boy,
and intimated as much in his enquiries. I must confess, in all can
dor, there was nothing prepossessing ininy looks, nothing that would
inspire confidence. He asked me many questions, my age, expe
rience, what service I had seen, etc. After a long silence, he said,
"I wish to communicate in all possible speed with the commander
of Hood's army. and want a man who is willing to give his life,
if necessary. nv" :, me. but to our country. This will be a 'hard
undert'aking, full of hardship and fraught with many perils. I
will not -omnand you. but if you will undertake the mission and
carry it out successfully. you will be -rendering our c-ause a great
service."
I -aged He asked me if I knew my capt-ure meant