Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A PEN PICTURE By Colonel Stovall of Three Prominent Men He Once Knew WHO BECAME GOVERNORS (>>1. Pleasant Stovall (iives Fairly Memories of Miles 11. McSweoncy, j lien K. Tillman and John <?ary i F.viins. All Throe of Whom Wore ; ' " I Elwtcd Governors of S. Carolina, j > Col. Pleasant A. Stovall, editor of | the Savannah Press, used to work on j the Augusta Chronicle. At that time three young men from South Carolina had the habit of dropping into j the Chronicle ollice now and then to see the reporters. Col. Stovall has been letting his memory dwell on those days recently and the result is the following editorial in The Press: About twenty years ngo, In The Chronicle ollice in Augusta, some interesting people used to come up at night and chat with the editors. Many of these visitors were from across the river, for Augusta is very largely made up of South Carolinians, and in the course of a day about half of the visitors are from Carolina. One of these men was a short, thick set, tlorid hoy, with light, sandy I or reddisli hair. He had gray eyes and wore a large mustache. if wo remember aright his hair was curly, i He was a modest, quiet newspaper man, who published the Hampton I Guardian. Most of these neighboring papers lived by securing advertisements from Augusta, and M. 11. McSweeney had good patronage in that city. He was a practical printer, in fact, had begun his career as a newsboy. His paper was always well set up and neatly printed. He was a stickler for having a clean, bright print, and his was one of the best of the country weeklies which came to the ollice. Every time McSweeney went to town, which he did about once a week, he received a notice in the personal column something like this: / "Mr. M. B. McSweeney, the progressive editor of the Hampton Guardian, is in the city. The Guardian has a large circulation in the new county, and those who patronize the advertising columns of The Guardian find it a good investment." "Mac" was really a warm hearted, attractive boy, and the newspaper craft was very fond of him. He probably had a little farm, owned a horse and buggy and enjoyed life in the quiet, simple way of countryeditor?which, by the way, is about | the moKt satisfactory way that a ^ man could live. Another visitor to the Chronicle office for whom the boys had a great i liking was young John Gary Evans. He came over from Edgefield to read i law in his uncle's office. John had I not begun to take life seriously, lie was tall, slender, rather frail-looking; had small dark eyes, with a very | lino brow. He was popular with i everylK>d>\ He was essentially a) favorite in society. He possessed | a fine, delicate tenor voice, and even ! v in conversation his tones were rather high and piping. After living In Augusta a few years he came up to the Chronicle one night and told J them to announce that he was going to move to Aiken and open a law j office. There was a perfect howl of | protest. The crowd did not want i him to leave Augusta. They told j him that Che man who left Georgia left God's country, and that the move to Aiken was to bury himself and to give up all thought of a j career In the law. However, John i Gary had thought it over, and next "* " "*? * " # V* *? / 1 K f/* n lolci eon f o I l? ! I(!WIIIJII<^ IIP- VIII UIIIV.IV \.v;ui??iuv;\< ?i personal Item something like this"Mr. John Gary Evans, our popular and talented young townsman, who has been reading law in the eity for the past two years, lias decided to return to his native State of South Carolina. Mr. Evans will hang out his shingle in Aiken, and we bespeak for him the confidence of the people in his new home.' John Gary Evans was the youngest solon of the house of Gary. Mis uncle, General Mart W. Gary, had been a power in Edgefield during the early days of Democracy, but for some reason he did not train with the political school of Hampton, Itutler, Hagood, Richardson and others. The other uncle, Major William T. Gary, had moved to Augusta Just after the war. and was practicing law. lie was later judge of the Augusta circuit, was n mem ber of the legislature from Richv mond county, and was appointed United States district attorney by President Cleveland. Ho also had a good practice in South Carolina, and it was probably by his advice that the young nephew returned to Aiken. Very frequently a plain farmer from Edgefield used to come to the Chronicle office. He lived at "Rop)| ers," South Carolina, which was a ' postoffice in Edgofield county. Reach ing the city ho would climb tho high steps principally to see the Hon. Patrick Walsh, who was the editor and publisher of the Chronicle. His name was Ben Tillman, and now and then he would write a communication to the Chronicle stressing the rights and recounting the wrongs of the Southern farmer. These article were always well written. The man did not seem to be cultivated in his manner. Ho had but one eye and his hair was rarely well brushed. But he evidently had road a great deal and there was lots of vigor and originality in his pieces. Generally lie signed "Farmer" to his articles. They mainly related to South Carolina matters. Next, Captain Francis W. Dawson, the edi tor of the Charleston News and Courier, became attracted by these articles and wrote Hen Tillman, asking him to publish them in the News and Courier. lie wrote sometimes for that paper, but was not entirely weaned away from the Chronicle, which was really his home paper. His brother, George I). Tillman, was member of congress from that district. He was one of the brainost and most original men who ever represented South Carolina in Washington. Hen Tillman was a free lance, but bis articles set people to thinking. Finally he got the farmers stirred up. They organized a farmers' movement and pretty soon Tillman became a political factor in South Carolina. His first appearance in a convention was in Columbia in 188T>, when John Peter Richardson was nominated governor. He was a delegate from Fdgetield and favored the nomination of ex-Governor Shoppard, who was from the same county. Who was Hen Tillman? The people of Augusta began to talk about him. His cotton factors said that he was a good farmer, but that his wife was a better farmer. He was a stickler for paying his debts. He was not a large planter, but his credit was good on cotton row. When ho used to come to the Chronicle oillce at night he invariably brought a pretty jar of fresh butter or a. little basket of fruit for his friend, Pat Walsh. This shows that Hen not only raised cotton, but that ho made his own supplies. llo had a lino orchard, a good dairy; many people said that the management of his wife secured these things. At any rate, he lived at home, and he lived well. Now and then tho local columns of the Chronicle would print an article like this: "Our popular friend, Captain Benjamin It. Tillman, of Roper's, has left upon our table some lino fruit and fresh eggs, just from his flourishing little Carolina farm. Come again, Captain, the latch string always hangs on the outside." Whfl VL'.IK lion Tlllninn ? U'nll l<<"? was captain of the cavalry company, or the red shirt fellows over in Edgefield. When Governor John it. Gordon, with General Wade Hampton. was invited to Augusta to open the fair, Hen Tillman brought his company over from Edgefield to turn out in the parade. The Chronicle boys remember that during the exercises the Edgefield troopers were banked over in an old field and the sun became very hot at midday. They remember Hen Tillman's dashing across the held on horseback to ask the commander if he might move his troopers in the shade, as the men and horses had ridden across the river from Edgefield that morning and needed water badly. Now you have the three personages who used to come to the Chronicle office at least once a week and relieve the long vigil of the boys Jit night by talking politics; gossiping about persons and things?discussing "the grandeur that was Greece and the glory that was Koine." Hen Tillman was remarkably well read; John Gary Evans was chissic and delicate and McSweonoy was a very quiet man who talked but little, but was looked upon as a good friend and a deserving fellow. J do not recall that these men ever met at that time. They may have and they may not have done so. If they did I don't remember that they impressed each other. Their lives moved in entirely different spheres. Their ages and professions sent them far apart. Well, time changes and in the great crucible of politics these men after a while got together. Hen Tillman continued to write his articles. His faction became a majority party. I well remember the night he was elected governor. Ho came over to the Chronicle office as usual and sat by the desk of tho news editor. The Chronicle received specials from all parts of the State and Hen Tillman read, but from the telegraph ticker, the news of his triumph. Pretty soon the office was filled with Edgefield people and C<irolinians generally, congratulating "Captain Tillman," or "Governor Tillman," which should it he? i "Boys, call me Ben," Btiid the lead-' or, and It was generally that way, I anyhow. I don't recall that John Gary Evans or MeSweeney came in that night. If they were in town they did. T remember that somebody wanted to set ul? champagne over Tillman's election, hut he refused It, saying that ho didn't like it?-never drank it, and that as for a raw oyster, he couldn't touch one. Well, John Gary Evans ploddod . ^ -- ? - X CUPID'S PRANKS COXSTANTINOFLK IX>VK AFltAlllS KM) IN TIIAUKDY. Armenian Utrl (iut* U> Muwuiman and Her Compatriots Threaten t<> Lynch I lor Lover. A dispatch from Constantinople says some tragic love affairs amoug Moslems have been reported of late, (ion. Ilabil Pasha unexpectedly entered the room of his daughter Mediha and was surprised to iind her in company with Capt. Mohmedali. a former aide-de-camp of Abdul Humid. The general instantly drew* a revolver and tired at Capt. Mehmedail, who died a few hours later. In the Hee.hiktash <juarter of the city a Mussulman named Ismail carried off a young Armenian girl called Siranusho, the daughter of a banker. The parents followed to claim their daughter, who, however, stated that she wished to remain with Ismail. The Armenians of the district threatened to lynch the girl, and the Moslems made ready to defend the two lovers. At this point the police intervened to prevent bloodshed, and arrested both Ismail and Siranusho. The latter was given over to the care of an old Moslem, as she expressed her wish to he converted to lslamisin. A third case is that of Ideat. Mehmed Aga. He had two wives, llusua and Fatma, who, during the imprisonment of their husband for a trilling offence, were said to have taken advantage of his absence to admit other men into the house. The neighbors of the two women had often to complain of the scandal, and tho lieutenant's wives wore twice arrested as a consequence. Hearing of what had taken place, Mehined Aga, on his discharge from prison, decided to avenge himself. Ho went hack to his house, then inhabited by his wife Husna, and saturated different rooms with petroleum, afterward setting tire to tho place. Mehined Aga's own house and the houses on either side were burned to the ground, together with Husna and another woman, named Rushena. KILLS HIS WIFE. Wounds Another Woman, Then Takes His Own Life. At Indianapolis, Ind., Albert Carnnhun, r>3 years old, shot and killed his wife, fatally wounding Mrs. Ida Calvin and then killed himself. Carnahan had been separated from his wife for live weeks. Apparently ho had become insane. Mrs. Carnahan filed suit for divorse from her husband a month ago. He persisted in calling on her and she obtained from the court an order restraining him. Monday night while she was in bed ill, attended by several women, Carnahan entered the room and drew two revolvers. His wife sprang from the bed and she and the other women fled from the room. Carnahan opened fire and shot his wife four times. He then ran to the front porch and shot at the other women. He missed all hut one, Miss Calvin, who received a bullet in the abdomen. Carnahan returned to his wife's bed room and shot himself In the head. He fell across his wife's body and died immediately. Proved to be (food. A dispatch from Bristol, Tenn., says after being kept in Jail five months charged with counterfeiting, John Preston has been released upon the discovery that the alleged bad mony is all genuine. along in Alkon. The Garys all joined tho Tillman movement, and first thing we knew little John Gary had been elected to the senate?the same pale-facod, delicate little chap who used to sing tenor and make his remarkable speeches in the justice court. Then, after Hen Tillman, he was nominated and elected governor, by the farmers. The rest is known, lie becamo president of the constitutional convention which put dispensary, negro disfranchisement and non-divorco in the organic law of South Carolina. His career was meteoric. No one in Augusta dreamed of It. Hut Hen Tillman went to the United States senate and John Gary wont to the executive ofllce In ColumMa. Hut truth Is stranger than fiction. In some way MeSweeney?quiet, plodding, popular- had broken into the legislature. He, too, was a Tillman man. Finally he went to the! senate, and then became lieutenant governor. During his term of ofllce, as second in command, Governor Ellorbee died and McSweeney actually became governor of South Carolina. This accounts for all three of the Chronicle visitors. McSweoney died the other day?the quiet newsboy and careful printer. John Gary Evans is living in Spartanburg, rich and successful in his law practice, and Ben Tillman is sonator and lecturer, making about as much on the platform as he makes from his salary in tho upper house. SHAFT UNVEILED Impressive Exercises Held on a Historic Battleground. OF KING'S MOUNTAIN (iovi'fimrs 1111 < I Members of Con gross of South ami North Carolina, With Many Other I'romineiit Men I'rotn the Two Status, Take I'tirt in Cor emonjes At tending I >edicat itm. A special from Kind's Mountain, N. C\, t c> The News ami Courier, says upon that historic battlelield men lived again Thursday the struggle for American liberty. North and South Carolina vied with each other to do honor to the memory of tlx* heroes of that decisive engagement of the Revolution. Within sight ol the graves of those who perished for their country, their descendants recited the story of deeds of days gone by. They told of the bloody battles of the war with the mother i country, of the privation of the soldiers, of the tlnal success of liberty and Americas freedom, in that! mighty conflict King's Mountain play- j ed an important part the "turning point of the war," the spot so sacred to sturdy mountaineers is rightly called, Ferguson was routed hero? the brave British warrior lost his life here?and the fortune of war was changed. To commemorate the brave deeds of the American soldiers on this battlefield, the United States has given a monument. This monument was dedicated at King's Mountain Thursday. On the very spot of ground where Ferguson was routed, the people of the two Carolinas joined in paying tribute to those who fell for the cause of liberty. On the sacred soil consecrated by the blood of these men of the Revolution the honor due them was given. It was a great occasion for the country-side. From early morning people came from the neighboring towns, and from the farms wagons, buggies and every form of vehicle conveyed the crowds to the mountain. On the side of the hills and for quite a distance around groups were gathered as if at a picnic. The trains brought hundreds, and in their enthusiasm of the occasion many did not hesitate to walk for miles to reach the battle ground. The crowd that packed and surrounded the i .iuiihin and was stretched in every direction the country around could hardly bo estimated. Many of those who came could not get within the sound of the voices of the speakers. Kight thousand people were probably la the mediate neighborhood. A distinguished gathering packed the stands provided for the occasion. Governor Martin P. Ansel presided gracefully over the exercises. The Governor of South Carolina, by his pleasing and happy manner, won the hearts of the audience. On the stand with the Governor were seated Governor W. VV. Kitchen, of North Carolina; Senator Leo S. Overman and Congressman It. N. Page, of the same State; Senator Smith and Congressman Finley, of this State; Dr. H. N. Snyder and Dr. S. C. Mitchell, presidents of Wofford and the University, respectively, the ladies of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Gen. Julian S. Carr, of North Carolina, and many other distinguished persons. On the stands and immediately I surrounding the main stage were the ladies of the Daughters of the Confederacy and visitors who were given cards to enter. There has rarely, if over, been seen in South Carolina such a large assembly of beautiful women and young girls, and woman got her share of tribute. it is to woman that the State is responsible for the preserving of true farts of history. Woman has made possible nil the beautiful monuments to war heroes, the Daughters of the American Revolution were untiring in the!'* efforts to get a monument at King's Mountain, and finally succeeded. The battle heroes will never he forgot as long as the women live to commemorate their deeds of valor. "God bless the women" was the sentiment in men's hearts at this unveiling, as always. As a fitting feature of the celebration the soldiery of this State and of North Carolina were represented. Col. Lewis, commanded the provisional regiment from this State, composed of the following companies: Greenville, Cornwell, Hock Hill, Columbia, Camden, Fort Mill and Spartanburg. The North Carolina company was from Dallas. Governor Kitchin's staff was present as follows: Adjt. Gen. J. F. Armfield, Lieut. Col. VV. W. Pierce, Col. C. B. Armstrong, Personal Aide Col. H. Montague, Major A. A. Hicks, Col. T. R. Robertson. The battle of King's Mountain was fought in sham conflict by the troops. These manoeuvres were under Gen. Iloyd's supervision. The soldier boys arc encamped on the mountain's side, and right royal was their entertainment to their friends. Beautiful weather marked the joyful occasion. Not a cloud obscurod the sun's rays. Everythiog was carried out according to the proKi ani arranged for the occasion. The cdticntional value of the gathering cannot be stressod sufficiently. The facts of history wero made known to the younger general ions. School children came from Spartanburg and young collegians from the same citv. The neighborhood was out In full force and the descendants of those who fought for the Union that was to he horn of that great conflict. Altogether the occasion was one to he long remembered. "Such a day happens but once in a lifetime," said (Jovernor Ansel. Col Asbury Coward, of Orangeburg, called the meeting to order, expressing a lew well chosen sentiments ns to the nature of the occasion and the historic significance of the event about to be celebrated, i Recounting the historical shafts erected to the memory of .heroic | deeds, Col. Coward referred to the elooueiil :ulil o ' ? , .1 > < > ?< K'U ?'ii mi I iiht occasions of this kind on practically the same spot. Within sight of tho new monument was erected I many years ago the first humble stone that the neigh bo r hood roared to tell the story of buried heroes. Then came the uniting of counties in i Sf?r? to have a celebration at King's Mountain, at which such men as John S. Preston and the eminent historian, (ieorge lluncroft, spoke. Then the State erected a monument, and now conies the United States (loverninent and does honor to tho dead soldiers. Col. Coward introduced Covernor Ansel as the presiding ofliccr for (ho occasion, and in feeling words the State's Chief executive referred to the sacredness of the occasion, tho historic commemoration of heroic deeds and valor of men of old days. Dr. S. C. Mitchell .president of the I University of South Carolina., delivered the invocatory prayer, asking the blessings of (Jad upon those who were taking part in the occasion. The King's Mountain Ci'iii?t' nlal Ode, written by Mrs (Jlara Durban McLean, wa? rendered by th? audience. This beautiful lyric bad music arranged by Prof. Linebach (lovernor Ansel introduced President Henry N. Snyder, of Wofford College, who was the orator of the occasion, selected by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The address or Dr. Snyder was a gem of thought and oratory, and wan listened to with the closest attention | by all. Dr Snyder's lino appearance and his eloquent words made his address the subject of enthusiastic appreciation. Picturing the previous battle before the great American Revolution, Dr. Snyder told of the thrilling struggle for the rights of liberty and finally of the struggle at King's Mountain that turned the scales of the war. A glorious tribute to the women of the land through whoso efforts it is possible to keep alive the old tradition and the historv l)f hnl'iioa \i?nu i ? ? ^ _ ... . ?a\ i> r* no i \ ;uini 111 1M Snyder's closing words that had an echoe in tho heart of ail those within the sound of his voice. Tho singing of the National Anthem brought the audience to its feet, and while the patriotic music was being played all remained standing. The Hon. R. N. Page read the speech of the Hon. P2. Y. Webb, Congressman from North Carolina. Mr. Page is Congressman from tho 7th district. Mr. Webb was nnable to be present on account of illness in family, and Mi. Pago stated that ho would bo his j ersonal representative by reading the speech that Mr. Webb bad prepared. Florida .Man Kills Himself. At St. Petersburg, Fla., W. W. Coleman, <>() years of ago, committed suicide at the Pax ton House fit f> o'clock Wednesday morning by shooting himself in the head. He was found by liis wife shortly after shooting himself, and died at 10 o'clock without regaining consciousness. Child Hangs. At Saginaw, Mich., tleorgo Henry Ramho, seventeen months old, I accidentally hanged himself while playing in a swing at a neighbor's home. The little fellow had toddled over to play with the neighboring Shepherd children. When his mother came for him she and Mrs. Shepherd found the child dead, tangled i .. i ? in mo ropes of the swing. Seven Mules Killed. A dispatch from Summerton says the rains Tuesday night were the heaviest known there for many years. The wind was pretty high in some localities, it is reportod that seven mules, the property of Mr. O. C. Scarboro, were killed on his farm about eight miles from Summerton by the collapse of the barn situated over ills stables, caused by the high wind. Trains (\?llidc.. One passenger was killed outright and thirty-five persons were injured, four probably fatally, in a collision between a special, taking home several hundred excursionists who bad /been attending the dilate flair in Springfield, 111., and a regular passonge rtraln on the Illinois Central at Parnell, ill. Keats War. An averngo of eleven persons have been Injured daily and one person killed every other day for the last three months by the Chicago street ' car9. ! LOST HIS WIFE ' (ONTK.\<T()K OF Kr,\ltT\\ Ill/IMS OOFS TO OOlillMlilA IN Htvirrli of ller llut Kails U? Kin'l 11 'r aiul Then (incs to Ike < Htg uf Charlotte. The Iteeord says Tl L. (.awmn, a w<?ii known contractor of Snkrtaohur^, was in Columbia Saturday nijrlit and reported to the police that his wife, Mrs Allie Dawson, hail without any reason, left her ft onto. Detective Corde and lawsoa wont over the city in search of her, but after several hours' uulruitful endeavor. Dawson left at ni^ht tor Charlotte, where he asked the |H>lieo (o aid in the search for his wife. The following fnun the Charlotte Observer Mr. Lawsou's presence in Charlotte will bo retwl with interest: "In search of his wife who bo says loft home Monday morning, II. L. hawson, a prominent contractor of Spartanburg, S. C., was in the city yesterday. Me has notified the police to be on the lookout for her and has engaged one or more private detectives to assist in the search. So far it has been unavailing. "Mrs. l.awHon on leaving Spartanburg, went to Colnnibia, thither Uer husband followed her and attempted 1o discover I'er whereabouts, but failed. lavirning of h'is prose nc.o probably there she le?t and is supposed to have arrived in CharlottO Saturday noon. I for name is Mrs. A lib- Lawson. She is described ?i* good looking, which is. of course, not a very (Infinite description for any one ii Charlotte, when* nearly all of the ladies may thus be characterized When she left home she was wearing a dark brown tailor hi<kio sun. jshc ?s atmiit ;ir> yearn old and has four children." Mr. I.awsmi has only recently ronvpleted the building of the Motel Oregon in Spartanburg, lie has emoted a number of other large buildings there and Is well known in that city. Me seemed at a Iohs to understand why his wife should have left him without any apparent reason and said if she would return he would bo glad to see her again. Me thought she would return In time to avoid a sensation, and for treason he hesitated about givfing particulars of the ease to newspaper men, but after waiting a reasonable length of time he set out to find her. Me gave a re[x>rter for T^ho Record the address of the family in Spartanburg and said he wotftd appreciate any assistance that tho press or the police might render him in finding his wife. i.AIU;h inohkahfi) halkh Of Fertlll/.ers in South CitroUiU) During Ihist Year. According to (Iguros obtained by Oorunissioner Watson, the total salon oi rertillaor in the State during the past y?*ar wuh 6 25,048 tons, valuer $t 4,062,580. The number of tonn (?f cottonseed meal sold was 133,315, value $8,466,190. The annual Inspection tax collected from the salon amounted to $189,590.75. The above IVgures were derived by estimating tbo average price per ton of fertiliser, $22.50, and cottonseed meal at $2 6, per ton. Tho figures show a great increase in saloo during the past sevoral years. In 1 904 the number of tons of fertiliser sold was 404,4-47, value $9,100,057.50; the number of tons of cottonseed meal, 7 7,1 60, value 996,160. The total annual inspooLion tax derived in that year wins $120,401.75. ? KlliliHI) IN Otli Ml LI* Man licutrn i<* Itcatti llctwi'Cii Idooi1 and (Jelling. A Spartanburg dispatch to Tho State says Kdward Hamioo^f, aged 4f? years, wtiB killed at tho IJroer oil mill Monday afternoon about it o'clock. IIiw death wan a horrtblo one. He was caught up in a belt and beaten to death between tho floor and tho ceiling. Hie Vogs wcro torn off, his arms broken and hb? head crushed. Mr. flamructt was a native of Oro*?r. His wife is serious* ly ill and has boon so for some time. It could not be learned just how Mr. Ilamroett became entangled in tho belt, hut it is supposed that he muni have been oiling up the machinery. ? ? ? Attends ller Plrst Circus. It was Molly's tirst circus, and She i?ninvr.l !? k..? ? ... i>ku w Mi very Urod at bedtime. When she wju* almost asleep her mother said, "What part of the circus did you tike the betft, Molly?" "Oh, I don't know, hardly,'* she said. "It wa? all the host, but the punkoy riding the money was tho cutest." ? Swruinlis to INtlliipru, Benjamin V Kant, aged thirty* eight years, a prominent merchant of Anderson, died of pellagra In a Greensboro sanitarium Wednesday morning. The body was shipped to Anderson for interment. Tho doceased was well connected and unmarried.