The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, June 09, 1897, Image 6
The Gary Watts Outrage.
Tiie Statement Submitted to
Gov. EHerbe by the Facul
ty of the College.
Columbia, June 4.-Tba authorities
of the South Carolina College have
formally presented to Governor Ellerbe,
a ; commander-in-chief of the military
forces of the State, the following offi
cial complaint of the conduct of the
militia officers in charge when tbe re
cent clash occurred on (he College
green, which will, no doubt, result io
the Governor ordering a Court of in
quiry. The Governor said a few days
ago that he could not act until such
oh arges were laid before him.
TBS OFFICIAL REPORT.
Here is the report of the faculty to
the commander-in-chief, made publie
yesterday :
..To the Governor of the- State of
, Sooth Carolina, Commander-in-chief
of the Militia of the State :
..The faculty of the South Carolina
college beg leave to present the follow
ing statement and protest. The state
ment is made by-the acting president.
Prof. Benjamin Sloan : .
.'Friday, May 28, the college base
; ball team bad permission from the
proper authorities to play a match
game of ball with the independents of
the city. This permission bad been
given without knowledge that a review
and inspection of the militia had been
. ordered on the same afternoon, and on
the same field. The president of the
college bad been absent since the pre
vious Wednesday afternoon, and had
said nothing to me of having granted
permission for the review to be held on
the college grounds ; nor had any ap
plication been made to me for this per
- mission Bot having read io the morn
tog's paper that the review would be
held. I went on the field before either
of the bail teams or the militia arrived,
in order to arrange for both the review
and the game, so that there should be
oo unpleasantness.
"It may be as well to state here that
the athletic grounds are college proper
ty, placed by law under the care and
control of the president of the -college,
and that they cannot be used by any
one without the permission of the
president
"As soon as Mr. Hagood, the man
ager of the college team, appeared on
the field, I called him to me and direct
him to look out /or Gen Watts and
him to bojd the review on the east
ern part of the field, beyond the foot
ball goal. This would have allowed
htm about six acres for the drill and re
view, and there could have been oo
possible clash between the soldiers and
the players
'The general and his staff, some-'
bat late, came riding directly across
tbe bail grounds upon that part called
.the diamond,' thus temporarily break*
ing ap the game which was under way.
Before Gen Watts reached the 'dia
mond,' Mr. Sagood met bim and made
the request as directed Gen. -Watts
roughly replied to Mr. Hagood : 'You j
h-ve nothing to do with this, sir.';
Mr. Hagood then came to me. and a>k
ed me to see General Watts. I waot j
immediately to the general, who had ;
by this time crossed the 'diamond/ end
as nearly as I can remember, said to
him : 'General, I shocid be very glad
if yon would occupy the eastern end of
the field*-pointing with my hand
.jost beyond those posts ; there is am
ple room there, and the ground is just
as good.' I said, further, 'The boys
are playing a match game of ball this
afternoon : they bad permission to play
before anything was known of this re
view Otherwise the game might have
been postponed.'
..General Watte replied, 'This is the
property of the State.' 'Yes,' 1 an
swered, .bat it is ander the control of
the college and it is intended for the
use of the college.* He then said, 'I
suppose Col. Jones has permission to
ase the grounds.' My reply was, 'If
lie has I know nothing of it Dr. Wood
row is absent and he told me nothing of
having granted permission. At any
rate,' I went oo, 'there is no necessitv
for the game to be interrupted ; the
eastern part of the field is ample and
smooth aod I beg again that you will
allow the game to go on without inter
ruption. I have granted permission
for the game to be played and should
not like to see it broken np.' He then
answered most pleasantly, 'Why, cer
tainly, 1 will not interrupt the game,'
and repeated, 'I will not have the game
interrupted ' I replied, '[ thank yon,
general, 1 did not think yon would.*
1 then left bim, feeling eure that there
would really be no interruption.
"However, instead of posting the
troops on the eastern part of the field,
he posted them a little southeast of the
baseball ground. Even theo there was
ample room, if the command had been
confined to the limits covered by it in
its first passage io review, bot after
that General Watts and bis staff kept
faliiog back towards the diamond until
they finally occupied practically the
third base.
"The college marshal at the request
of Mr. Hagood, the manager of the
baseball team, now went over to Gen
eral Watts and said : *I am the college
marshal.' Without waiting for him to
continue General Watts replied : 'Make
those fellows iiosb, or I'll clear the
field.' About tbis time a ball from the
bat struok one of the horses, where
upon General Watts "jecame very angry
and ordered the players to leave the
field, bet this they declined to do.
"Meantime the troops, who had sev
era! times already marched across th
field of play, near the 'diamond,' seri
ously iuterruptiog the game, DOW
marched upon the 'diamond' entirely
breaking up tbe game
"By this time the disturbance on the
part of the field was so great that I ran
thither and several of the boys ex
claimed -o me 'Major Sloan, must we
leave the field Y Upon hearing this,
believing that the lives of our students
were in peril and knowing that I could
hold tbe trespassers to strict accouot, I
replied, 'Go at once, boys/ and they
answered, eWe will do so,' and did be
gin immediately to retire in a body.
[ then rushed up to G-eo. Watts and bc
shouted to me, 'You had better clear
this field, for if you do not, I will.'
.Col. Jones,' he continued, 'hag writ
ten permission from Prof. Woodrow
io bis pocket to hold this inspection
here.' When thus informed by Gen.
Watts that be bad permission to use
the grounds for tbe inspection, sup
posed that such was the case; but I
discovered afterwards that no permis
i n whatever had been given to tbe
soldiers to use tbe athletic grounds on
that day. I, however, answered when
he threatened to clear the grounds,
.Why, certainly, if you will give me a
little time, the field shall be cleared '
Tophis be gave no heed; but immedi
ately whirled his horse so abruptly as
to strike me and send me spinning.
It seems that be had already given
orders to both Col. Jones and tbe po
liceman to clear the field. Before I
bad fairly recovered my balance, the
troops bad passed mc and a fight be
tween a policeman and several of tbe
students was woing on-precipitated, I
gathered, from the excited remarks
around me, by an attempt made to
arrest ooe of the students, for what
cause I do not know.
"[ theo set about trying to induce
the students to leave the field and go
into the campus. I this work saw
actively engaged Prof9. Woodward,
Colcock and Davis. It was wbiie thus
engaged that Prof. Davis received a
severe blow on the head from a police
man's club. Just before this ooo of
the students. Mr. D. D. McColl, bad
his skail crushed by a blow from a j
a policeman's club and several !
other students were hit and hurt by the j
same policeman. U this seemed to '
enrage the students, and preity soon one
of the policemen was felled to tbe
ground. The remasniog professors
then redoubled their efforts to induce
the students to go into the campus, and
io a very short time they did so ia a
body. After entering the campus,
Prof. Woodward, at my request,
made a short address to the excited
students, urgicg them to promise to
sabmit to legal proceedings should any
such proceedings be rested to. This
promise they readily gave and there
after conducted themselves with eotire
d corum^
.'Benjamin Sloan.'*
In view of the above statement of
the acting president, Prof Sloan, the
faculty in justice to themselves, the
students and the college, feel that they
should lay this case before the Govern
or of thc State and Commander-in
Chief the State militia for his iofer- i
mation and for such consideration i
and action as be may deem j
appropriate. We feel that we j
should farther protest agaiost what ;
we cannot help regarding as au UDwar- j
raatable trespass upon our rights, and j
a dangerous imperiling of the lives of .
the proffessors of this college and tbe
students under their care.
W. B. Burney,
E. L. Patton,
E S. Joync6,
R. M. Davis.
Jos. Daniel Pope,
J. Wm Flinn,
F. C Woodward,
Patterson Wardlaw,
F. Horton Colcock.
The Court of Inquiry.
Gov EUerbe Appoints the Men to In
vestigate the College Riot.
Governor Ellerbe on Saturday after- j
noon announced that, the court of in
quiry to fix 'he responsibility for the
conflict between the college students ;
and the militia and police would be
composed of Brigadier-general Jos. L
Stoppelbeia, Col. J. G. Wardlaw. and
Capt. Henry T. Thompson, witb Judge
Advocate General, S. G. Mayfield, as
chairman. The court has been ordered
to convene oe Thursday the 10th in
stant.
_wm , , Mi _
Take JOHNSON'S
CHILL & FEVER
TONIC
Senator Butler Talks.
Special to The StRte.
Edgefield, Jane 2 -Senator M. C
Butler is spending a few days at bis
Edgefield home, muoh to the delight of
his friends here. On receipt of the
papers yesterday, I called his attention
to the statement contained in several of
them that be would probably be a can
didate for the United States senate, i
and asked him if there was any
truth in the report, lie said: "No ; j
if all the men, women, children, oxen
and mules ia South Carolina were to
ask me to enter polities again with a
promise of ali tbe reDateB past, present ;
and prospective, I would not bc a can
didate for tbe senate or at:v other :
office."
WADED IN BLOOD.
Negro Ravisher Lynched in
Urbana, Ohio.
i _
MILITIA FIRED ON MOB.
KILLED 2, WOUNDED 10
_
Urbana, 0., June 4.-Two men
were killed and ten wounded by a
company of the Ohio national guard
jatth place at 2:30 this morning,
j The soldiers were attempting to save
Charles Mitchell, the colored as
sailant of Mrs Eliza Gaumer, from
j the hands of an infuriated mob, but
j their efforts were unavailing. Mitch
I ell w 8 taken from the jail at 7:30
i this morning and hanged to a tree in
in the court yard.
The two previous nights and yes
terday portended the gravest danger
but no such results were anticipated
as those within the five hours from
2:30 to 730 to day. Those killed by
the militia were spectators at the
I scene of excitement. In addition to
this list, it is feared that Mrs. Eliza
Gaumer, who was criminally assault
ed bv the negro, will not recover,
and several of the injured are in a
serions condition. There is intense
feeling against some of the officials,
and further complications are appre
hended
While the past two nights and
days witnessed scenes of lawlessness
and bloodshed, yet the feeling at no
time has been as intense as it is here
to night. The body of Mitichell was
exposed all day in a rough coffin and
it intensified the feeling among the
masses The citizens who were kill
ed will be buried Sunday, and their
funeral will tend to keep alive the
bitter feeling Several of the woun
are crippled for life
One week ago to day Mrs Gauroer
j was criminally assaulted in daylight
I ai her home in this city near the court
! house. Mrs Gaumer was prostrated.
She felt the disgrace and requested
j her son to announce that she was as
! saultecl for robbery. It was given out
; that Mitchell attempted to force her
I to sign a check for $500. But as
Mrs Gaumer'8 condition became
more serions the facts became known
and abo that the negro was affected
with a loathsome disease Mitchell
was first held for robbery, but on
Wednesday he was arraigned for crim
inal assault Mrs Gaumer was en
able tc appear in court and the hear
ing was held at her home. As
! Mitchell entered her room, she raised
up in bed and exclaimed : "The
brute !-hang him. How dare you
i face m? again, you brute.''
Soo?- -after the identification on
Wednesday there was talk of lynch
ng. Crowds surrounded the jaili
that night and the sheriff and local
militia had trouble in protecting the
prisoner. Yesterday a grand jury
was impanneled and it* soon returned
an indictment for criminal assault
Mitchell, disguised in a soldier's uni
form, was brought fast night from
jail into court. He waived the read
ing of the indictment, pleaded guilty,
and was promptly sentenced to 20
years in the penitentiary, the limit
for criminal assault.
The trial was over before 8 o'clock
last night, when an attempt, was
made to take Mitchell to Columbus
on the train at 10 p m.. but the
crowd were about the court house
and jail, and when the carriage drove
up the crowd made a rush for the
jail The military drove the people
back, but the crowd soon increased
in fury as well as numbers, so that
Sheriff McLean and the troops had
all they contd do to hold the jail, and
the trip to Columbus was given up
before the departure of the last train.
It was 1 30 a m when the first at
tack was made on the jail The sol
diera opened fire oo the mob and 20
volleys were poured into the advanc
ing crowd. Four were killed and 10
wounded. The attacking party re
tired, but the sight of the dead and
injured infuriated them and the
crowd soon rallied. The final attack
on the jail was made at 7 o'clock this
morning The local company, which
did the shooting, had been on duty
for two nights and a request was
sent to Gov Bushell for reinforce
meuts He ordered a company from
Springfield to the scene and they ar
rived before 7 o'clock. Mayor Ganzon
met the soldiers and sent them back
to the depot, saying that they were
not wanted The local company was
also withdrawn from the jail about
this time. The mob, which had
grown in numbers at the break of
day, seeing the way open, secured a
large sledge hammer and started for
the jail The hammer was not need
ed, aa Sheriff McLean delivered the
keys and the crowd soon found Mitch
ell's cell
/L rope was thrown around the ne
gro's neck and he was dragged out.
When the outer door was reached the
nooze slipped, but it was soon re
placed, and the condemned man was
hurried into the yard The rope was
then thrown over one of the limbs of
a tree Mitchell was jetked up until
his hoad struck the limb His neck
was broken, and his bod}7 dropped to j
the ground. The crowd repeated j
the jerking several time until they
were sine lie was dead There is
some doubt as to what occurred in
side the jail from midnight until the
time of ihe lynching. I
Weekly Crop Bulletin.
COLUMBIA, S. C., JUNE 8, 1897.
TEMPERATURE.
The temp rature during the past
week averaged about normal, and at
most places the range was not great,
the nights having been seasonably
warm and the days comfortably cool.
The average temperature for the
week deduced from 52 weekly means,
was 76, and the normal for the same
period is approximately 75 Tb high
est was 99 on the 4th at Gil?ieonville
and the lowest 52 on the 1st at Lib
erty.
RAINFALL
The week began with showers over
the northern counties Oo Thursday
showery conditions again set in, and
continued during the remainder of tbe
week, reaching the coast section by
Saturday The rains were fairly well
distributed, except that in the south
central counties and southeastern coun
ties a few places did not receive enough
rain, and in Chester and portions of j
nearby counties there was in places
excessive rainfall. Lands were badiy
washed in pDrtioos of Chester, Ander
son, Fairfield, Laurens, Lexington,
Union, Sumter and Kershaw, with in
jury to fields of corn and cotton. The
smallest amount reported wa* 0.12 in.
from Blackville, the largest 3.14 from
Pioopolis, while the average of 54
measurements was 1 19 in.; the normal
for this same time being approximately
1 12. Twenty-one measurements of
less than an inch were rept .j ; tweo
ty six of (rom 1 to 2 inches ; and
seven with more than two inches.
There as hail on M?ay 31st ac many
places, and again on the Bi and 4th
from Laurens to Horry, but wirb a few j
local aad limited exceptions tbs dam- j
age to crop9 was slight. There were a |
few short but violent wind storms but j
no injury of any material importance j
resulted.
The sunshine averaged about 52 per
cent, of the possible and was consider
ably below the normal for the season.
i
CROPS.
Tbe past week was the most favora
ble one of tbe season and crops made
rapid growth. The ground is now in
excellent condition in respect to mois
ture except in portions of Coonee,
Pickens, Aiken, Eigefield, Lexington,
Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg, Col
leton, Dorchester, Hampton, and
Charleston counties, but even over those
counties many places had enough rain, j
all the entire country some, with proba- i
bly good rains since reports closed. ;
The Temperature has been more far- !
orable with generally v arnier uigot9 !
and no "excessive heat during the day. J
insect pests, too, are not as active in j
doing damage to crops, and the entire i
crop situation is represented by corres- j
pondents as being extremely favorable j
now and "likely to continue so for some !
time.
The condition of corn is not satisfac
tory over the entire State, although it
has made good progress lately. Stands
are somewhat brokeo on bottom lands
where cut worms cootinue to iojure
that that is just coming up after re
planting. In the eastern counties corn
is being "laid by1' and here and there
fields are in "silk and tassels " Fields
are generally clean and mostly worked
out. Some bottoms yet to plaot
Cotton has made rapid advance and
is generally in fioe growing condition,
although small for the seasoo Stands
are reported nearly perfect over the
entire State, and chopping out has
made rapid progress where not pre
viously completed The plant looks
healthy and is but little*iufested by lice
or otber harmful insects Fields are
generally clear of grass, with very few
contrary reports. Squares, or forms,
are coted over the eastern and central
counties. Last year cotton was bloom
ing at this time.
Sea-Island cotton being damaged
by worms and dry weather retarded
its growth.
Some peas have been planted this
week, but a number of correspond
ents report seed scarce I
Tobacco has improved very much
under the more favorable weather
conditions which have prevailed and
is doing well. Worms prevalent in
Kershaw.
Rice has generally a good stand
although a few complaints as to poor
stand of late sown were received.
Wheat is about ready to hatveet
and promises a good average yield,
the rust seemingly has not injured it
to any considerable extent
Oats harvest is in progress or is
completed but the shower}7 weather
has not favored this work. F all oats j
are turning out very well.
Transplanting sweet potato slips is
in active progress and ia favored by
the moist condition of the soil.
Paches are ripening, but the com
mercial crop is not of the finest qual
ity. Other peaches are quite plenti
ful. Grapes fruiting well but in some
counties are rotting. Wild berries
plentiful Gardens are greatly im
proved and vegetables plentiful.
Squash bugs injuring melon vines
in Bamberg county. Pastures reviv
ing.
The entire crop situation is encour
aging at this time
From the national bulletin of May
31st:
"The week has been unfavorable to
corn throughout the corn producing
States being too cool for germination
and growth, while complaints of poor
6tands are quite general."
"The most unfavorable repotts on
cotton came from North Carolina and
Tennessee, in the latter State a con
siderable area will be planted in corn.
In northern Texas the crop is fro\n
two to three weeks late Over south
ern Texas it is fruiting nicely and is
generally well cultivated "
J. W. BAUER,
Section Director, Columbia, S. C.
Take JOHNSON'S
CHILL & FEVER
TONIC
vVO LD SAVE THE MONO
POLY.
Senator Tillman Makes an
Effort to Bolster up the Dis
pensary Law.
Washington, June 4-The Till
man dispensary bili introduced March
16 was reported favorably "to-day by
the interstate commerce committee
It provides : "That all fermented,
distilled or other intoxicating liquors
or liquids transported into any State
or territory or remaining therein for
use, consumption, sale or storage
there! i shall, upon arrival within the
limits of said State or territory, be
subject to the operation and effect of
the laws of such State or territory to
the same extent and in the tame man
ner as though such liquors or liquids
had been produced in such State or
territory, and shall not be exempt
therefrom by reason of being intro
duced therein in original pack* es for
private use or otherwise, and such
States shall have absolute control of
6uch liquors or liquids within their
borders, by whomsoever produced
and for whatever use imported ; pro
vided, (hat nothing herein contained
shall be constructed as affecting the
internal revenue laws of the United
States or liquors in transit."
It is simply an extension of the
"original package"' bill of 1890
known as "the Wilson bill," and lit
tie or no opposition to its early pas
sage is apprehended.
-? a i ?*?? ?? -u i -
The Friend of Freedom.
Jacksonville. -Juoe7.-lo the Uoi'ed
States court to-day Judge L >cke hand
ed dowr. a decision io the Three
Friecds' cass, charged with violating
the neutrality laws by carrying a fili
bustering expedition to Cuba and also
as an armed vessel, dismissing the libel
tor forfeiture. In giving the decision
Judge Locke said :
"The court in examining the evi
dence io this case, fails to Sod any
testimony showing that the vessel was
fitted out and armed within the limits
of the United States. It does not
show that she was loaded with arms and
ammunition within 15 or 20 miles of
the shore. The further charge that
the vessel took on additional arms or
ammunition on the island of Navassa,
which is American soil, was not con
firmed by the testimooy It shows that
the vessel touched there for a short
time, bur. it does not show that it did
anything that is ia violation of the
neutrality laws of this country."
Three tiber cases are pending
agaiost the vessel, but they are likely
to be dismissed as the evidence is much
the earrie as iu the present case The
district attorney will await advices from
Washington as to what future action to
take in the present C3.se.
The Naval Armistice.
Athens. June 4 -Tbe cabinet decid
ed this evening to sign a sea ar
mistice on the following conditioos:
"The Greek fleet will quit Ottoman
waters. Vessels under Turkish or neu
tral Sags, bound to or returning from
Turkish ports, and vessels north of the
armistice line will not be examined.
Vessels carrying troops and munitions
for the Turkish army will not be al
lowed to enter ports north of the line
The Turkish fleet mast not leav the
D- rdanelles. The dispatch of rein
forcements to garrison tDwns in the ar
chipelago is prohibited "
The armistice permits the revictual
Ins of Turkish troops by way of ports
south nf tho armistice lin on condition
that the vessels snny bs visited by con
Mils of the powers residing in the oear
est towns. The entry of Greek men
of war into the Ambraeian gulf is also
permitted.
Fighting for tne Agncultu
ral Hail.
It looks as if the State is not goiug
to quietly surrender possession of
the Agricultural hall property as was
expected from the recent decision of
the Uuited States supreme court.
The fact is that the State's attorneys
j are confident that they have found a
j loophole by which they will be eua
; bled to go back into court and event
j ually prevent Mr Wesley from ever
j having the Blue Ridge railroad script
! passed upon
j From what can be ascertained the
I petition will dea! with a fine and im
I portant point, it is to the effect that
Mr. Wesley's attorney tailed to file
notice of its pendency in the circuit
court below aud the State will claim
that without this uotiee the judgment
of the court cannot be issued against
those now ia possession of the build
ing, none of them being parties to
the suit brought by Mr Wesley. Mr.
Boyies, one of the parties to the suit,
is deceased, while Mr. Tindal, the
other party to the original suit, will
show that he could not hold the prop
erty, as it passed out of his posses
sion through no act of his, but by
process of State law, he no longer
holding office.
ELI BUNDY CUTS HIS
THROAT.
Bennettsville, June 5.-Eli Bundy,
a respectable farmer, committed suicide
this morning about 8 o'clock by cutting
bis throat witb a razor io his field, near
; Clio, this county. The coroner held
j an inquest and the verdict was that he
j came to his death by his own bands,
j He was a highly respected citizen, bul;
! thought that he was accused or the
' burning of the town of Clio recently
i and it bore on hts mind, fie leaves a
j wife and several children.
Disastrous Floods.
i Paris. June 6 -A Cloudburst ia the
! hill country of the province of Isare,
io southeastern France, has caused the
evetflow of the river Morge and the
deptructioD of a number of paper mills
and silk factories, as well as houses
along tee banks At the towns of
Voiron and Moirans, the river rose
suddenly 20 feet. Oce person was
drowned and the loss to property in es
timated at 10,000,000 flames Four
thousaod factory operatives are throwo
cut of employment.
Is Schlatter Dead ?
Denver^ Col., June 6.-A special to
The News from El Paso, Tex., says
that Francis Schlauer, who claimed to
j perform miraculous cares by Divine
j power, was recently found dead in the
i foothills cf Sierra Madra, 35 miles
j southwest of Ca.*a Grande, in the state
! of Chihuahua, Mexico. He bad been
j fa-ting and apparently starved to death,
i While tn Denver, from August 2*2, to
I November l \ 1895, about 200.000
j people visited Schlatter to receive
i treatment. '
Gen. Lee's Probable Suc
cessor.
i
I -
Washington, June 7.-Ex Congress
: man Frank Aldrich of Chicago is in
the city. His purpose ic visiting
Washington at this time is to consult
with Special Commissioner Calhouu re
specting in tbe island of Cuba While
Mr. Aldrich declines to commit himself
in any way, it is confidently believed
j by bis friends that he has been selected
by President McKioiey for the effice of
Consul General to Cuba and that he
will relieve General Lee before ioog.
There is no
word so full
_ of meaning
and about which such tender and
holy recollections cluster as that
of " MOTHER "-she who watched
over our helpless infancy and guid
ed our first tottering step. \et
the life of every Expectant Moth
er is beset with danger and ali ef
fort should be made to avoid it.
so assists nature
in the changetak
place that
the Expectant
Mother is ena
bled to look for
ward without
dread, suffering or gloomy fore
bodings, to the hour when she
experiences the joy of Motherhood.
Its use insures safety to the lives
of both Mother and Child, and she
is found stronger after than before
confinement-in short, it "makes
Childbirth natural and easy," as
so many have said. Don't be
persuaded to use anything but
MOTHER'S FRIEND
" My wife suffered more in ten min
utes with either of her other two chil
li rc-n titan she did altogether with her
last, bavins: previously used four bot
tles of -Mother's Friend.' It is a
blessing to anyone expecting to be
come a MOTHER," says a customer.
HENDERSON DALE, Carini, Illinois.
Of Druci'15'? at Sl.eo. or cnt ny nail on receipt
of prici"\Vrite for book containing testimonials
and valuable information for ali Mothers, free.
The Bradfield Regulator Co., Atlanta. Ga.