The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-13
THE ANrI-BoWEN MEETING.

Neither Bowen nor Phosphates Served
up.Escape of the thief Coo k-A
Grand Disturbance and no Speeches.
The Bowenites Control the Meeting.
In yesterdays NEWS we mentioned that the
anti-Bowenites, supposed to be led by Daddy
Cain and DeLarge, had invited, by means of
handbills privately circulated, the Radicals to
rally at Liberty Hall on Monday night, to
''save their cause from the traitors who were
selling it for mess of pottage to c. c. Bowen"
to shear how these men (traitors) proposed
to sell them out to the Carpenter faction" and
to be Informed that "Mr. Bowen would do any
thing to keep his place and defeat Scott; that
he did notintend to abide by the nomination, If
he was not nominated" i" and that he was unwor-
thy of trust, as he was Sin the ring of the white
men," and also that 'the Customhouse clique
were pledged to defeat any colored man going
to Congress, and If elected delegates to the
convention, would fight against it."
All of the above inducements, coupled with
the promise that r. 81. Cain would show up
the phosphate ring, and prove who were the
guilty parties, had not the effect Of drawinga
crowd up to nine o'clock Monday night when
we left. But later the hall was filed and the
meeting organized by calling S. L. Bennett to
the chair. DeLarge, Elliott, Cain, Hurley,
Clarke and others were on the stage. Cain
was the first to speak, and proceeded to serve
up Bowen, but before he had well commenced
1t was apparent that many of the audience
were rather indIsposed to see Bowen 30 treated.
A few calls were made for Bowen and then
disturbance commenced, duIing which few
benches suffered the most damage. However,
the noise was so great that Cain ceased speak
ing and awaited until it stopped AS he was
about 10 proceed, calls louder and more
numerous than before were made for Bowen,
who then, amid loud cheering and few hiss
es, entered the hall and took his seat on the
stage. The entrance of the man whom Cain,
DeLarge and others proposed to show as
monster of such hideous MEN," put an end to
all speaking, for whenever Cain or any other
person attempted to speak, the noise of calls
for other speakers, cheers, groans, &C., was so
great, that 1t was impossible for any one to be
heard Elliott, supposed to be friend Of
Bowen, made futile attempt to quell the tu-
multi and restore order. Bowen seemed satis-
fed with the efforts Of his adherents, custom
house employees and others, to prevent any
one from assailing his political career, and said
nothing.
The confusion continued until about 10
o'clock, when disturbance occurred between
two excited colored men. They were quickly
separated, but not before many of the au-
dlence, who thought that 1t was the beginning
ofagrand row, had sought safety in flight, some
having jumped out Of the windows. About
this time Daddy Cain, who proposed to throw
Bowen into the shade, and light upon the
phosphate question, disappeared, and was not
seen any more during the evening. After
quiet was restored Bowen and Elliott were
lifted up by their respective friends and placed
on the speakers desk, and cheers given for
boths From this time uutil l o'clock they sat
on the desk, smiling and nodding to the excl
ted audience, which cheered them both equal
ly, and called loudly for speeches. When Bow
en- would be ready for speech, Elliott would
be loudly called for, and uice rersd. The
displaying Of an United States flag caused an
increase of the tumult. By o'clock, Bowen
and Elliott and the audience were wearied out,
and, as Rowen's adherents were about the only
persons present, and, therefore, there would
be no opportunity for the opposition to hold
their proposed meeting, 1t was determined to
disperse, which was done amid the greatest
confusion.
Never, perhaps, was there so. much disorder
at political meeting. At the first part of the
meeting there was good deal Of hard feeling
between the friends and, opponents Of Bowen,
end there was a prospect for row; but when
the former ascertaIned that they had control OF
the meeting, and the latter recognized the
fact and generally LEFT, those VINO remained
seemed to be good-humoredly endeavoring to
make as much noise as was possible, aud to
stay until the antl-B -Bowenites gave up all hope
of holding asmeeting.
:, It is alleged that Cain had gotten up this
meeting especially for the purpose Of burying
Bowen, and, as he (Cainl had to make an in
glorious retreat 1t Is thought that the columns
Of the next issue OF the Missionary Record
will contain some lively illusions to Bowen
and his adherents.