The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-03
SON TO WASHINGTON"

An Inauguration Fizzle-How th7 "N'
G. 9. 9. c." Did Not Go to Warrington |
"A Prudent General.
The dispatch from General Robert Smaiis,
published In The NEWS of Saturday lnlofm-
Ing the militia companies OF this city, Whicn
had been selected 10 attend the Inauguration
ceremonies at Washington, that IN conse-
cuenee Of the temporary stoppage OF traVei
over the Northeastern Railroad, the arraoee-
ments for the transportation ofthe companies
lad been destroyed, somewhat depressed tne
hopes of The excursionists. The leading spill
i,s of the enterprise beslirred themselves. now
ever, and obtained promise from Vice-Pres-
idept Tyler, OF the South Carolina Road,
to transport them over that line. General
Smalls, who had been charged With taking up
collection among the members OF the Legls'
lature for the purpose OF defraylng tne e4-
penses OF the trip, and was entrusted VIII tne
keeping of the funds, arrived IN the CITY
during the day, and being interviewed on the
subject OF expenses assured his anxious Vlsl-
tors that 1t was all right, and that he would
be at the train at the proper hour. He Is said
to have even gone 80 far as to have shown
them huge package of greenbacks collected
for the purpose. The interViewers retired
with renewed hope and happy hearts. Tne
feeling among the rank and file OF the compa'
niles was "Long live smalls."
As the afternoon advanced the streets were
enlvened by snowy uniforms hurrying to the
place Of rendezvous. The time appointed Tor
the start was half-past P. NJ, the hour OF the
leaving of the Columbia night express train.
The companies selected for the excursion
we're the Carolina Light Iufantry, Captain d.
C. Mlnolt, and the Randolph Rlhemen, Cap
tain R. B. Artson. These assembled IN full
force at their respective pieces Of meeting IN
the afternoon thoroughly armed and equipped,
with kuapsacks, blankets and overcoats. The
Carollnas marched up to the depot, arriving
there about seven o'clock. Before the Ban
doluh Rlfemen lett their hall, however, Gen.
smalls appeared In an adjoining room and sum-
moned Captain Artson, to whom he broke the
mournlul intelligence that he had telegraphed
| 10 Ad,utsnt and Inspector General Purvis 10
provide the nee. sssry funds for the expedl-
tIon. but had not re- eived reply. He, how
ever, generously offered 10 advance SIX hum
dred dollars from his private funds to enaoIe
the companies to reach Columbia, but, at the
same time, expressed comforting doubt as
| to whether they would be able either to 60
farther or return. The general required some
persuasion to make him face the ranks OF the
company In the next room, and break the In
tolIgence to them; and when, at length, be
screwed up his courage TO the point, the ex-
presslons of welcome with which his explana-
tion was received were OF such an exciting
nature that, 1t Is said, the general considered
It most prudent to leave the hall to escape the
tax upon his modesty.
In the meantime the Carolinas had been
suxIously awaiting the arrival Of the general
aad the Randolph Rlhemen at the depot. An
immense crowd of persons had assembled at
the depot to witness the departure OF the ex-
oursionists. At length the hour tor the start
Ing OF the train arrived, but neither the gen.
eral for the Randolphs were forthcoming.
The train waited half honr, and only started
on the arrival Of q breathless messenger, who
made the startling announcement that the e1-
pedilon was q failure. The Carolinas were
exasperated, and General smalls would have
Jared badly had he encountered Them at that
moment. After giving vent to snathemas
loud and deep against the general, the men
returned disconsolately to their homes, and
the bystandera dropped of in little knots to
discuss the affair. Yesterday many vague
rumors to the effect that General Smalls had
left the city were ln circulation. 0ne OF these
represented that he had left the same eve
ming in a carriage, and met the Columbia
train at the Four.Me House or thereabou,s.
The Carolinss propose to hold an indignation
meeting this evening, and pass resolutions OF
censurs upon the generals action.