The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-15
Mack Thomas Having Higljilks.
He Visits the Governor-Is Called
'sMr. Thomas'' and Afterwards the
Honorary Title of "Captain"
is Conferred.
Treated with Distinguished Consider.
alton and "Feels Curious
all Ovcr.'
Drinks Lager Beer with the State
Officers aud Other Gentlemen.
the Merchant Tailor, Send
His Buggy for Him.

Swafield, the Merchant Tailor, Sends
His Buggy for Him.
Capt. NJ. +. Thomas, colorcd, of the
Bloody Eleventh, called at our office Il
few days ago, and gave a glowing account
of his visit to Columbia. He was at all
the State Offices in tho Capital, and says
that he was never as we'll treated in his
life. lie went first to the Governors
office and was introduced to his Excel
lency. When the Governor addressed
him as "Mr. Thomas" he "folt curious all
over, and when he next day called him
captain he could scarcely stand it,"
Mack, as we call him, explained to the
Governor all about the reorganization OF
the cOlorcd military company at this
of our citizens at least, had not heard.
fore existed at this place needs no eulogy
from us for the active part it has taken in
years gone by to solidify the negroes
against us. Mack explained that he had
been elected captain and that he wanted
a commission for himself and the other
officers for this delectable company. AT
this meeting the Governor was very po-
lite, and Mack says he was the '~cleverest
man he ever met. lie wishes that every
Republican in Abbcvillc county could
have an interview with him and all tho
other State officers" Mack says that
General Noise is 4 nice gentleman" He
said that "the General expressed himself
rs happy to meet him." The General
introduced him to the Secretary of State
as Captain Thomas" General Noise
also introduced him to the Treasurer,
Leaphart. and other officers, and he was
otherwise shown the courtesy usually eX-
tended To distinguished citizens. When
Mack went back the next day, they all,
from the Governor down, addressed him
as Captain" The Governor said ''you
have an intelligent face and I like your
c~ountcnance very much, and I will i'm
pose an important duty upon you-the
collecting of the State arms now in the
county,"
Mack says he was invited by some OF
the State officers to take q seat in a fine
bret drawn by two horses, TO go to witness
the target shooting. Here he was treated
better than ever. lie was introduced to
all tho elegant gentlemen there as "Cap-
tain Thomas, from Abbeville." Nobody
called him "Mister," and he was certain
that nobody thought of calling him
MACK ."-they didn't know that part of
his name at all. Several gentlemen asked
him to drink lager beer with them, which
invitation he accepted.
After Mack had been going around
with the distinguished Democrats, a
party of black Radicals approached him
and said, "Hcllo, Thomas, you are going
back OH us. You used to be q good Re-
publican" Mack said, "What do you
mean?' "Why, we see you going around
here with Noise and Haskell and these
other fellows. They are the worst kind
of Democrats. They haven't got q bit of
use for q nigger." Mack said, ~ am
looking out for Mack Thomas now. I
attending to my own business"
Mack says he has been going to Colum-
bia over since 1878, and he had as
glorious q time in all his life. He knows
the Democrats now in Office in Columbia
are better than any of the RAIDS that have
held position there.
Thursday morning Mr.. Swaflield, the
tailor of Columbia, sent his
horse and buggy to the hotel where Mack
vas stopping, with the request that "Cap-
tain Thomas would come to see him."
Mack got in the buggy and was driven to
the front of tho store where he was met at
the door by Mr.. Swafiield, whose urban
ity made quite q favorable impression on
Viz SupGtllls Xt1sO ~ i1o llOtiSSu IA Va
Register his appointment as Captain and
to contract with him for a uni
form for his company, exhibiting at the
time all his samples, and proposed
to send q tailor up to measure the compa-
ny whenever they determined to have a
uniform made.
He said he also visited ome of the eGi-
in Columbia. He was much pleased
with their politeness. They called him
captain" and he called them ''editor."
Captain Thomas says he doesn't
know which side he will take in politics
next time, but he "guesses that he will
be on the right side."
1t may be good policy to arm a compa-
ny of such men as Mack Thomas in this
community. but we are unable to see it.
The Governor thinks SO, however, and we
do not propose to commit treason just
now, by expressing a different view OF
the matter.