The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-09-24
The Press and Banner.
Wednesday, Sept. "a, 1879.
The Sunday Excursion.


The Sunday Excursion.
Last Sunday the Greenville and Column
bin Railroad ran excursion trains from
Grecnville, Walhalla. Abbevillc, anu Col
nmbia. and intermediate stations, to the
camp meeting which was being held at
Sandy Springs, ten miles above Ander-
son Court House. About II hundred
tickets were sold at Abbeville. At
Hodges the Abbevllle train was met by
the. Columbia train, which was crowded,
and the numbers were increased at every
station until the destination was reached.
The train from this end of the road when
it reached the camp ground consisted OF
eleven coaches, which were filled to a
jam.
The day had little the appearance OF
being the Sabbath. AS a soldier during
the war, and as a citizen during the CAM
paign of 1876, we have seen some pretty
rough crowds, but we think the crowd
on Sunday was equal to anything that VIC
have ever seen. a number OF the en-
cursionists had procured bottles of whis-
kew for the occasion, and as the liquor
began to havet the Q expected effect, the le-
ultimate results followed.
Desiring to see some relatives at Honea
Path, we got off the train at that point,
but we learn that the conduct Of some OF
the parties on the camp ground was rep
~rehensible in tho highest degree. Along
the route as the train nearcd Sandy
Springs it became noisy. Although
ladies were on the cars tho language in
dulged in by some of the men was pro-
fame and obscene, and their q was
otherwise disgusting. 1t is said that
some one on the train shot at some ne
rroes standing by the road as tho train
passed. All sense of propriety and de-
cency was offended by the improper
treatment the negro women received on
the train, while the very air was polluted
with tobacco, whiskey and coarse Ian
guage. ,
On the grounds within a short
distance of the stand much disorder,
loud talk, firing of pistols, &C., are re-
ported to have taken place. At the rail-
road where the train was unloadcd is a
crossing for vehicles. A large crowd
waiting for the departure of the train
were standing there in the afternoon. A
number of mischievous boys stopped
passers-by, cutting the harness of their
horses, taking hold of buggy wheels, or
making other interruptions. a negro
man with q white wife said to be from
Elbert county, Georgia, was there. The
bows took hold of them, Knocked their
heads together, cuffed and beat the negro
until he was prone on the ground. AZ
forwards regaining his feet he ran oi1'
and was shot at rs he went.
In the above we refer to the q
of comparatively a few persons. The
great majority Of those present We're
uuiet, decent and well-behaved, but there
were enough of uncomfortable spirits to
desecrate the day, and to bring reproach
upon the crowd. If Robinson had ad-
vertised his big circus at some point on
the road and run extra trains he would
not have drawn a moro irrevercnt crowd.
II we are to take the conduct OF the
crowd on Sunday as indicating anything
we are approaching a fearful state OF NOR
ais in this country. We have heard some
attach blame to the Railroad authorities
for the running of the tain, but we think
this is all wrong. The blame is elsewhere.
Many good men believe that there is no
more harm in running a train to carry
people to church, than there is in running
private vehicles, for the same purpose,
the only difference is, in the greatly in
creased numbers that 50 on the train.
The railroad authorities in running the
train only answered a public demand,
and offered the accommodation at a low
price, for which surely the public should
not be ungrateful. We cannot see how
they can be held at all responsible for
the conduct of their passengers. The
blame cannot be shifted TO the Railroad
authorities, but must be borne by the
country at large. To prevent a recur-
renee of so disgrtceful a frolic on Sunday
would it not be advisable TO hold camp
meetings entirely on week days?