The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-03-20
SENATOR HAMPTON.
Tho Ex-Governor Interviewed while Fish
ing for Trout.


Tho Ex-Governor Interviewed while Fish
ing for Trout.
A reporter for the News and Courier
was sent to Colleton County on Saturday,
9Th instant, to search for Senator Hamp-
ton and interview him. After tramp
of about seven miles from Green Pond
depot, on the Savannah and Charleston
Railroad, through country roads and
paths, rice-fields, swamps and thickets,
the explorer reached the edge of "Chap-
mans Back Water" Ia pond probably
half mile long by considerable width,
in scratched, muddy, heated and gen.
orally disagreeable and unsightly condi-
ton. Peering through the undergrowth,
lie discovered the familiar figure of SEN
ator Hampton sitting in small canoe in
the middle of the sheet of water, sur
rounded by the pond lilies and "whip-
ping" for trout.
so NEAR AND YET so FAR!
Finally, however, the boat was padded
to the dam by the old colored man who
composed the crew, and the reporter had
talk with the distinguished object of
his search. Senator Hampton is looking
as we'll as he ever has during the past
three years, his face being full and his
complexion apparently perfectly healthy.
The only visible trace of the suffering he
has undergone since his accident is
slight increase in the gray in his whis-
kers. His general health is excellent,
except that the change from his former
active out-of-door life to the necessary
confinement of the past three months has
developed dyspepsia, which causes him
the loss of much sleep. His leg still
gives him great trouble, and frequently
intense pain, the end of the remaining
portion of the bone being dead. The
physicians are waiting to allow this an
opportunity of coming off itself, but
should it fail to do so during the next
month it will probably have to be ampu-
tated.
THE EXTRA SESSION.
Being questioned as to the probability
of his being in Washington at the Extra
Session, he said that it was uncertain as
yet, although he would 60 if he possibly
could. The doctors rather advised against
it, but he hoped to be able at least to go
and pair off with somebody; or else he
might wait and see if the business before
the Senate was important. In case it
was particularly so, he intimated that he
would 60 at any rate, rs he hated, he
said, the idea of not fulfilling the trust
committed to him. He thought he could
stand the travelling tolerably well, but
seemed to dread the idea Of having to
live in a strange place, where he would
be compelled to give trouble.
THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMME.
The reporter asked him his opinion Of
the action of the Democrats in refusing
to pass the appropriation bills without
the amendments abolishing the test oath
for United States jurors and the United
States supervisors of election, and for
bidding the use of troops at elections.
lie replied that he thought the House
was right. He 1couM favor Congress sit
ting toreuer, If necessary, before it receded
an inch from its position. He did not
think the President would have right
to oppose the amendments if Congress
continued to urge them, as such action
would show that they were the will Of
the people.
THE HEATHAN CHINEE.
On the Chinese question, he expressed
the opinion that Mr.. Hayes action was
right. In the first place, he did not think
Congress had the power to abrogate a
part of treaty. He thought that body
wrong in yielding to the clamor from
California.
HAMPToN's RETREAT.
This conversation took place as the
Senator sat in his canoe with the wound
ed leg resting on an air cushion. Several
fine trout, captured by himself and a
little boy, who had accompanied him,
lay in the bottom of the boat, and at the
termination of the interview the paddle
was again piled, and the little craft
foated slowly down the pond. If its
distinguished occupant was in search OF
quiet, he could have selected no better
spot for it. The little lake is surrounded
on all sides by dense thickets and woods,
which shut out the rest of the world, and
with their heavy draperies of gray moss
are reflected perfectly in the clear and
still water, the surface Of which is partly
covered with the broad leaves of the pond
lilies. Saturday was thoroughly spring
like in temperature and slightly cloudy,
with haze like that of the Indian sum-
mer. A moro perfect picture of quiet
and seclusion than the "back-water"
afforded there it would be difficult to
imagine.
AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.
The reporter could realize the out-of-
the-way position of the spot from the
difficulty he experienced in finding it,
the object of his pursuit threatening to
battle him, even when in hailing distance,
by keeping the water between them.
The Ncps and Courier man noticed, how
ever, that there were no provisions aboard
to speak of, except raw fish, and that he
could lie in wait at the landing until
starvation compelled return. He also
darkly intimated that in case the worst
came to the worst, he could swim. I'm
der these circumstances his victim capit-
ulated.
SLOWLY GAINING GROUND.
The Senator seemed in his usual good
spirits, and, when driving home, devoted
himself largely to teasing his young com.
panion on the amount OF bait he had
allowed the fish to filch from his hook
and make Off with. The trout, he said.
had evidently known exactly where they
could get silver.fish without danger oi
being caught. lie passes all the time
possible in the open air, either going
about the yard and grounds, driving OF
fishing, the latter sport having occupied
large portion of the past few days
From all the indications ha seems to be
gradually, but surely, gaining ground
and there seems to be no reason to doubt
that the thousands all over the country
who admire and respect, and the people
of South Carolina who are so proud oi
him, will be gratilied by seeing him live
through many more years of usefulnes;
and honor to himself and his State.