The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-02-25
WITHIN TILDENS GRASP.
HOW HE MISSED THE PREsIpESGy
BY ONE HOUR. Ee
An Interesting IL Not Important story
About the struggle in 'Ssyenty-sl;. -

|
| Correspondence Of Tie Aug,tsta Ohrontclc.)
| COLUMBIA, 5. g., February GA
| few evenings since three old veterans
of 1876 were scaled around u comfort
able fire putting their fragrant uavunas
aNd discussing the numerous exciting
eycnts in which they had been partici-
pi"ls. Two Of them were eX-State,
Srn&tpls and one an cX-Siute officer of
| 1910 as the latter forced :, cloud of
DiuG smoke from his mouth and sent il
| curling upwards, he said: "Did Won
ever hear hu" near TildrlI came To- re-
crlHlnS The rlrc.urul vote of South
Chroli"a!' His triruls had heard
something on this subject, but il he had
anything new to offer They would be
glad TO Iisicn. "Wcll. gentlemen" he
proceeded, "Tildcn was within one
hour of being President Of the Unilcd
States The South Carolina Republi.
can electors were for sale, but they
came high. The Democrats wanted
them, however, although their price
was II little cX"rbitani. The State
committee was nol in a position to
purchase their votes ana had little III
trest III or desire TO Ito 80, rs lamp
|
the people were SO riJuiccu over this
'liitl National uiaitcrS were regarded
as ct small consequences. The National
Committee had Information of the COLI
dill"n of the electoral ticket, and was
somewhat more Inclined to invest.
he q d'hrult!, however,, was that the
fcpubichh electors were such con-
snmtnate Scoundr"ls that no Retainer
c"ulu DC placed on their promises. Il
WAS necessary then to secure Il thir,
party 10 conduct negotiations. n
broken Columbia baukcr, whom we
: Will call Hardy, who had received II
r"rt of the piunder OF the Radical
crowd, was selected. lie soon Der
, fcctcd arrangements for tran fer
of the votes from Hayes to ridden for
the sum of $CO,OUO. The Democratic
representative ac''cdcd to the proposal
aud dire cled Hard! to go immediately
TO Barnum'S Hotel in Baltimore and call
, al room ~, where he would find Il
party waiting who would pay over the
amount agreed upon. Hardy arrived
promptly at Bar-um's and examining
. me lla,nc ON the hotel register op roslic
u room AZ, he found that it. was 50 badly
J. Written that hc was unable to +, ad f.
! lie called the clerk to his assistance,
u but this gentleman also failed to dcci-
Il pher the signature. Hardy walked up
I l." Al and Knocked, but receiving no
answer retired. lie StrOllcd out ON
the street, and while walking along
> ltlSurcly stranger placed his hand on
= Ills shoulder and said: HNUu are
wanted at room A." Hardy immc-
; dlatrly returned, opened the door and ,
!, as he stepped into the room, the dooi
' closed with snap and he found him
7 self locked in He awaited Il short
!, while, when Il gentleman entered unu
= al once proceeded to discuss the sub
: Jcct that bad brought them together.
= nc terms were quickly arranged, but
u the stranger informed Ia,dy frankly
= that he was unwilling to pay over 80
" large sum to him until the vOle had
II been cast. TO this Hardy replied that
u he had promiSeu not to telegram the
i electors to surrender until nc had the
J. money in hand. Time was getting
y short. Ii was the day for tho vote to
, Oe cast and nearly tho hour. In ihi,
= emergency the stranger asked Hardy
~ /! he would be willing 10 accept the
II pledge OF Il certain private merchant
= that the amount would be paid, and
i send the telegram. Hardy agreed To
; lhls, ana they went in great haste to
y see The merchani, only TO find that he
j. had lett the town one hour before and
y could not be reached. The telegram
;" was never SEM. the vote OF the S,alu
o wa given to Hayes, and that is how
II IlldrE came within sixty minutes of
being Pre-idcnI."
"llat Il good yarn" said an cx-Sen.
ator, "but did You ever hear the real
n reason why the the fight in the dual
Legislature failed to take place !
llic others had heard some causrs
assigned, but were not sure thai
+ they were correct. "W,n," the cX-
.S Senator continued. 81 can 1iyc Won ,h,,
l. facts. The Republicans had laid their
q plans well. II hey had tic culurcd Hun
l. hidori Club, from Charleston, as YOU
u VIII remember, composed of the most
= Dru'al and daring cla~, of low country
y negroes, stationed in lc ;,IaIc House.
Il near the RcprGScitaiihC Hall, well
! armed and ready TO respond 10 any
II call. The United Stalea troops were
: on the lower tluOr, within easy reach
is if needed. The Republicans only had
&c iiliy-ninc members, NOT Cunslitu-
n Ilonal quorum. and they could moi
II afford to lose Il single Representative
u These members were directed, on Il
q certain night, previously agreed upon,
II 10 fttlrc one al lime from the hail
: anu nave lntlr places taken 10y men
: from the llunkiduris. The Unlcd
J. SlaieN Lieutenant who was to COM
e mand the guard that night Was bitter
y Republican partis;m, and had agreed
q t. give all the aSsioiamcc needed to
:. destroy the Democrats. TIp niuh hl
. arrived and arrangements to execute
Il the plan were begun, when TO the
Il establishment Of the Republicans they
e found that the officer in com.nund OF
: The troops was not their man, and
i furthermore that nc refused to be a
! party to amy such murdrrous designs.
The game was blocked and before it.
could be II -arlamgrd The leading Dem
"crats hai discovered the plot, and in
II order to avoid Diuudshrd had left the
II State House. ThrSe facts are sand to
have been furnished several Years alter
d ward" by E. w. NJ. Mackey, who wa.
!, Speaker Of The Rnnp House, and the
| leader of The RpuubhrIu -