The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-08-09

he had left. Capt. Tillman left imme-
diately after dinner, to spend the night
with friend in the country.
The Meeting at Florence.
The meeting at Florence on the I'd
inst. was very noisy one-the noise be-
ing made chiefly by the followers of MIR.
Bigham, now candidate for the Senate
from Marion county. Speeches were
made by Governor Richardson, Lieut.
Governor Mauldin and Captain Tillman
and Col. b. w. Edwards. No new
points were developed. Then came
Mr.. Bigham, of whose speech and the
subsequent proceedings the News and
Courier contains the following report:
Mr.. Bigham opened by declaring that
he had been grossly misreprsented by
the "clicks" and rings of Marion coun-
ty.
His subsequent remarks could only be
heard in fragments above tho din, but
he secured silence when he turned to the
News and Courier Reporter and de-
manded fair report. The reporter un-
fortunately has not tho most patient
temper in the world, and jumping up he
shouted: "You seem to be an internal
ass, and if you don't shut up and attend
to your business you will get hurt Stick
to your text, and provo if you can that
| You are not slanderer, but leave me
! alone"
MIR. Bigham remarking, 81 know if |
fail to prove it | will deserve a whipping
and get one" proceeded with his labori-
GUS task. He first quoted Governor
Rlohardson's remarks i'll Greenville as
to him, and said that the Governor this
morning, when he spoke to him at the
hotel on the subject had "eaten dirt"
and said he was "willing to take it
back. Note Governor Richardson
subsequently told the reporter that this
was lie out of the whole CLOTH No
decent man will doubt which to believe.
Above the disturbance MIR. Bigham
was heard to say:
"I'm goin' to whip out the State"
The next thing heard was declara-
ton that the News and Courier had pub
lished everything against him and would
not publish his replies. If he sent any
thing to the News and Courier they
would keep it for eight or ten days until
they could consult the "click." Then
turning to the reporter of the paper he
began to instruct him to note this, that
or the other thing about the News and
Courier.
The reporter got over the benches and
up to Mr. Bigham, and told him that he
could not talk at tn. News and Courier
through him. That if he had any COM
plant against the home office he could
go to Charleston and make it there.
That if he wanted satisfaction in
Charleston he could go down and pelp
himself, and that if he wanted any here
from the representative Of the paper ne
could have it then and there and vel
come. These remarks were emphasized
by the vigorous shaking of fist within
a few inches of Mr.. Bigham's classic
nose. The widest excitement prevailed.
A party of Blghamites were preparing,
it is stated, for raid on the Reporter,
when counter. movement was made by
the more respectable element; and unex-
pected backing came from many quar-
ters. number of prominent citizens
expire ssed their satisfaction at the snub-
blng MIR. Bigham was receiving, and
were apparently desirons of seeing a
regular tilt inaugurated, but Nj. Big
ham, having taken the hint and returned
without word to other subjects, the
Reporter had no reason to continue the
interruption.
Mr. Bigham was now frequently inter
rupted by questions. DR.. Weatherly
cornered him about the furniture matter.
MIR. Bigham declared that he had never
said that Governor Thompson stole the
furniture. DIR. Weatherly insisted on a
yes or no answer as to whether he did
steal it, but Mr.. Bigham lodged the
question. He gave long statement as
to the matter, which, as we'll as could be
heard, was simply rehash of his letter
to the News and Courier upon the sub
Ject, and since answered and refuted
concusively in the News and Courier.
He gave not one new piece of evidence.
simply stating that he did not believe
Col. Sloan's statement or the circum
stances reported about the inventory
He could not find in the Journals of the
House any mention of the resolution
Governor Richardson said he had passed.
Or. Weatherly: "Why did not you
fight these furniture appropriations in
the lIogislature2"
Bigham: 81 had the Marion County
clicks and rings to attend to-"
Mr.. Bigham having commenced SEN
tenco as follows: Solomon being the
wisest man that ever lived" was inter
rupted by chorus of ironic eaculations:
Except Bighamr Then Mir. Bigham
turned on DIR. Weatherly with the ques-
ton: of you object to this, why did not
you send othor representatives from Ma
riOnf"
Dir. Weatherly, (Ievontly): "Would to
God we had not sent you, MIR. Bighnm !"
One of Mr.. Bighams audible remarks
was that he had expected Governor
Richardson to stay aud hear him.
Another was that Col. John G.. Haskell,
fixos up figures so that the farmer can
not understand him them. Then because
$l6 GO had beon paid by Governor Rich
ardson for gas consumed at tho Mansion
and about its grounds during Governor
Shepard 8 Administration when no family
, lived in the house, the fund for tho pui.
pose Of the fiscal year just closed being
exhausted, MIR. Bgham gravely IN.
nounced that tho Governor had been
! guilty of penal offence, and that he
had proved it on him, and that he should
be punished for it al impartialIy as the
man who stole 25 cent chicken. # tho
people Of Marion endorse the principles
Of John Peter Richardson, said he, they
! must send some one else to the Senate
Voices: ave will do it," don't want
the votes Of such people. The Legisla