The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-08-01
Anfiersonville's Gala Day.

his land.
Andersonville's Gala Day.
The pic mic at Andsrsonville on
Wednesday, Mth ult., may be very prop
erly. characterized as stupendous affair.
Itis altogether probable that it far sur
passed all similar occasions OF purely
social nature that ever took place in An
derson County. The size of the crowd
could only be approximated, of course,
but the general estimate put it at five
thousand, and what is remarkable as well
as gratifying was the almost total absence
of rowdyisln and intoxication. The good
behavior of the vast and necessarily hete-
rogeneous throng would be hard to match
anywhere, and Carolina and Georgia are
proud. The only hinderance to the full
enjoyment of the pleasures OF the day
were dust and heat.
: Four highways center at Andersonviue,
and along these from the opening day till
noon an almost unbroken stream of hui
manity poured into the place, and from
about3 p. m. the ef1ux began and con-
tinued till actual nightfall. Great crowds
blocked the ferries nearly all day, and
many. persons from this city and other
points in the County sought egrsss by the
circuitous route of Earle's Bridge.
The stand was erected In natural am
phitheatre near the apex Of the highest
hill between the rivers, affording fine
view Of the point of intersection, which is
but a few hundred yards distant. This
hill, which is probably two hundred feet
above the river level, is capped With
beautiful grove of spruce pines. The
speakers stand was q model Of appropri-
ateness, the fact that che pic mic was an
interstate affair being happily symbol
izad in the decorations and inscriptions.
The stand was heavily festooned with
vines and flowers, and was surmounted
with the Stars and Stripes, and the colors
of the Palmetto Riflemen of this city. It
was desired to have the flag of similar
organization from Georgia, but none
could be had. On the gable of the canopy
of the stand were the wolds in old Eng
lish letters "No more twain, but one
people," Above this was the word "Sa-
vannah," fanked by the abbreviations
"s. c., and Sea-" and these inscriptions
were crowned by the seals Of the two
Commonwealth in colors, placed in juxta-
position and environed by wreaths ofever.
green. To the right and left of the.speak-
er's stand were stands erected for the band
from this city and that from Rartwell, Ga.
These bands discoursed music alternately
throughout the day. Mr.. E. 2. Earle, the
proprietor of Andersonville, at consldera-
BILE expense to himself, left nothing un-
done to ensure the full success of the occa-
sion, and before the speaking closed q
resolution expressive of the thanks of the
public to him and his family therefor, was
| read and endorsed with a hearty good
will.
At12:O2 o'clock Maj. B. II. Whitner, Of
this city, called the vast concourse to
order, following which comprehensive
and appropriate prayer was offered by the
Rev. ). Walter Dickson. Mayor Tribble,
of this city, then made the address Of
welcome in fit terms, and this was re-
sponded to in good style by Eon. A. g..
McJurry, Of Hartwell, Ga.
Maj. Whitner then briefly am 'h be-
coming phrase introduced W. he
chose to style the "orator Of the day."
Mr.. Henry w. Grady Of Atlanta. As he
stepped to the front, Mr.. Grady was re.
.ceived with enthusiastic applause, and for
one hour and eleven minutes he held the
closest attention of the great assemblage
who had pressed about the stand to catch
his every word. Scores of men who were
unable to get seats, stood in the burning
heat during the entire speech without
moving. their attention being all the
while riveted on the great speaker. The
speech may be characterized in word as
a speech for farmers. The peroration was
a specimen of probably the sublimest
word painting ever listened to-. A good
portion of the speech was compenda-
ton of the great farmers movement in the
South. He spoke of the disproportion.
ate flow of population from the rural dis
tricts to the great cities, the growth and
over-weening greed and rapacity of the
| plutocracy, and the tendency to Gen.
tralization in governmental affairs, and
cited these as the great dangers which
threatens our country.
Hon.J. 8. Cothran followed in g short
speech, in which he touched on national
affairs. The attention and applause 40.
corded him were an attestation Of the
confidence the people have in him as
their representative in Congress.
The last speaker was the Hon. II. FL.
Carleton, of Athens, Ca, himself MEM
ber of Congress, and the patient hearing
given him by the hot, weary, hungry
and dust-begrimed crowd IS proof OF his
earnest eloquence.- Mr.. Carleton made q
record during the war as the gallant
Commander of the Troupe Artillery.
A rich collation. for the Grady party and
Others specially invited was spread by the
ladies beneath the sycamores which
shade the yard of the old Harrison resi-.
dence.
At about o'clock p. m. Mr.. Grady's
psrty started on the voyage down the
river in three eanopied boats, which had
been brought to Andersonville for the
pose. AS Mr.. Grady's boat, which may
be termed the "dag-ship," slipped her
cables swung loose from the Carolina
shore of the Georgia ferry and turned her
Prov down stream, there were waited on
the air the familiar notes of the boat
bugler-the irrepresslble darkey mounted
astern.
Mr.. Grady was accompanied from At
lanta by H. ". Grady, Jr., young mau
of probably sixteen years, and Mr.. q. W
Barrett, of the Constitution staff. There
were in the river party also Hon. Fl. e.
Carleton, Larry CAN'T, Of the athens Ban
ncr, J. Rice Smith, Of Augusta, Coils. w
a. Maddox and C. NJ. Swift, of Elberton,
and Mr.. J. NJ. Baker, of Lowndesville,
and other gentlemen whose names we
failed to get. There were number Of
!! prominent persons at the pic mic, notably