Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-07-17

{ Campaign Meeting at Sumter.

II
[special to the Grcenyille Daily News.l
SUMTER, s.. C., July 8 The cam
paign meeting here to-day was the
largest Of the entire series. There
were we're more people presenS than at
I4aurons Or Columbia and the evcnts
Of the day were lively in the extreme,
Fully 5000 people were present.
Sumter County turned out en- aaasse
and other counties sent large dclega-
tions. It is said that Orangeburg,
Berkeley and Clarendon counties
sent a solid Tillman delegation num-
boring 600. A special train came in
from Columbia this morning having
one hundred and fifty anti-Tillman-
ties and the famous Capitol City
Band.
The streets of the town after tho
trains had got in looked like those of
a large city. The side walks were
packed and jammed to such an ex-
tent that passage was almost blocked.
The widest excitement prevailed
from early morning until after tho
meeting was over. Earle banners
tluttered from almost every conspicu-
GUS point.
The streets at several different
points We're spanncd by banners
bearing Inscriptions complimentary
to General Earle. Here and there
also, but less numerous, were Till
man flags. Each side seemed to vic
with the other in enthusiasm and
lavishness of decoration.
BY order of the town council the
bars were closed tightly from six
o'clock in the morning until after tho
speaking was over. This wise pre-
caution no doubt prevented a row
which probably would have been Of
a serious nature. AS it is, however,
the crowd was the most intolcrant
that has assembled at any OF the
meetings.
Conservative estimates figure it
out that two-thirds of the crowd
was anti-Tillman. Some, however,
think that it was more equally
divided.
General Bratton spoke first, Capt.
Tillman second, and General Earle
next. The stage Was one of the
most beautifully decorated seen dur
ing the entire campaign. Flowers
in profusion could be seen at every
hand. Indeed General Earle stood
in acollection of bouquets when he
made his speech. They we're pre-
sented to him by the ladies of Sum
ter who have espouscd his cause
with the warmth of veterans. They
attended the meeting to-day in a
body and so deeply anxious were
they to hear that through the assist
ance of male attendants they climbed
up on the roofs of adjoining houses
and encouraged their favorites by
waving handkerchicfs and other
modes Of attention.
The speaking occurred near the
Court House, in the centre Of the
town, and after covering all the
ground adjacent to the stand, some
of the huge crowd who could not
otherwise be accommodate climbed
on the roofs Of houses and into trees.
Realizing that the meeting would be
largely attended and tumultuous, the
city council employed twenty five
extra police for service during the
day, and there was not one too many.
Had liquor been accessible four times
the number could not have preserved
order and prevented rows.
Even under such circumstances
seven arrests were made, and in each
instance bloodshcd was narrowly
avoided.
Captain Tillman was carried to
the stand in q two-horse wagon
drawn by sixty or scvonty-fve of
his friends. A handsomely decora-
ted carriage drawn by five sorrcl
horses was prepared for General
Earle, but he preferred to walk to the
stand and was therefore accompanied
by a single friend. A brass band,
however, followed in the rear and
announced his arrival to the waiting
multitudes.
There was nothing in any of the
speeches out of the usual routine.
Owing to the excited condition of
the crowd Capt. Tillman and Gene
raj Earle did not have the usual col
loquy. In fact both found it diff
cult to speak at all.
General Bratton received respect