Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-07-07
THE II d! DAY AT FLORENCE.
THE TIL SCENE OF a MosTTUR-
BULENT MEETING.
Transparencies and Banners
Arouse the Ire of Tillmanites
and BIoOdshed Narrowly
Ayerted.

2 q
FLORENCE, S. G, June 3d.
The meeting today was one OF
turbulence from beginning te
end.
a high wind prevailed Throughout
and dashed the waves, and at times
almost churned them into fury
and though no serious conse-
ouences resulted, asyet manifested
there were singing words spoken,
and the wind popped the ropes
among the rigging like whips.
The ship, as it were, never y,
ceased tossing from the time the
meeting opened until it closed:
There were rocks beneath, which,
though not struck forcibly, per-
haps. as yet seen, were touched
at intervals with a grating sound
that brought a good degree of
terror to the tried, and apprehen-
sion. of danger to all. There were
HANDS LAID cN PISTOLS.
II was feared at one time that
Gov. Tillman and Col. Youmans
might have a personal encounter.
Banners were faunted and
defended. hoisted and pulled down.
There were fights in the crowd
threatening to involve the factions.
Peace and unity we're on their II!
white wings far away sailing
indistinetlY after the precincts.
It should be said, however, that
all this unpleasantness is not the
fault Of Florence or its people, OF
the good countrymen who were
assembled at the meeting. 1t is i
a result of the bitter feeling which
is engendered by the campaign
and which seems to overwhelm the
people everywhere.
From the time the campaign
party arrivedat the Florence depot
last night at 10 o'clock until the
campaign meeting ended today at
4 o'clock the atmosphere in.
FLORENCE WAS uNEARTHLY HOT.
Gov. Sheppard and the con-
servative party we're met at the
depot by a brass bandand received
with loud demonstrations not
unmixed with resentment towards
the administration, by a large body
of men and youths of the town
and escorted to the principal hoted
of the beautiful and progressive
little city.
were accorded aquiet reception by
friends Governor Tillman went
Immediately to his room after
arrival at the hotel and did not
reappear until this morning.
4 crowd of three hundred people
composed of Conservatives (Flor-
ence is by a large majority a Con. OF
seryative city, assembled on the
street, cheered Justify for the
Conservatives, and were addressed
.by Col Youmans and Goyerno'
,cbannard Half dozen Trans,
.paranees with spir;ted legends
.iffsySfested sfila te,npor and
:prredilections of tl.o crowd.
Aftar the spes Hing, long
series of cheers for the Jonse satIon,
and contiuue.i groans for iiilraaTl ,
we're giyen, while the crowd sroed
paif al, l.our. It was stter II
o o5eiocs before the 2to@d dispersed,
and ,ley vent off singing
ING BEN T1LLMAN.
on n-a~sour apple tree"
Two years ago the Governor W, was
hooted and groaned here in a like
manner.
The crowds began arriving early
this morning to attend the meet
ing and men said there would be
trouble. It always required the
utmost effort that could be put
forth to carry the Florence meet
ing over peaceably.
At IL o'clock the crowds:
numbering about 700, assembled
at the stand. They stood upon
their feet in a determined way. Il
was plain that the hosts were al,
most evenly divided, or at least
thought themselves so, though II
was subsequently made evident
that the Tillman faction was IL
the majority.
The crowd pressed close to the
stand. They seemed jealous OF
the ground. Pushed up out OF the
crowd were the transparencies OF
the night before. The opposition
eyed the transparencies and wishod
them down.
The legends were: "save the
Credit of the State" sheppard
and Orr" "Save the State" We
Will Build the College" Bingham
for Congress-" "We VIII Whip
Sheppard and His orrful Flock"
sYoumans and Truth"
These legends acted more to
inahme the crowds and to keep
them inAamed than every speech
delivered. They were red flags
contantly Haunting and strife
stirring amongst the factions and
put practical end to patient
listening by them to any of the
speeches.
The first speech was made by