Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-07-28
BRAVE BENETs BLOOD
Shed by Sheep MCGOWAN In old
Abbevil1e.

"A meeting of the anti
Tillmanites was held here to-day.
A free barbecue was provided here
and special efforts were made to
muster a big crowd. Only about
400 were present. The speaking
took place from the portico of the
court house. Col. w. c. MCGOWAN
presided. Speeches were made by
j.. L. Orr and E. B. Murray, who
rehearsed the stock arguments of
the anti. The crowd was-remark-
ably quiet and the meeting rather
tame till toward the close of Muir
rays speech, when some lively
aparring took place. between him
and some inquisitive Tillmanites.
Efforts were made to silence the
questioners, but the speaker in
vited them to ask as many as they
pleased, and challenged any Till
mantle to answer him. Colonel
MCGOWAN also insisted that the
crowd preserve order and that all
fair questions should have respect
full consideration:
In answer to Murray's challege,
a Tillmamite stated that as only
anti speakers had been invited no
prominent Tillmanite speaker had
taken the trouble to be present,
and asked whether aspeaker such
as Lieutenant Governor Gary,
Senator Hemphill or Hon. w. G.
Benet would be allowed to speak
if they were sent for. Mr.. MCGOWAN
assured him they would, and, that
he would answerfor his crowd
and guarantee them respectful
hearing, but gave it as his opinion
that none of these speakers could
be hauled upon the stand by a yoke
of steers. at this some of the Till
NANTES went in quest of their
speakers, while the sparring
continued between Murray and
the crowd. Owing to illness in his
family, Governor Gary excused
himself, but Mr.. Benet soon
came on the stand amid the
vigorous cheering Of the crowd:
5offoWd-t6 d g be orderly, and pledged
them to a respectful: hearing. He
then introduced Hon. w. G. Benet,
who came forward and was greeted
with much cheering, while some
hungry anti complained that the
hash was getting cold.
Mr.. Benet assured them that he
had not come to make a speech,
that not having been invited to the
meeting he had not heard the
i
speeches and therefore could not
undertake to reply. He took q
hand primary by asking all the
ants to hold up their hands. Mr.
MCGOWAN said no, and but few
hands went up. He next askee
the Tillmanites to hold up thei:
hands long enough to be counted
and called on some of the ants OF
the stand to count them. After th'
count Mr.. MCGOWAN announced
; the number as sixty-six, some on
else said Lightweight, and MI
Benet said he had counted on
hundred and twenty; but had no
completed the count. He the
asked Mr.. Ellis Graydon to com
to the stand and count. The Til
man men again held up their hands
and Mr.. Graydon announced tina
there were one hundred and thirty
t four.
Mr.. Benet then asked any ma
! who had been turned against Til
i man by to-day's speeches to hol
r up his hand. Not hand went u
Mr.. Benet again said he had I
: speech to make but wanted to co.
D rect some mis-statements abo'
/. himself in the Press and Banne
and denounced it as delibera
t fabrication. Mr.. MCGOWAN sprar
8 to his feet and said he endorsed tt
8 statementin the Press and Banne
Mr.. Benet replied, "Then W
4 endorse a deliberate classification
e Instantly Mr.. MCGOWAN strue
! him in the mouth with his iii
{. cutting his lips and fingers. II
. blood flowed down Mr.. Benet's ia
~ ~ and stained his short front. In
= moment all was confusion, and b
!. for the GOODNESS of Mayor K.
- Hill and of Mr.. Benet, a bloo'
,. riot would have followec,
After much turmoil 4the cro'
- was quieted for Mr.. Benet to st
~ coo.d ,nd COW that he had NJ