The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-08-25
THIS WAS A CLOSE CALL.
Narrow Escape from Fearful Riot a,
Newberry.
From the augusta Chronicle.

From the augusta Chronicle.
NEwBERRY, S. c., Aug. 1S.-Hotter and
hotter grows the State campaign. To-
days meeting almost ended in bloodshed
and in the loss Of many lives.
Colonel Youmans got a chance to
speak first and thus made Governor Till
man face him. A hot colloquy ensued,
in which Tillman repeated his former
declaration that he would not descend to
the level Of blackguard.
Violent demonstrations from both fac
tions ensued, pistols beng drawn and men
rushing on the stand, and it is mercy to-
day that the structure was too frail to
bear the increased weight. Down it went,
carrying the crowd with it and averting
the shedding Of human blood.
Colonel Youmans had bis inning later,
and he denounced the governor as pub
lic.liar and coward, and virtually said
that if Tillman wished to resent it he was
ready for him at the proper time and
place
The crowd today numbered nearly
l.5O0 persons, and the meeting was held
two miles from town. There were about
seventy-fye Tllmanites from Edgefeld
and few from Laurens. The talk on
the streets last night and this morning
was that the Edgehelders came to create
disturbance, and there are many here
who charge them with it, and say that
but for them the wordy war would have
passed off without trouble. There was
no doubt of the complexion of the crowd.
1t was largely against Tillman, the con-
servatives, who expect to carry this
county, numbering about three-hfths OF
the crowd.
Solicitor o. L. Sohumpert was appoint
ed chief State constable by the
governor and he had seventy-fve assist
ants.
Colonel Youmans quoted several per-
sons who had declared that several years
ago Tillman told them he was simply
making his wholesale charges against the
government and the officials in order to
attract attention. "If Governor Till
man denies the truth of this statement
which make, desire him to do so in my
presence"
AS Colonel Youmans said this he
turned and faced Tillman and awaited
his answer. There were thunderous
cheers from both factions, the conserva-
tiyes CRYING, ''Malle him answer, YOU
mans" and the Tillmanites shouting,
"Answer him, Governor"
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.
For few minutes the governor did
not stir, and Colonel Youmans stepped
several PAGES closer, calling upon him if
he had any answer to make to 1t. The
cheers and cries Of the factions increased
and finally the governor arose and said:
"This Is next to the last meeting in the
campaign of 1892. have told this man
at Horny that I declined to sink to the
level of a blackguard, and that would
not notice any questions coming from
him, and / repeat it.
AZ Governor Tillman took his seat
great excitement ensued.
There was perfect Babel Of voices and
the crowd gathered closer around the
stand.
SAID COLONEL YoUMANs,
"Do YOU as Governor of South Caro-
lima condescend to apply to me, public
speaker on the opposite side, the term Of
blackguard? 2"
Governor Tillman-"You have your
answer"
say?" r.,
your answer"
Colonel Youmans-- Till
man, that is az evasion. Willyou please
be man enough to s:,'., posIiv"l''
whether you intend to apply to ne Tie