The Indianapolis journal., 1894-04-01
SEARCHING FOR SPIES.
Scenes and Incidents Mt and Near
EIorence=WOrlS of Xi.ilnnts.


COLUMBIA, S. c., March Sl.-Dispatches
from Florence this evening give the follow
ing particulars: The bands Of vigilants
which started out last night in pursuit of
the whisky spies returned this afternoon,
having thoroughly beaten the bush for the
Governors agents. They passed and re-
passed during the night within hailing dis
tance of their game. as the beaten tracks
found in the morning showed, but all to
no purpose. The spies still at large,
and probably safe. All night, on horseback
and on foot, the search proceeded until,
overcome by WEAKNESS, the pursuers were
compelled to call off the chase. At Null
drows MILL about seven miles west of here,
definite information Of the whereabouts Of
the spies was obtained. A citizen named
Williams met nine spies and one white
man. supposed to be their guide, in a
swamp there. He brought an offer of sur
render of the spies to the vigilants, who, at
the time, were at the mill. The pursued
men offered to surrender their arms If given
a guarantee of safe conduct for their per-
sons and also their liberty. The spies, Will
liams said, were to wait until 10 o'clock for
a reply, TO be brought by him alone. VIII
liams returned with an agreement from the
gain time to escape. The pursued men had
all gone. Pursuit of them was delayed by
lack Of organization and discipline in the
band of pursuers. Every man wanted to
have his way, much time was lost
Finally, a Gordon was thrown around the
swamp and men sent to beat up the game.
but daylight showed that the spies bad
slipped by the guard at bridge and had
OF Ia w
spent by the vigilants in nearby towns
where they smashed the State barrooms.
The diSpensary at Timm0nsVille was
blown w, with powder. At Florence Oar
lngton and other places, numbering seven
in all. the vigilants were content to smash
everything breakable. They made ruin
; Of the State dram sh0ps Tie floors Of
Tfllmans barrooms when they got through
were knee deep in broken vessels, and liquor
was flowing in streams. In Florence to-
day there was much excitement, but no
trouble occurred, and the hours passed Qui-
city. Some apprehension was felt when the
Governor ordered Clerk of Court McGowan
10 go into the country TO sound the slogan
and arm the faithful. but McGowan after
TWO or three attempts to get some other
person to carry out the Governors order
gave it up.
thing Is the outgrowth Of the factional
fights and political differences Of the past
few, years, have been mixing on the streets
to-day and discussing yesterdays affairs
eXcitedly at times. but in only two cases
with an approach to fight. About 4
o'clock the Governors proclamation decar-
ing Florence and Darlington In open rebel
lion was received here. For such a grave
subject this Is regarded as the best Joke
of the season, and the Governors enemies
compared 1t to papal bulls issued after the
reformation, accommodating Christend0m
= The he Governor found twenty-three militia
TO go to Darlington, and rushed them
through here on special train to Darling
ton Everything being quiet there, they re
turned Immediately TO BjshOpville. but in no
other way did he interfere with the busi-
ness. Before he acted however, a special
train had brought about forty vigilants
from Marysville. The Governor ordered
Sheriff McLendon to send deputies into the
county TO command peace and bring in
armed bands. The sheriff did not consider
is over.
a telegram dated in Florence at $50 to-
night says that several spies have been To-
ter & Northern road, near Florence. DR.. J..
.. Byrd. a Tillmanite legislator, is rousng
the faithful of Timmonsville to defend the
spies. Florence and Darlington will send
fresh men, armed riding horses through
the country to capture the spies if possible.
A committee waited on the landlord of the
house where liquor constables usually stop
In Florence. They went seeking spies, but
found none The landlord assured them
that he would not hereafter knowingly en-
The Governor has taken military control
of the Wilmington, Columbia & Augusta
road to prevent the vieilants from using it,
but not before a special came from Marion
with thirty vigilants, armed and equipped.
Three spies have been caught near Sumter
taken by vigiants and put under guard un-
10 do with them. Darlington is quiet and
there is nothing there TO stir up a row
just now. Interest centers chiefly in Flor
ence, where men are using Winchesters for
walking sticks