The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-07-26
EXCITING SCENES.
pIS OILS DRAWN AT THE EDGEFlELO ID
CAMPAIGN MEETING.
Tho lis mburG Affidavit ProJuood Inv Sen


t'oduoes n Counter Amdsvlt-At Ono
Time Riot was In Sight.
EDoETIELD. S. G., July 19.-The same
ed the shedding Of blood at campaign
meetings in this State interposed again
To-Day. With eyes glaring like tigers,
WIN hands on pistols and with open
dlrks and knives ready for deadly exc
cutlon, III lacked only one overt act,
only one blow, to have precipitated q
battle which would have left hundred
dead and wounded mon on the platform
and grounds Of Academy Grove. limo.
cent women and children would have
su1tered ana the consequences would
have been horrible.
l. nave seen the eyes Of men dance and
the muscles quiver. / have seen tho
hand 40 to the pistol pocket, the glim.
mer OF the bright weapon aud the
smoke clear away after the trigger
was pulled, but have never seen Wild
or or more ferocious expressions in the
eyes of human beings than was exhib
tied here today. | looked at any mo-
ment to see shot fired and to SEQ the
| fray commence.
The scene of the trouble was on the
speakers stand. Right here it IS well
to remark that the lives of every pub.
Tic man are endangered by permitting
anybody on the stand but those enti.
tied to be there. With racked stand
ana every man possessing q pistol few
bullets will go astray. At the first in
timation of trouble desperate men
crowd on the stand to be in the heat
OF the fray. If everybody was forced
TO stay on the ground the danger
| I>>1 u
row there would be room and opportu-
hlty for innocent people to get out of
harms way.
The row occurred just before the
closing OF the meeting and during SEN
ator Butler's speech. 1t was precipita-
ted by the uncalled for remark of a
man to Senator Butler. 1t would have
come, however, with almost ANYTHING
or any remark. 1t was in the air, and
nothlng was needed to cause the explo.
sion. Senator Butler did not intend it,
but If he had not lost his temper to
some extent the trouble might not
have been so intense. The veteran of
battles and bullets let passion get the
better Of him for few minutes. lie
not only called man liar who had
insulted him, but repeated it two or
three times. lie had become exasper-
ated by The cheering for Tillman and
was In mood to vent his anger on
any man.
The crowd numbered 200 people and
was male up of the most peaceble and
the most desperate men in Edgelield
County. Governor Tillman had the
majority OF the crowd by several hun
dred, although Butler supporters were
to be seen in all directions. AS the in
tereSt to the public will centre in the
speeches Of the Senatorial candidates
and in the trouble which was the out
growth OF those speeches, | will ONLY
give them. will simply give the facts
and let the public make up its miud as
| 1t sees fit.
During the speeches Governor TIL
man sat toward the back Of the stand,
talking with friends and listening to
the candidates. He has changed his
white helmet to a dingy yellow one of
the same style. Senator Butler sat
near the front Of the stand. He wore
the old straw hat which has crowned
his head from the first day at Rock
lllll until now. In his right hand he
held the long walking cane which
some friends gave him and which he
cheriShes.
WILD OVER TILLMAN.
Governor Tillman was greeted when
he advanced to the front with a tn
| multi Of applause, wild cheering and q
| Waving.of hats. Ills partisans rose to
their feet and jumped in tho air and
yelled.
have known Governor Tnlman for
years and have reported many u
speech of his, but | never saw a tear in
his eye until today. 1t came when he
opened his speech by saying that his
heart was filled with gratitude to the
people or lGdgelield, to home people,
those who had stood by him on eyory
occasion. lie talked Of MS previous
campaigns and what he has done for
the people.
Voice: "IIov is it that taxes are
higher p
Tillman: "rhey are not and you
| Governor Tillman said that tho peo-
pie arc divided. but 1t was through no
fault OF his. lie said that Butler now
spoke or the antis and the uncles lie
told how the uncles had been imposed
on for years until they rebelled. But
| Ter is hlstling to GET tho votes of the
uncles, but will not get them. If ever
man tried to ride two horses my
friend, the General, is that man. lie
has lost the love and respect of the
men who supported Sheppard. but they
are goiug to support him because they
hate me.
Ono Of the produest days of his life,
Governor TillmaM said, was when the
Edgefield Rifles came to his assistance
urlng the Darlington trouble and were
followed on the next train by the Edge
field Hussars. Irrespective of political
diers.
a literal volcano Of applause fol-
lowed the Governors remarks on this
subject.
MIR. Tindal advises, said Governor
Tlllman, that the uncles allow the an
tis to come back into the family. l
don't object If they are penitent and
honest, and IL they no longer claim to
be- the best people on earth For God's
sake let's have peace If these people
really want It,"
The Governor turned his attention
to national politics and said that a
shaking up Of the antis is needed in
Washington. daughter and applause.)
Taking a silver dollar from his pocket,
Governor Tillman said: "The News