The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-04
home. Beyond this they have nothing

rifles and shotguns to defend their
rights against such government. The
temper of the people here is unmistsk-
able and if other towns followed Dar-
liugton's example Tillman's dirty work
would require even lower and dirtier
tools than bis spies now are.
THE LOCAL COMPANY IN SUMTER, 8. c.,
CALLED ON TO sUBDUE DARLINGTON.
SUMTER, March 29.-Our little city
was thrown into state Of excitement
| this afternoon when the news was re-
ceired here OF the threatened conflict
between the State constables and the
! citizens Of Darlington. No definite
facts could be obtained and every one
| who had heard the rumors was anxious
to learn more and the excitement was
considerable. The excitement of our
people was intensified when it was
learned that the following telegram had
been received by Capt. Phelps:
COLUMBIA, s. c., March 2S.-Capt.
A. C. Phelps, Sumter Light Infantry:
Can your company be relied upon to
upheld the law? A mob has possession
| Of the town of Darlington.
.... B. r. Tillman.
In reply Capt. Phelps telegraphed:
1.-The Sumter Light Infantry will
uphold the law"
A little later telegram was received
from Darlington stating that all was
quiet, and that the report had been ex-
aggerated.
Governor Tillman has since notified
Capt. Phelps that the services Of the s..
L. T. would not be needed, as all was
quiet again.
THE sAcREDNEss OF HOME MADE AN
ISSUE IN THREE COUNTIES.
DARLINGTON, March 29.-Darling-
ton has had another day of excitement,
but it was that quiet, suppressed excite
ment, dominated by self-control and
rese!ute determination. This morning
twelve Til1man spies, armed with Win
chester rifles, came in on the 8 o'clock
train. They went to the sherif's resi-
dence, about mile from the business
portion of the town.
AS sooa as the arrival of the spies was
positively known, meeting of the
citizens assembled to take such steps as
they deemed necessary. The meeting
was without any excitement whatever,
but determination sat upon the coun-
tenances of ali aud only determined
words were spoken. A committee was
sent to the sheriff and he was notified
that 20 resistance would be offered to
any arrests he might make when armed
with warrants. At the same time he
was Informed that any attempted ar
rest by any spy would be resisted to
the las extremity, and that no inva-
sion of private residences would be al
lowed. -.
A this stage it was announced that
Mrs. Hodges, the prcprietress of the
Enterprise Hotel, had made the spies
leave her house last night, not because
she feared any violence to them, but
because they were Objectionable char
acters to her. A purse was at once
raised and handsome solid gold souve-
mir spoon was purchased and COM
mittee appointed to present this token
OF regard to Mrs. Hodges. The COM
mittee at once discharged this pleasant
task and Mrs. Hodges received the
souvenir most gracefully and with
many thanks.
The spies did not show themselves on
the street at all during the entire day,
but rumoss filled the air and the tele-
graph wires were kept busy. About
noon it was authoritatively stated that
the spies had wired for a Gatling
gun corps. and q little later it was as
certained that the Sumter Light In
faptry had been ordered here by Till
man. Then it was that your cores
pondent was kept busy. kilograms were
received from Sumter Florence and
Cheraw Offering assistance. At2 o'clock
q telegram was received stating that g
special train would leave F'lorence
bringing help.
This train came rapidly in and forty
men flied out ready to stand by those
who met them. They were escorted to
the Court House, which was soon filed
entirely with white men. While the
meeting was in progress another tele-
gram was received from Sumter stating
that friends were coming from that
quarter on special train.
These "Game Cock" boys were met
and escorted to the Court House, where
the interrupted meeting was resumed.
Then it was that the most spirited
Anti-Tillman meeting ever seen in
South Carolina was held. Ringing
speeches were made, but no rash mea-
sures were advised. Good and true men
all over our State would have rejoiced
to see the spirit shown. It was not the
action of thoughtless men, but showed
the unutterable determination 3 resist
iniquitous and malicious persecution
by despot who has only his own aims
to advance.
The tenor of the meeting was unmis-
taxable and its moral effect would be
felt throughout our State were the ez-
ample here shown followed. The Pee
Dee section has set the ballrolling, and
thoughtful men can see in the meeting
held by representatives Of three coun-
ties here to day the beginning of the
end. The spies were for the time lost