The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-19
GSpecial to News aud Courier.

| Especial to News ana Courier.
| SPAKTANBURG, September l2-The
campaign has opened ir Spartanburg.
| 1t begau-in vigorous way when least
expected. While the-second primary
election was progressing yesterday a
| few Of the Ripgsters were taxing a
lively interest in the voting. They did
not agree like brethren should do, and
they got up sharp little antagonism
as to the two Candidates running Tor
county supervisor.
While this contest was going on IN
the family no one outside took any
special interest in it. But In the after
noon Col. T. Larry CAN'T, being pretty
full of enthusiasm and the chemically
pure, began to denounce in very plain
language several persons who had not
voted, and who gave as their reason for
taking no part in the election that they
were tired of being ruled by a ring, and
while they bad gone with the Reformers
heretofore they were now done with
| them.
Col. CAN'T then proclaimed all such
men as damned traitors. Ore of them,
Mr.. Brown, said that he wanted to get
into no trouble, az be was poor man
and could not pay fac for fighting IN
the street, out if the Colonel would
walk to the town limits he would at
tend to his case. All the men were from
the country who were designated by
Col. CAN'T. Mart Floyd was standing
| close at hand and the Colonel said:
Mart Floyd will do my fighting" His
reply was: "There is not drop OF I'LL
.,,y
wish to sail in I will pay your fines.
The Colonel's Irish then rose and struck
at Floyd, who proceeded in regular
Corbett style to knock the editor OF the
Headlight out before be could tell
where he was at.
| This was soon over, and no one was
seriously hurt. 1t caused considerable
commotion in front of L. P. Walkers
| store, where the row began. Some time
after that Mart Floyd was sitting in the
veranda of the Windsor, quietly talk
ing to some men, when Jesse and
''Scrap" CAN'T came up to him and
said: You have whipped our father,
and now you will have to whip u.s."
Floyd, in most cheerful and accom-
modating manner, Strengthened HIM
self up and said: "All right. Just com e
one at time and will attend to YOU"
Jesse began action at once by trying
to knock Floyd's head off, but he failed
to get in his work properly. The spar
ring was quite interesting until Floyd
planted q sockdologer in Jesse's eye
and they clipched. Some one attempted
to separate them, when Scrap" drew
his pistol, just borrowed for the occa,
sion. At that time John Floyd and
his brother, Andrew, having been noti-
fed of the battle, appeared on the
scene. .-tr'-s~ .5. .55-zs...
| John at once proceeded to arm hin-
self with ''Scrap's" pistol, which be
was endeavoring to shoot. Being one
of these hammerless guns he did not
seem able to discharge it. John Floyd
used the pistol as sort Of settler or
peacemaker and dubbed one OF the
bows on the head, while Mart Floyd
'cleaned up" the other. Andy Floyd
took sort of promiscuoGs part, strik-
ing wherever he saw head. The two
CAN'T boys were considerably dIshgur-
ed. John Floyd captured one Of the
pistols and policeman took theother
They were both borrowed for the pur-
pose of using up Mart Floyd.
Thus ended the matter, so far as'the
fight was concerned. The city council
will have the matter up to-day.
| If this had been ali ordinary street
fight it would not have been worth re-
cording. Iti significant in several ways.
1t shows that the Spartanbnrg ring is
determined to bulldoze and domlneer
over all men, especially men from the
country, who will not be controlled by
them. If they cannot be kept in the
ranks they must be cursed and villifled
until it will be odious to desert. A
citizen OF the county cannot oppose the
ring without being classed as traitor.
During the row Col. CAN'T said that
the fighting had to come and it might
4 as we'll begin now. 1t is known that he
is one of the leaders of the party, a
friend and adviser OF Tillman and
Jagari Evans, aud that he is in their
secrets. 1t may be that the killing
which was suggested by Tillman and
Evans during the campaign, and
which was certainly desired by them,
was what Col. CAN'T alluded to. Just
now IS there is an apparent bolt from
the Ringsters it is very desirable that
there should be something done to keep
them together. The ring plan is to do a
little killing.
In the excitement of the row Col.
Can't said; The boys will be in here
Saturday, and take my part and defend
me-" That is also significant, as certain
prisons in the county are very anxious
to come in and "clean up the town"
During the dispensary excitement last
winter crowd was partially organized
TO come to town and kill the negroes
and burn the city. That was the report
at the tine, and there is no doubt
but there was some foolish talk and
threats.
This morning Col. CAN'T is very peni-
tent. He sees that great mistake has
been made, and he is taking all the
blame on himself. He wishes to ex-
culpate the Floyds and his sons. The
political significance of the whole affair
is what was not expectd. 1t is working
ing against the ring just at the wrong
| time.
Col. CAN'T appeared before the mayor
and said he was to blame fer the whole
affair and that he desired to pay the
penalty for all engagellin it. The may
or fined him thirty dollars, which was
promptly paid. That ends the matter.
Peace reigns to-day.
LARRY ASSUMES ALL BLAME AND
PAYS FOR TWO.
(Spartanburg Herald.)
| T. Larry CAN'T is nothing in his va
garies of manner if not versatile. He
was up in The mayors court yesterday
to answer for his scrapping match with
Mart Floyd Tuesday afternoon.
Mr.. CAN'T assumed all blame, apollo
giz;ng to the mayor and people of
| Spartanburg for his conduct, and prom
ised that nothing of the kind should
occur again. He cleared the Floyds of
all blame and was exceedingly humble.
The truth of the business is, be was so
filed with humility that he apologized
to nearly every man that he mst when
he came out of the mayors court. He
added $50 to the city treasury.