The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-04
The Darlington Trouble.


So many events have followed one
another in such rapid sequence that it
will be impossible to do more than fur
nish our readers with a brief but con-
nec.ed history of the developments that
have manifested themselves since last
Friday night, after Mayor Dargan's
statement had been given ont.
Adjutans General Farley. after the
refusal Of the Columbia military to 60
to Darlington. was sent out BY Gov.
Tillman on . special train to see what
troops he could collect aud carry to
Darlington. The Sumter Light Iufan-
try having meanwhile learned Of the
action of the Charleston and Columbia
men, refused to 60 with Gen Farley.
Who took his train on down to Manning.
where he procured . detachment OF
eight or ten men from the Manning
Guards, the others refusing to 60. Ae-
companied by these Gen. Farley went
on down to Charleston, where he con-
ferred With Gen. Hueaenin and other
omcers Of the 4th Brigade, but the
conference resulted in the refusal Of the
men 10 20 to Darlington, the refusal
in ayery case being made on the speci-
&c ground that the soldiers did not in-
tend to make war upon their fellow-citr
izens Of Darlington. or to be used eithe-
to protect spies in their work Of search
ing private houses, or to prevent citi-
sens from pursuing and capturing the
sp;es Who had shed the blood of good
men, one Of them Fret having provoked
the difficulty aud opened fire on an un-
armed citizen.
Gen. Farley after remaining in
Charleston until Saturday afternoon.
went TO Darlington. having sent back
the desachmeD. Of the Manning Guards
that had accompanied him. Arrived
in Darlington he wired Tillmsn that
everything was quiet and that there was
no need Of troops.
But in the interim the Gear had not
been idle. he moved heaven and
earth to assemble q force Of soldiers at
Columbia for the purpose of moving
on Darlington aud the wires we're kept
hot with messages to and fro on the
subject. A number of companies.
chiefly from the Northern aud Western
sections of the State, responded favora-
bly, to the Cars orders, aud by Sunday
It vas evident that there would be q
considerable force on hand wherewith
10 move on Darlington. Men came iu
on every train and we're marched to the
Peniten.iary where they were quartered.
except such Of them as we're detailed
to guard the Executive Mansion and
the Dispeneary.
About 8 o'clock in the Afternoon
the Governor issued the following pro-
elamasion which he ordered telegraphed
to every station on the line of the
roads in the two counties, to be posted
IN prominent places:
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, certain persons have assem-,
bled in the counties Of Darlington and
Florence and are now in open rebellion
against the authority of the government
Of this State, and it has become im'
practicable to enforce the ordinary
r Of judicial proceedings under thu
laws Of this State. within said counties
Now, therefore, l, B. R. Tillman
Governor of the State Of South
Carolina, do proclaim such persons 81
assembled to be in open rebellion
against the laws of this State, am d.
hereb4 command all such assen,blage'
of insurgents to dispense and retir'
p~eaceably to their respective abode
within twenty-four hours.
Done at Columbia the 31st day o
March, 1894.
B. r. TnLaAN. Governor.
By the Governor,
j. E. T1NDALI, Secretary of State.
The correspondent of The Augastt
Chronicle writing from Columbia o.
Saturday afternoon, March IL, says
Governor Tillman has no idea 0
going to Darlington. It would b
suicidal. even if United States Arm.
troops we're at his back. He is a badl,
worried man COW. He has not cate,
anything to-day and has taken bu
very little sleep duriog the night.
All day long there has been a con
slant stream of carriages pouring int
the grounds at the Executive Mansion
Tie Governor has been consulting viii
railroad men. military officers. hi
strongest supporters. and others.
a prominent military officer talked
freely to me at the Mansion. He say
he regards the situation as the graves
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