Evening star., 1894-04-03
TROOPS AT FLORENCE
Destruction of the Dispensary to Be
Investigated.
ABSTRACTION OF THE TOWNS RIFLES
Citizens Frankly Assume All Re-
sponsibility.
Q UIET AT D A Rim G T 0 n

Special Dispatch from a Staff Correspondent
| FLORENCE, S. c., April 3.-The seat of
war was suddenly shifted last night from
Darlington to Florence. The change was
attended with secrecy, and occasional ex-
citement because of the well authenticated
rumor that the troops were sent to Flor
ence to arrest the mayor. sheriff and town
officers The troops had been massed at
Darlington on Sunday night and yesterday
morning, and preparations were made for
a lengthy stay. During the afternoon a
movement among the troops and the pres
ence of a special train on siding indicated
change Of base. The town officials of
Darlington were unable to get any in
| formation from the commanding officers of
the militia as to the program, but it leaked
out that Florence would be the destination
of those who would depart. The Darling
| ton people notified their Florence friends by
wire of the anticipated movement, the
news soon spreading over the town and
causing a commotion. Soon after dark the
special train bearing the troops pulled in,
and, instead Of going to the Union depot,
disembarked it's passengers at a crossing
| of the main streets.
1t was seen then that only 100 men had
come under command Of Adjutant General
Farley, leaving the remainder of the mil
itia on duty at Darlington with Gen. Rich
bourg. AS the tired and disgusted men
trudged up the main street, the band of the
local militia company stationed itself in the
armory and quickened the pace of the
strangers with lively march.
The troops were lodged in the hotels of
the town. The most friendly spirit seemed
to prevail between the militia and the
townsmen, and many reassuring winks and
mods were exchanged.
1 saw Adjutant General Farley immedi-
ately after he arrived. Il cannot at this
time disclose the object of our presence
here" he said, but whatever duty I have
to fulfill will be performed with as little
friction as possible"
Adjutant General Farley possesses the
entire confidence of the community and is
not by any means blind devotee of Till
manism. The statement that the arrest of
the town officials was contemplated soon
became noised abroad, but the citizens re-
Trained from publicly discussing the prob
able outcome.
The trouble in Florence is a direct result
OF Gov. Tillman's action. Under the dis
IPensary law the town is permitted a certain
percentage OF the profits of the dispensary.
1t is provided. however, that in cases where
the dispensary law is violated in any way
the state board of control may refuse the
town its share of profits. Gov. Tillman had
declared that the law was violated at Flor
'ence, and refused to pay the town its
profits. Inasmuch as the law deprives the
town of its revenue from liquor licenses the
Withholding of the 500 was a severe blow
and caused indignation. The mayor pro-
tested to the governor, but Tillman refused
TO submit the protest to the board of con-
trol, and refused to publish it in the state
organ. Last Friday night a posse of citi-
ems wrecked the dispensary and wasted
every drop of liquor in it. NO division of
profits, no dispensary," was the cry The
governor declared that those who assisted
should be punished and the dispensary re-
newed- One of the leading citizens of the
town, not town official, however. said to
me: We are determined tnat the dispen-
sary Shall not be conducted in this town
under present conditions" If Gov Tiiiman
sends constables TO Florence to search and
make seizures they will come to trouble.
The feeling at Florence against the COVER
nor Is bitter and intense. When the people
OF Florence went to bed last night it was
as If sleeping upon their arms
! Ihey arose this morning with a feeling of
serious expectancy, and the events of the
day Will be watched with the keenest
anxiety.
DfspOsing the Troops.
Word comes from Columbia that Gov
Tillman intends to keep the troops at Flor
ence until the matter of the looting of the
Iulspensary Is investigated, and that troops
VIII be kept at Darlington until after the
inquest over the dead citizens is held The
latter Is for the purpose, he claims, of pro-
tectlng the interests of the constabulary
whose responsibility for and participa ton
IN the killing may be fixed at the inquest
Ihls intention of the governor when it
became public this morning, aroused much
Indignation and increased the gravity of
the situation. Prominent men have urged
the withdrawal of the troops insisting that
their further presence is entirely unneces.
sary, and only an aggravation and source
OF irritation to the people, but the governor
is fixed in his determination.
The town officials of Darlington, as q
measure of precaution, yesterday postponed
the inquest until Wednesday, hoping thai
py that time the troops would be with.
drawn and public feeling somewhat abated
Inc action of the governor in insisting up
on the presence of troops at the inoues,
| - ANSNiNCt ny SOiiIe DIS an attempt upon
his part to coerce a favorable verdict fo,
the constabulary. All of the constable.
who were in Fridays fight have escaped
and are in communication with the gov
ernor. If he should attempt to have any
of them present at the inquest relying upon
the presence of the troops to protect them
1t is doubtful If even the influence of the
militia could save them from the vengeance
or the people. There is a great deal OF
doubt also as to how far the militia would
go in support of the governor. There is q
constantly increasing bond of sympathy
between the militia and the people, and II
is hard to imagine what provocation would
induce them to fire upon each other.
Florence this morning was peaceful or
the surface the most friendly relations eA
listing between the troops and the people
But beneath the surface was a feeling OF
hatred and opposition to the governor anC
set determination to resist to the utter
most a renewal of the dispensary and tht
visits of constabulary in connection Will
enforcement of the dispensary laws. A
great deal of confidence is placed in Adju
tant General Farley, who is in command Of
the troops here. He is a soldier of discre
ton. While he expressed his determination
to obey orders, he will do it in a modified
manner and a way calculated to product
the least friction. There is much anxiety
however, as to what the day will brine