The Indianapolis journal., 1894-04-01
SEARCHING FOR SPIES.

Scenes and Incidents at and Near
FlOrence-WOrk of Vigilants.
COLUMBIA, S. c., March 31-Dispatches
from Florence this evening give the follow
ing particulars: The bands of vigilants
which started out last night in pursuit of
the whisky spies returned this afternoon,
having thoroughly beaten the bush for the
Governors agents. They passed and re-
passed during the night within hailing dis
tance of their game, as the beaten tracks
found in the morning showed, but all to
no purpose. The spies still at large,
and probably safe. All night, on horseback
and on foot the search proceeded until,
overcome by WEAKNESS, the pursuers were
compelled TO call off the chase. At Null
drow's Mill. about seven miles west of here,
definite information of the whereabouts of
the spies obtained. a citizen named
Williams met nine spies and one white
man. supposed to be their guide, in a
swamp there. He brought an offer of sur
render of the spies to the vigilants, who, at
the time, were at the mill. The pursued
men offered to surrender their arms IL given
a guarantee of safe conduct for their per-
sons and also their liberty. The spies, Will
liarns said, were to wait until 10 o'clock for
a reply, to be brought by him alone. Will
liams returned with an agreement from the
pursuers but found that the truce was to
gain time to escape The pursued men had
all gone. Pursuit of them was delayed by
lack of organization and discipline in the
band of pursuers. Every man wanted to
have his way, so much time was lost
Finally, a Gordon was thrown around the
swamp and men sent to boat up the game,
but daylight showed that the spies bad
eli,
made off. The remainder of the night was
spent by the vigilants in nearby towns,
where they smashed the State barrooms.
The dspensary at Timmonsville was
blown up with powder. At Florence, Oar
lington and other places, numbering seven
in all, the vigilants were content to smash
everything breakable. They made ruin
Of the State dram shops The floors of
Tillman's barrooms when they got through
were knee deep in broken vessels and liquor
was flowing in streams. In Florence to-
day there was much excitement, but no
trouble occurred, and the hours passed qui-
city. Some apprehension was felt when the
Governor ordered Clerk of Court McGowan
10 go into the country TO sound the slogan
and arm the faithful; but MCGOWAN, after
two or three attempts to get Some other
person to carry out the Governors order
gave it UP.
Both political factions, for the whole
thing is the outgrowth of the factional
fights and political differences of the past
few years, have been mixing on the streets
to-day and discussing yesterdays affairs
eXcitedly at times but in only two cases
with an approach to a fight. About 4
O'Clock the Governors proclamation decer-
ing Florence and Darlington in open rebel
lion was received here. For such a grave
subject this is regarded as the best joke
OF the season, and the Governors enemies
compared it to papal bulls issued after the
reformation, communicating Christendom
The Governor found twenty-three militia
BlSnODgVillp or1a
to go 10 Darlington and rushed them
through here on a special train TO Darling
ton. Everything being quiet there, they re-
turned Immediately to Bishopville, but in no
other way did he interfere with the busi-
ness. Before he acted, however, a special
from Marysville. The Governor ordered
Sheriff McLendon to send deputies into the
hands 20 ina Pe9ce aid and @ bring In
this necessary. He thinks all the trouble
is over.
A telegram dated in Florence at $50 to-
night says that several spies have been To-
Gated at Elliotts. on the Charleston, sum-
ter & Northern road, near Florence DR.. j.
y. Byrd, a Tillmanite legislator is rousing
the faithful of Timmonsville to defend the
spies. Florence and Darlington will send
fresh men, armed, riding horses through
the country to capture the spies if possible.
A committee waited on the landlord of the
house where liquor constables usually stop
In Florence. They went seeking spies. but
7 found none. The landlord assured them
that he would not hereafter knowingly en-
tertain any spies.
The Governor has taken military control
OF the Wilmington, Columbia &, Augusta
road to prevent the vigilants from using it.
but not before special came from Marion
with thirty VigilantS, armed and equipped.
Three spies have been caught near Sumter,
taken by vigilants and put under guard un-
til a decision can be reached as to what
to do with them Darlington is quiet and
there is nothing there to stir up q row
just now. Interest centers chiefly in Flor
erce, where men are using WinchesterS for
Jya king sticks