The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-12-13

lington with all available men
which he did, carrying with him
enough men to make.his force in
all twenty-five. Some few Of
these were armed with Winches
tors, but most of them had only
their private side arms. He call
ed on the sheriff to assist in sew
ing processes and used every pos
sible precaution to prevent q con-
tiict with the citizens, and the
Attorney General was sent to, tho
spot to advise and direct his move-.
ments. !.
| The consplrators had armed
themselves with improved weap-
ons, and had called in reinforce
ments from the barkeepers and
their hangers-on from the neigh
boring towns Of Florence and
Sumter. A mass meeting of the
citizens of the three places was
held in the Court House at Dar-
lington and resolutions we're pass-
cd denouncing the searching Of
private residences, under whatev-
or circumstances rs an act of ty-
ranny to be resisted ut oil haz~
yards.
On Thursday, tho Goth, L re-
ceived intelligence of such Il threat
ening character that I wired Capt.
Thompson, of the local military
company, to keep his men under
arms and hold himself subject to
the orders of the sheriff. In a
very little while I received advi-
ces that mob had broken into
the armory Of tho Darlington
Guards and had taken their guns,
and fearing that tho local COM
pany could not be relied upon
ordered the Sumter Light Infan-
try to proceed to Darlington as
soon as possible by special train.
This order was promptly obcyed,
the company reaching there Thurs
day evening.
Tho excitement among the citi-
IONS was intense, and I expected
every moment that 81 conflict
would be brought on; but insis-
tied that the chief constable and
sheriff should complete the service
of MI search warrants. l was on
my way to attend a meeting Of
the Clemson College trustees when
these kilograms We're sent. Fri
day morning early, the Attorney
advising it, 1 ordered the Sumtor
company home. l have always
regretted doing this, because 7 be.
lieve that, had they remained
there until the constables had left
the tirebrands who were spurring
the citizens on to resistance and
trying to bring on riot would
have failed.
! With the conflict at the depot
between the citizens and the con-
stables--who had finished their
work and had gone to take the
train were followed by tho citizens
and the riot brought on in which
two citizens were killed and two
wounded, and ono constable killed
and two wounded, ono very SER
iously-every one is familiar. The
whiskey rebellion had broken out
in full fury, and for twcnty-four
hours mon held their breaths, not
only in this State but throughout
the whole United States, for it ap-
peared that we were Oh the verge
Of civil war.
Fearing trouble, I had cut short
my visit to Clemson and hurried
home Friday. had scarcely
reached the Executive mansion
when, at S o'clock p. m., ! receiv-
cd a dispatch announcing the ter
rible tragedy. And then the con-
spiracy, which had its origin in
the false toaching of the newspa-
pers, began to unfold itself. Dis
patches flew thick aud fast, and
! into every town and hamlet in the
State reached by telegraph wire
the news flashed that tho constn-
bles had provoked the conllict ID
shot down the citizens in cold