The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-04
THE DARLINGTON TRAGEDY.
A MANS HOUSE is HIS CASTLE.
Darlington and the Dispensary spies-The
Town Ia Great State OF Excitement
It Makes the Blood Boil to Talk ef
Raiding Private Houses-The
Military Told TO be in
Readiness.
fSpeciai to News and Courier. !


man ridden. Several spies have been
here for the past week and to-day Gail
lard put in an appearance. No time
was lost after his arrival, and he and
his associates commenced their work
st once. Armed with warrants and
accompanied by the sheriff and dep
uty they proceeded to make searches.
"A large crowd at once congregated
and made the rounds with these men,
who are engaged in az occupation as
low as it is contemplate. A Tillman
spy need never expect the slightest re-
spect fox himself nor for his office here.
The searches were made quietly, and
while no violence was shown, the
crowd showed not the slightest regard
of respect for Tillman's minions. Sew
erai public places were raided, and two
pints of whiskey were the sole results
of all the searching, nosing and SMELL
ing around.
About this time the report rapidly
spread that three private houses would
be next searched, and it was positively
stated that the spies were moving on
one residence at that time. 1t has
never been the intention of any one
here to OPPOSE the search of what are
considered "blind tigess," but it is the
unalterable determination of the peo-
ple that no home shall be invaded.
When this report got abroad quiet
and determined men were at once seen
walking in the direction taken by the
spies, armed with shot guns and rifles.
This was about o'clock in the day,
and mp to this time everything had
been noisy, but the crowd was in a
good hnmor, though it was evident
that the spies were possessed Of ''that
tired feeling" Everything grew more
quiet while these armed men silently
proceeded to stop this tyrannical inva-
sion of the rights of a free people.
For some reason the spies changed
their course, making detour, crossing
to another street and coming to their
hotel amid the jeers and hootings of a
large crowd. Tbs crowd now was very
large and meant just exactly what their
actions indicated.
In the afternoon the crowd again
gathered but "TiIiman's gentlemen"
did not come down from the second
story Of their hotel.
About4 O'Clock it was accidentally
discovered that the following telegram
had been sent to Capt. henry T.
5 Thompson, commanding the Darling
ton Guards:
s.Pnt your command under orders of
the sheriff and preserve the peace.
"B. r. Tillman, Governor"
Capt. Thompson at once wired back
to Gov. Tinman as follows:
Telegram received. Have conferred
with sheriff, who says there is no dan
!. ger Of a breach of the peace and no ne
cessity for ordering out the militia.
"Henry T. Thompson,
"Commanding Darlington Guards"
Capt. Thompson then called his Off
GERS to consultation with the sheriff
IN the Courthouse.
The crowd was now very large and
was under the impression that the fun
was about over, when they learned
that.Capt. Thompson had received the
telegram ordering him to place his
command under orders. They at once
went to the armory, seized every gun,
and armed with rifles and smiles. pro-
ceeded to the public square. When
tbp rs reached Capt. Thompson he
wentto the crowd, demanding the i'm.
mediate return of the guns. The whole
thing was done in spirit Of mischief,
and upon Capt. Thompson's demand
the guns; were carried back to the arm
ory and delivered to him and he put a
guard over the gun room.
About 6 O'Clock in the evening Till
man again wired Capt. Thompson as
follows:
s'I hear your arms have been taken
by mob. Answer if this is true.
''B. r. Tillman,
"Governor."
Capt. Thompson wired this reply:
"Upon the receipt Of your first tele-
gram I went to the Courthouse, and
was in cons1itstion with officers of my
command concerning it. During my
absence from the armory a party OF
citizens went there and took possession
of the guns. On hearing of it went
to them and demanded that they sur
render them Immediately, which they
did. Inow have all the guns, and have
taken such precautions as will effect
ually prevents repitition of the Incl
dent. Everything quiet.
Henry T. Thompson,
s'Commander Darlington Guards"
In the afternoon things looked squal-
~, and they were as they looked. It is
a settled fact that if any attempt be
made to raid any residence or home
here it will be resisted. The persons
who are resisting this include some of
our best and most law-abiding citizens,
and they-sre quiet but absolutely de-
termined that this shall not be done.
Further movements by the spies will
develop results. At present everything
is quiet. The spies have been ordered
away from the Enterprise Hotel, where
they have been stopping, and had to
seek other quarters. This was done by
the hotel proprietors. It's Stated that
reinforcements will arrive tomorrow.
No crowd that can be brought here