The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-07-22
MISS TlLLMANS DEATH.
tIGHThIMG'S FEARFUL WORK RE
MOVES A WoMANLY WOMAN,


The Eldest Child of Senator Tlllmsn, While
Ont Horseback Riding at Erevard n. c.,
is iestantly Killed with Her Escort.
COLUMBIA, $. c., July T1.-Sym-
psthy deep and sincere Of all Colum bia
was felt for the b=reaval family of
Senator Tlllman yesterday, when the
few brief lines were read telling of the
tragic death OF his eldest daughter, the
pride OF his household Inquiries were
heard on all sides from those anxious
to know more OF the details. but moth
my could be learned until the train
bearing the body reached this city last
night.
SOME lime before tie train Was due
numbers OF friends began to arrive at
the uolon depot, among, whom were
Assistant Attorney General Townsend,
Col. w. w. Bruce. Col. Mixson,
Frank Tompkins, Chris Atkinson,
Fitz Norton, General Watts, Cover
nor Evans and scores of others, who
came Out despite the pouring rain to
pay their last tribute to this popular
and we'll known young woman, who
Was 4 shining example OF all that is
excellent
Accompanying the body were Mr..
/. &. McNeely, general agent of the
aeodersonyille aud Eregard railroad.
aud Meases, q. x Gunter, private sec.
retary to Governor Evaus, and T. ".
Bunch. "a uncle of Miss Tillman, the
Latter TWO having gone to meet the body
at 5partanburg. Mr. McNeely was in
che party when Miss Tillman was killed
aud Was the only eyewitness Of the
sad affair.
Mr.. Fl. f. Addicks, Jr., MISS Nettie
Addicks, Miss Adjie Tll!mau, Miss
Mae O'Bryan of Allendale, S. c., Miss
Lizzie Bingham of Salisbury, N. c.,
Miss Annie Warren OF Hendrsonville,
the Raw. Robert 4. Lee Of Yorkville,
Mr.. NJ. D. Cooper of B.evari, with
Mr.. McNeely, composed the party
from which death was to snatched two
members.
Mr.. McNeely said: ct was 10 a.
m. on Wednesday when we left Hen.
dersonville Tor Brevard, which place
was reached al 1l:30 o'clock. BY 12:30
all OF the persons have named were
mounted and on the way 10 ascend
Rich mountain, which is six miles
from Brega"d. When three-quarters
OF q nlle from the top OF the mountain
We were overtaken BY thunderstorm.
The Trescott house was few hundred
yards. away and all hurried there to
get out OF the rain"
Miss TilIman, Mr.. Lee and stop
ped, however, in order for Miss Till
man and myself to change horses, as
hers was afraid OF the thunder: BY
the time the change was made, the
rain began to fall and all three OF US
took shelter under some chestnut
bushes, but about 40 feet away was a
large oak tree.
MISS Til!man and Mr.. Lee still re.
mained on horseback, the former with
an upralsed umbrella, while [, 30 feet
away, WAS standing on the ground. 1t
was wille this waiting mat q Doit4ot
lightning struck the tree and coutinu-
Ing, instantly killed Miss Tillman, Mr.
Lee and their horses. The shock was
so severe that my horse was knocked
down, but only had my finger burn
edsllghtly. This was at 3 80 o'clock.
In a few seconds 1 was by the side
OF the two fallen people. Not mus
Gle of either moved, their death was
instantaneous. There was no mark
left. by the lightning to show its fear
full work. a wagon from Mr.. Nc
Creery, farmer living near by, was
procured and the bodies tenderly
moved to the Trescott house, where
MI. Carroll and the Misses Peasants,
another horseback party, gave al the
aid possible.
The home going was sal indeed.
Two OF our party were still in death,
and we that remained rode silently
along. IT was about II 80 that night
before Brevard was reached. From
here a telegram was sent to Senator
Tillman"
This is the story as related by Mr..
McNeely, who was the only one to
witness The double tragedy. At l
o'clock yesterday the body OF Miss
Tillman reached Hendersonville and
was sent on to Columbia. Only a very
plain wooden coffin could be procured
there, but when Columbia was reached,
Mr.. Berry had handsome metallic
casket, covered with white cloth, in
readiness in the ladies' waiting room
of the depot. Across it was q silver
plate beautifully engraved with the
name of the young lady, and after it
the words, Died July Is, 1896
CprEains we're put over The windows
to shut out the gaze of the curious,
and the body, by several ladies ard
gentlemen, was moved from one cof-
I'm TO the other The several hundred
persons. gathered around the outside
door and either kept silent or convers-
ed in low tones. When all was in
readiness, the door was opened and
the casket, enclosed in a box, was put
aboard the special train which stood
IN waiting. Quite number of lovely
floral tributes had either been sent Or
brought down, and bat for the terrific
rain storm there would have been
many more.
Ia the passenger coach OF the special
were Governor Evans, his mother.
Miss Mary Evans, 3. T. Tillman, Jr.,
Miss Iona Tlllman, botr of whom had
been away from home, the former at
Clemson college and the latter at Ab
beville; Mr.. J. W. Bunch and wife,
.. X. Gunter, Gen. John Gary Watts
and I few others.
The train left soon after 10 o'clock.
This morning many Of The State otli.
cials will go over TO Trenton to attend
the funeral. Tue interment will be
made in High View, the Tlllman fami-
ly ouryiug- ground, at noon today.
Miss TIllulan was just 20 years old.
Her life differed not from that of
scores of other young ladies. She had
1 l., 4