The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-22
MISS TILLMAN'S DEATH.
LIGHTkING'S FEARFUL WORK RE-
MOVES A WOMANLY WOMAN.
The Eldest Child Of Senator Tillman, While
: Out Horseback Riding at Brevard n. o..
is Instantly Killed With Her Escort

| COLUMBIA, 3. ", July H.--Sym-
pathy deep and sincere Of all Columbia
was felt for the bereaved family of
Senator Tillman 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
ing could be learned until the train
bearing the body reached this city last
night. ...-.... :. 49,
Some time before the train was due
numbers of friends began to arrive at
the union depot, among, whom were
Assistant Attorney General Townsend,
Col. w. w. Bruce. Col. Nilsson,
Frank Tompkins, Chris Atkinson,
Fitz Norton, General Watts, Cover
nor Evans and scores of others, who
came out despite the pouring rain 70
pay their last tribute to this popular
and we'll known young woman, who
was shining example of all that 10 Z
excellent. - ...s .--.,.. ,.z.-slss z.slss
Accompanying the body were Mr..
Z. @. McNeely, general agent OF the
Hendersonville and Brevard railroad,
and Messes. U. K. Gunter, private; sec, [
retary to Governor Evans, and Z. W.
Bunch, an uncle OF Miss Tillman, the
latter two having gone to meet the body
at Spartanburg. Mr.. McNeely wasinS
the party when Miss Tillman was killed
and was the only eyewitness OF the
sad affair. s.. - A:Ss<ss; AS3
Mr.. 81. F. Addicks, Jr., Miss Nettis
Addicks, Miss Addie @T;llman, Miss
Mae OBryan of Allendale, 8. O., Miss
Lizzie Bingham of Salisbury, N. Co.
Miss Annie Warren OF Hendrsonville,
the Rev. Robert A. Lee of YorkgilH, .
Mr.. NJ. D. Cooper of Brevard, with
MIR. McNeely, composed the party
from which death was to snatched two
members. .. - @9s5
MIR. McNesly said: 1T was 10la..
m. on Wednesday when we left Hem
dersonville for Brevard, which place
was reached at 80 o'clock. BY 12:80
all OF the persons have named were:
mounted and on the way to ascend.
Rich mountain, which is six miles
from Brevard. When three-quasters
of q mile from the top of the mountain
we were overtaken by thunderstorin.
The Trescott house was few hundred
. yards away and all hurried there to-
get out of The rain" - 's.sss1. .ss3;.
miss Tillman, Mr.. Lee and I stop:
}ped, however, in order for Miss Till
man and myself to change horses, a.
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 q
large oak tree. -. lSts
Miss Tillman and Mr.. Lee still re-
! mained on horseback, the former with
an appraised umbrella, while I, 20 fest.
away, was standing on the ground. lt
was while thus waiting that bolt OF.
lightning struck the tree and continue
ing, instantly killed Miss Tillman, Mr.
Lee and their horses. The shock ,Waa
sd severe that my horse was knocked
down, but I only had my finger burn
ed slightly. This was at 8 80 o'clock.
, I'm few seconds I was by the Gde
of the two fallen psople. Not q 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.. Me-,
Creery, a farmer living near by, was
J procured and the bodies tsnderly
moved to the Trescott houss, where
Mr.. Carroll and the Misses Pleasants
J another horseback party, gave all the
aid possible. .si5
j ''The home going was sad indeed:
Two of our party were still in death,
and we that remained rode silently
!, along. 1T was about II 80 that night
before Brevard was reached. From
here 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 i
o'clock yesterday the body of Miss
Tillman reached Hendersonville and
was sent on to Columbia. Only avery
plain wooden coffin could be procured
: there, but when Columbia was reached
Mr.. Berry had a handsome metallic
> casket, covered with white CLOTH, in
readiness in the ladies' waiting room
of the depot. Across it was a silver
= plate beautifully engraved with the
name of the young lady, and after it
the words, "Died July Is, 1896"
Curtains were put over the windows
to shut out the gaze of the curious
and the body, by several ladies and
gentlemen. was moved from one COT
fin to the other. The several hundred
PERSONS gathered around the outside
door and either kept silent or conyers-
ed in low tones. When all was ID
readiness, the door was opeI'ed and
the casket, enclosed in box, was put
aboard the special train which stood
lin waiting. Quite a number OF lovely
floral tributes had either been sent or
brought down. and but for the terrific
rain storm there would have been
many more. -, -,
In the passenger coach of the special
were Governor Evans, his mother.
| Miss Mary Evans, B. r. Tillman, Jr:,
Miss Lona Tillmau, botn of whom had
been away from home, the former at
Clemcon college aud the latter at Alb
beyjlIe: Mr.. j. w. Bunch and wife,
IU. X. Gunter, Gen. John Gary Watts
and few others.
The train left soon after 10. o'clock.
This morning many of the State OH.
cials will 90 over to Trenton to attend
the funeral. The interment will be
made in High View, the TIllman faml-
ly buryiug-ground, at noon today.
Miss Tillman was just 20 years old.
Her life differed not from that OF
scores of other young ladies. She had
| oroduotad Of Winthrop college and