The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-25
SCRAP On THE STUMP.
Gov. Evans and Judge Earle
In a Flight.
BOTH DEAL HARD BLOWS.
EaTl5 Lands First, But Evans Cots
First Blood.
PISTOLS COME INTO PLAY.
The Crowd on the VERGE Of a
Free-ioP-Aff Fi0ht.

Cooler Heads stem che Rising Tide
of Excitement ana stave on the
Threatened whUieEnIe HIoodshed.
Tho Governor ana Judge Fight
inE ne Close Quarters when
Friends Pulled Thorn Apnrt-rhe
Governor uad said Earle was
Running Along LIKE n Else Dog
with IFS Tail Cut on.
Columbia, s. c.. July 2i-The political
campaign IN this state. which has been In
progress for month, hus developed IN
tense bitterness between Gov. Evans ana
Circuit Judge Eario, candidates for tho
United States Senate. Tins feeling between
the two men eliminated to-day IN flsti-
cum on the hugtfnss at F'lorence.
Judge Earle r. not only a brave and cifiv-
oirouo man, bun one OF tho highest refine
mont. During the campaign Gov. Evans
has been referring 20 Judge Earle IN terms
that no d.d not like Tho fudge had warned
him that he would not submit to gleh an
indigntty and told tho governor he would
mako such remarks IN the future at his
peril.
To-day Gov. Evans IN the courze Of his
speoch said his opponent had been trying
10 down him by making the people believe
that he was corrupt IN connection with tho
funding OF tho state debt, hut that sena-
tor 1fllman had indOrsod ms cyfrse and
now Judge Earle wIls running along ffke
a fee dog with MS tan cut on.
Judge Esorle rising from his seat said no
couldn't etnnd that and wn1ited up 20 Gov.
Evans and asked him what ne meant.
Gov. Evans said that ne ciid not believe
no had said anything wrong, but Judge
Barrie asked what ne had said
The Judge was white with rnge Gov.
Evans became angry, too, and repeated
his remark, whereupon the Judge let his
right ny and struck the governor back OF
the left ear.
Gov. Evans responded and struck the
Judge In the face, breaking the skin, and
blood flowed freely.
Tho two men then grappfed, but were
pummelhng each other all the whfio. The
crowd wac about equally divided between
Tillmanttes and T4llfnsnttss the lar
ter supporting Judge Earle
As soon rs the hrst blow was STRUCK tina
crowd rushed TO mo stand, and tho two
the bellgerents gnthered around them ami
both sides pulled their pistols. Cooler
heads came IN and e1iccpsdeyl m uiJfeftnc,
tho people and TINS avoided a bloody r.iot
For half on hour II looked as II tTnere
would DO q pitcired battie between mo two
factions,
Gov. Bvans, az soon as comparative ~
der was restored, attempted 20 continue
ME speech. Ho did so, but was constantly
Interrupted by tho Misses OF mis- pollfieai
foes and counter cheers OF his friends.
GOV. Evans escaped without a scratch
Judge Earles friends say Tint n 0rsisir,,
constable struck him m the fnce while
he was clinched with the governor
Judge Gaflo was arrested tyy Mavo. has,
later In tho day and put up SO for Ms AZ.
pearance tomorrow.
A warrant was also pvporp ont %, f1,,,
Evans. but Il was not executed AZ ths
governor cannot DO arrested under tho
law. S
For the past SIX years candidates so-
public Offices IN South Carolina have
Deen piackguarding each other on the
stump ana nave been, time and again
on the verge Of getting together IN per.
sonal combat, but they have never eot-
| ten up to tho fighting point. Tho people
had come to believe that such a thing
as resenting an Insult on the sgum9, WINS
II. Earle broke the record to-day. II
was an exciting episode and a most pain
fui spectaole-the governor Of the state
and circuit Judge IN a public "scrap"
excitement Nor at least fifteen minuses
Candidate Duncan spoke Afterwards 20
ing for Gov. Evans In pretty strong Ian
guage. Thero was a lively passage at
arms between Gen. Watts and Mr. Rich
borough candidate for adtufant general
the latter telling Gen. Waits finally tbat
he would hold him personally reaponsibie
for what no had said.