The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-06-09
Gen. Watts Version.

l oSoopJAuS WV oooSuoAoh VI nSoAAy
every one in South Carolina just at
this particular time, there is still
much speculation as to what will be
the outcome of the recent clash on
the South Carolina College athletic
grounds. After waiting for several
days Adjutant General Watts yester-
day evening gave to the public his
version of the affair. It is as follows !:
I had hoped that it would not be
necessary for me to makes statement
as to the unfortunate occurrence that
took place on the college grounds last
Friday, the 18th inst, but as there
has been so much said and written
about the affair, 1 deem it my duty to
the militia and myself to give the
facts in the case, and let the public
pass it's own judgment. The follow
ing order was issued May 10, 1897.
Special Order No. H..
Adjutant and Inspector Generals
Office, Columbia, s. c., May 10, 1897.
The annual inspection Of the fol-
lowing companies is hereby ordered !:
Governors Guards, Capt. j. NJ.
Bateman, commanding, Columbia,
May 26, 1897; Richland Volunteers,
Capt. j. D.. Frost, commanding,
Columbia, May rs, 1897.
By order Of the commander-in-chief
j. GARY WATTS,
A. & I. General.
Owing to a death in my family, the
above order was revoked, and Friday,
the 2Sth, was appointed for the in
spection Of the above commands. I
saw Col. Willie Jones, who was the
colonel of the Second regiment of in
fantry, and who would be in command.
on this occasion, the morning Of the
18th at the Carolina National Bank.
He told me that the inspection would
be held at the usual place, the grounds
in charge Of the college, which are
used by the students for athletic pur-
poses (the time and place Of any in
spection is generally left to the COM
handing %oficer). Col. Jones told me
to take my position in front of the
stand, which was erected for ladies to
occupy in order that they could wit
ness the games that are usually played
on these grounds. The battalion was
formed and the usual line of march
was taken. AS I reached the college
grounds I proceeded to take my posi-
ton, indicated by Col. Jones. but was
informed by Mr.. ,Hagood, one Of the
students, that's match game of ball
was in progress, and hoped that
would not interfere, or words to that
effect. I then rode from the ball
grounds and was spoken to by Prof.
Sloan. He informed me thatthe boys
had permission to play ball on the
grounds and that q match game was in
progress. Ireplied to him that | had
no desire to interfere with the game,
but that I had been informed by Col.
Jones that he had permissionf from the
president to have the inspection on
the grounds. I then took my position
on the left of the ball grounds and
did not think that.I. was in any way
interfering with the game Of ball, as
no opposition was raised as to my
position. The review and inspection
was then started, and everything was
| going on very smoothly until the
battalion was passing in review, when
a ball was knocked and as one Of the
players was running after it he ran
into Capt. Bateman and knocked of
his cap, the crowd then began to
cheer, the battalion moved on and
nothing was thought Of this incident.
The battalion then proceeded with
their field movements, and as they
we're marching past the inspecting
officer J requested a%policeman to move
back some of the parties who were in
the line Of march, which he did with
out: any trouble.
At this time | was stationed to the
left Of the ball grounds, and as far as
II thought was not in any way conflict,
ing with the game, of ball. It has
been stated that at this time a ball
was knocked over in that direction
and struck e horse of a member of my
staff. KNEW nothing Of the incident.
About this time the marshal Of the
college came to me, followed by 8
crowd Of students and ball players,
and stated that the boys had permits.
sion to play on the ball grounds. ]
told him I had nothingsto say as to
that, but only knew that Colonel
Jones told me that he had written
permission from the president of the
college to have the inspection on the
grounds. I then requested the police.
man to keep the crowd back, and he
tried to do so. The crowd refused to
go back and began to defy and abuse
the policeman, who blew his whistle
for his colleague who was on another
part Of the grounds, but still the crowd
would not move back and continued tc
defy the policeman. J. turned round
and spoke to the crowd and asked
them to move back, bat my request
was treated in the same manner as
that of the policemen. I saw there
was going to be trouble between the
policemen and the crowd, for by this
time they had become very much ex'
cited, and, seeing that a conflict was
inevitable, I considered the best solu
ton of the difficulty would be to have
the battalion marched forward, pres!
back the crowd to the street, thereby
rendering any further conflict possible
between the students and the police
men. At this time there was Mt
game of ball going on. | then gav'
Colonel Jones the order to move hi
command forward, which he did. Thu
men advanced "as right shoulde
arms" and there was no order tx
"charge," as has been stated. TIL
troops advanced very steadily, and tn
majority of the crowd moved back
but three or four students brok'
through the line, ear where tn
colors were, and the policeman at
tempted to interfere. The battalion
moved on to the front, leaving tn
policemen and those students 10 tn!
rear. Then a general encounter tool
place between the students and tn
policemen.
These arc the plain untarnishe'
facts in the case, Notwithstanding tn
repeated rumors that have been circu
lated, many of which have been absur'