The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-29
CLASH ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS.
STUDENTS, POLICEMEN AND SOL
DIERS IN THE sCRIMMAGE.

Columbia the Scene of the TrOnbIe
.and Adjutant General watts with
the MiIifinmen-The Students Play
ing ball When They Arrived snd
Foul Bntted by One OF the Play
ers Hits the Horse of One of the
AdIutant Generals stan Omcers.
The Players Refuse 20 stop Play
ing 10 Allow the Troops to March
on the Grounds aud the Row Fol-
lows.
Columbia, s. c.. May 2s.-Whlle two
companies of the local militia were stand
ing their annual inspection on the athletie
grounds of the South Carolina college here
this afternoon, foul ball struck by a
student engaged in playing a game OF
base ball at the other end of the grounds.
struck the horse of Mai. b. B. Evans, an
officer on Adjutant General Watts staff.
The militia had only been given permis-
sion to use half Of the grounds; but Gen.
Watts Immediately requested the ball
players to withdraw until the troops
could march past In quitting the field.
This, the students refused to do; and
the police declining to interfere, Gen.
Watts ordered the troops to advance.
The students resisted and some broke
through the line. A general riot followed.
in the course OF which a policeman was
knocked senseless and a student named
d. d. Mccall had his head crushed, from
the effects of which he may die
Professor of History r. Means Davis,
interfering, was knocked down by police
man, and two soldiers were knocked down
by students.
The soldiers advanced at right shoulder
arms, ana were hardly to blame. They
simply obeyed orders.
The police being powerless. the faculty
finally quieted the students. and the SOL
diers were marched back TO their armo-
ries
When seen by an Associated Press rep
resentative tonight Adjutant General
Watts declined to say anything.
The students and townspeople blame
Adjt. Gen. Watts for precipltating the
riot. He first backed his horse In among
the boys, and when they closed around
him, called In a loud voice, II will have
these grounds cleared; Col. Jones, ad-
vance your battalion" -Adjt Gen. Watts
Is very young man. and what might
have been obeyed In an older officer even
when the slight OF possession was on their
side w8s Resented by the students. When
the companies advanced, the color guard
in front, student with base ball bat
waving, ran down their front He was
seized by the policemen, and these we're
Immediately rushed upon by a body OF
students. Bats and clubs ratified for a
moment, then the policeman used his club
Prof Davis ran IN with outstretched
arms, imploring peace, and It. now de-
velops that a policeman, blinded with a
blow. struck him In the forehead. This
further infuriated the students, who beat
down the officers.
The militia in the meantime seemed par
alyzed. They took no part and for their
non-action the police are incensed.
The president of the college, Dr. James
Woodrow, of evolution fame, Immediately
summoned the students together, ana
standing on his steps, made a speech inn
ploring them TO go no further. Their
rights In the premise were not questioned
by the president. and he said there was
no question OF their courage to maintain
| them, but If an attempt was made to ar
rest them, he begged that they submit
quietly.
Policeman Mcdowell is also In a preca-
| rious condition.
Prof. Davis Is receiving medical atten-
| tion, but is not dangerously hurt.
The friends OF the college fear that al
| though the students may have been In the
right the affair will give its opponents in
| In the legislature an excuse to cut off state
aid, and so close the institution.