The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-06-02
DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR.
AN INSPECTION BREAKS UP IN A
BLOODY FIGHT.

BLOODY= FIGHT.
Both Sides Make Staten ents, Though Cen
eral Watts, Who Was Present. Refuses 70
Say Arythfng-Professor Davis Injured
Badly in the Role OF Peacemsker.
The usually brilliant splendid and
imposing inspection exercises in Co
lumbia were deprived OF their peace
fulness ard general good military dis
cipline Friday by a series OF fracases
on the inspection ground, in which s
policeman was badly beaten up by
college students and Professor Davis
received a severe confusion on the
head while attempting to prevent fur
ther trouble. Tie Register says:
About how it all started there IS q
difference of opinion, but the fact Is
that there was baseball game going
on on the college grounds between the
South Carolina students and the lnde-
perdents of Columbia, when the mill,
tary, consisting OF the Governors
| Guards and the Richland Volunteers
marched on the college green fer in
spection, the place they have been In
spected for years. They were under
the command of Col. Willie Jones
with Adiatant Michael Bremen, Gen.
Watts aad his staff, consisting Of
Lieut.. Stokes of the . United States army
and Maj B. B. Evans were present
! for purposes of inspecting the troops.
The usual inspection was made and
nothing happened to indicate that
anything unusual was going to take
place. The boys went on playing
| ball, unmindful of the inspection, be.
ling much more Interested IN the
game.
After the inspection was all over,
lCol. Jones took charge Of the troops
and there was 8 drill. Some order
brought the troops near the third base
and their further progress was pre-
vented by the ball players and specta-
tors blocking up the way. Genera!
! Watts ordered them to move away but
| they refused. He then ordered Col.
Jones to advan"e his troops, which
lhe did.
Previously, General Watts had or
dered the policeman there, officer
jDowie, to disperse tue crowd. He
Istarted to do so, but as soon as 1t was
Iseen that one policeman could not
move them, Gan. Watts ordered Col
Jones to advance. The crowd broke
away considerably, bat some OF them
were IN belligerent attitude. They
oroke into the ranks, but SO strong
vas the impetus thai they were practl-
cally swept away.
The next thing the officers OF the
military knew there vas a light in
their rear and the greatest excitement
prevailed among the spectators and
militiamen. Even sone of the men
broke ranks, not being able to with
stand the temptation and excitement.
| They were soon quieted, however.
It developed tnat the row was be-
tween a number OF South Carolina
College boys and Policeman Dowie.
they were beating nim all over toe
head with baseball bats and pummsll,
ling him generally.
He blew his whistle and his fellow
coliceman fad to his rescue. There
was bloody fight between the two
land the students. Bats and police
clubs flew thick ald last through tbs
lair, aud !. was evident that the po.
ijiceraen must soon succumo oy reason
of superior numb bers. Ia the mean
tune Prof. Sloan, acsicg president OF
the college, Prof. Davis and others,
military aad civilians, were rus 1ing
ia 10 prevent further bloodsned, for
there were bloody heads and faces
without number.
10 trying TO quiet the students Prof.
iDavis received severe GLOW across
line head Dy a bat or something else.
| In the general melee It is impossible to
tell VINO struck him, out, however, i!
was not intended for him. Neyelthe-
Hess the blood streamed from the
| wound all over his face, and it was al
| hrsU thought that be was most ssrious'
i Iy wounded.
/ Policeman Dowie, in the meantime
Has one mass of closted blood about
MS hair and face. Finally he pulled
his pistol and shot to the ground, not
wishing to wound anyone. This with
| the effort of others, had desirable
effect and the row ended. Policeman
Dowie displayed bravery in the face
lcf overwhelming odds that was truly
commendable and heroic. AS soon aS
all was quieted he went TO the police
Issation, where he had his wounds dress,
ed. 1t was found that the skin Of his
| skull had been split from the forehead
to the crown. Il was deep and pain
i ful wound but is not fatal.
! Prof. Davis is the only other one
!, seriously hurt. AS already stated, he
was hit ID the head and went TO the
Icollege infrmary last night, but his
i phys clans stated that his injuries
were more painful tnan serious.
There we're number OF students
bunged up, out none Of them so far as
Ican be learned are seriously injured.
As soon as the row was qIelled the
troops marched back to their arnories
land were dismissed.
GENERAL WATTS.
| About tee row there can be no
ldoIbt, but nov it all occurred is q
q lesIion about which there are some
0ouots.
| Gen. Watts was asked to make a
statement Friday night, bu. he de-
clIned to say anything further than
That ne was right II all MS orders and
actions. He said that military com
mander should not go into explara-
tions, especially as the whole thing
mig hJ result 10 court martial. Be,
! yond that he would express no opin.
ION or make any statement.
COL. JONES, STATEMENT.
| Col. Willie Jones made the fol-
lowing statement Friday night:
| Dr.. Jas. Woodrow, president OF the
| South Carolina College, gave ne writ
ten permission TO parade on the col