The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-06-02
D%isgraceful Riot.

COLUMBIA, s. c., May 2S.-This city is
in q fever of excitement to night over
serious clash which occurred this after
noon between the students OF the South
Carolina College and the local militia who
we're undergoing their annual inspection
on the athletic grounds OF the former.
1t has been customary for years for the
local militia companies to undergo their
annual inspection on these grounds which
lie back Of the main college grounds and
contain about four acres.
Adjt. Gen. Watts requested the usual
permission of President Woodrow of the
college to use the grounds. He was in
formed that the students would use the
western end of the grounds during the
evening for a ball game; but that the
militia could use the eastern end.
Accordingly the two local companies,
the Governors Guards and the Richland
Volunteers, were marched to the eastern
end of the grounds about 6 o'clock this
afternoon and after going through their
drill were drawn up for inspection.
Adjutant General Watts with Maj. B. B.
Evans, a brother of ex-Gov. John Gary
Evans, q member of the staff, and Lieut..
M. B. Stokes, Tenth Regiment United
States army, detailed here for militia
training duty, took their places a short
distance in front and near the spot where
tho college students were playing.
A foul ball struck Major Evans horse
and General Watts turned and began an
alteration with Captain Webster OF the
college ball team and requested the stu
dents who had congregated near the spot
to move. but this they refused to do.
General Watts wheeled his horse into the
crowd, which scattered, but returned and
seemed determined to hold its ground.
| General Watts then called up the police
to clear the ground, but as they had no
authority to interfere, they did not move
forward.
Irritated by this General Watts then
declared his determination Of clearing
the ground himself, and turning to Col.
Willie Jones, who was in command Of the
battalion, ordered him to move his men
forward. Colonel Jones Immediately
gave the order and with General Watts,
Major Evans and Lieutenant Stokes
mounted in advance, the battalion ad-
vanced steadily with arms shouldered.
The crowd stood still until the troops
were upon them. Then the larger part
gave way but q few resolute spirits armed
with base bell bats charged the line and
and then broke through the line.
LIZ UOllCoL uSu GU 1PtSe
to arrest BROKER but the students charged
en- masse to make a rescue. Billies were
freely used and the policemen were
severely handled, n being knocked
senseless. The fghtthen became general.
A policeman discharged his pistol, 1t is
said, in the air, and bats and billies were
freely used.
The militia remained quietly on the
ground they had won. The policeman
who had been knocked down then rose
and began striking wildly with his club,
and a student was striking to brain him
with q bat, when Private "Jim" Cunning,
of the volunteers, knocked him down
with his gun.
Professor of history, r. Means Davis,
also interfered in the hope Of quelllng the
riot but was knocked down and his head
seriously cut with q hat.
The policemen hen interfered III force
and quelled the students, quite a number
of whom were bruised and cut with bats
and clubs.
When the students desisted the militia
in good order returned to their armory,
not 8 man having left the ranks.
When the field vas cleared 1t was found
that Student Mccall had been struck IN
the melee and was lying Oh the ground
in an unconscious condition.
Examination showed that hisskull was
crushed and he is in a critical condition
and will be operated on tonight. he
may die.
General Watts refuses to make a state
mont as there is no telling what in an In
vestigation may follow.