The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-02
DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR,
AN INSPECTION BREAKS UP IN A
BLOODY FIGHT.

AN INSPECTION BREAKS UP IN A
BLOODY FIGHT.
Both Sides Make Staten ents, Though Gen.
sraI Watts, Who Was Present. Refuses to
Say yAuything-Professor Davis Ipjured
Badly in the Role of Peacemaker.
The usually brilliant splendid and
imposing inspection exercises in Co.
lumbia were deprived of their peace
fulness and general good military dis
cipline Friday by series OF fracases
"a the inspection ground, in which q
noliceman was badly beaten up by
College students and Professor Davis
received a severe confusion on the
had while attempting to prevent fur
V to- trouble. The Register says:
VA About how it all started there is
difference of opinion, but the fact is
that there was baseball game going
on ~ IN the college grounds between the
Snrth n Carolina students and the Inde-
nendents Of Columbia, when the mill.
tarv consisting OF the Governors
Gnsrds % and the Richland Volunteers
marched on the college green for in
spection. the place they have been in
spected for years. They were under
The command of Col. Willie Jones
With Adiutant Michael Bremen, Gen.
Watts and his staff, consisting OF
Lieut.. Stokes of the United States army
and Mai B. B. Evans were present
for nurnoses of inspecting the troops.
The usual inspection was made and
nothing happened to indicate that
anythinp unusual was going to take
place. The boys went on playing
ball, unmindful of the inspection, De'
ing much more interested in the
game.
After the inspection was all over,
Col. Jones took charge OF the troops
and there was 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. General
Watts ordered them to move away but
thew refused. He then ordered Col.
Jones to advance his troops, which
he did.
Previously, General Watts had or
dered the policeman there, officer
Dowie, to disperse the crowd: He
started to do so, but as soon as It was
seen that one policeman could moi
move them, Gen. Watts ordered Col
Jones to advance. The crowd broke
away considerably, but some OF them
were in belligerent attitude. They
broke into the ranks, but SO strong
was the impetus that they were practl'
cally swept away.
The next thing the officers OF the
military knew there was a fight in
their rear and the greatest excitement
prevailed among the spectators and
militiamen. Even some OF the men
broke ranks, not being able to with
stand the temptation and excitement.
They were soon quieted, however.
It developed that the row was be-
tween a number of South Carolina
College boys and Policeman DoWie.
They were beating him all over the
head with baseball bats and pummel'
ing him generally.
He blew his whistle and his fellow
policeman fled to his rescue. There
was bloody fight between the two
and the students. Bats and police
clubs flew thick and fast through the
air, and it was evident that the po.
]icemen must soon succumb by reason
of superior numbers In the mean
time Prof. Sloan, acting president OF
the college, Prof. Davis and others,
military and civilians, were rushing
| in to prevent further bloodshed, fol-
there were bloody heads and faces
without number.
In trying to quiet the students Prof.
Davis received severe blow across
the head by bat or something else.
In the general melee it is impossible to
tell who struck him, but, however, II
was not intended for him. elthe'
less the blood streamed from the
wound all over his face, and it was al
| first thought that he was most serious
ly wounded.
Policeman Dowie, in the meantime
was one mass of clotted blood about
his 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
of overwhelming odds that was truly
commendable and heroic. As soon as
all was quieted he went to the police
station, where he had his wounds dress
ed. It was found that the skin of his
skull had been split from the forehead
to the crown. 1t was deep and pain
full wound but is not fatal.
Prof. Davis is the only other one
seriously hurt. As already stated, he
was hit in the head and went to the
college infirmary last night, but his
physicians stated that his injuries
were more painful than serious.
There were q number of students
bunged up, but none of them so far as
can be learned are seriously injured.
As soon as the row was quelled the
troops marched back to their armories
and were dismissed.
| GENERAL WATTS.
About the row there can be no
doubt, but how it all occurred is q
question about which there are some
doubts.
Gen. Watts was asked to make a
statement Friday night, but he de-
clined to say anything further than
that he was right in all his orders and
actions. He said that military com
mander should not 90 into explana-