The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-01
A DEPLORABLE AFFAIR
RIOT ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS IN
COLUMBIA. 1trrS0.


Columbia, May 28.-The usually
brilliant, splendid and imposing in
spection exercises in this city were
deprived of their peacefulness and
general good military discipline this
afternoon by serious fracas on the
inspection ground, in which q police
man was badly beaton by college
students, and Prof. Davis received a
severe confusion on the head while
attempting to prevent further trouble.
About how it all started there is a
difference of opinion, but the fact
is thGt there was base ball game
going on on the college groundls be-
tween the South Carolina students
md the Independents of this city,
when the military, consisting of the
Governors Guards and the Richland
Volunteers, marched on the college
green for inspection, the place they
had been inspected for years. They
were under the command of Col.
Willie Jones and Adit. Michael Bren-
nan. Gen. Watts and his staff, con-
sisting of Lieut.. Stokes, of the Uni
ted States army, and Major B. B.
Evans, were present for the purpose
Of inspecting the troops. The usual
inspection was made and nothing
happened to indicate that anything
usual was going to happen. The
boys went on playing ball, unmind-
full Of the inspection, being much
moro interested in the game.
HOW THE ROW STARTED.
Alter 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
prevented by the ball players and
spectators blocked up the way. Gen.
Watts ordered them to move away,
but they refused. He thon ordered
Col. Jones to advance his troops,
which he did. Previously Gen.
Watts had ordered the policemen
there, Officer Dowie, to disperse the
n CT Aol - 4
soon it was seen that the policemen
could not move them. Gen. Watts
then ordered Col. Jones to advance.
The crowd broke away considerably,
but some of them were in n belig-
Grant attitude. They broke into the
sssslsstss.nks, brs 80 strong was the impetus
Of the troops that the citizens were
practically swept away. Tho next
thing the officers Of the military
knew there was fight in the rear
and the greatest excitement pre-
vailed among the spectators. Even
some of the military, broke ranks,
not being ablo to withstand tho
temptation and excitement. They
were soon qnieted however.
BEATING THE POLICEMEN.
1t developed that tho row was be-
tween number Of South Carolina
College boys and Policeman Dowie.
They beat him on the head with base
ball bats and pummelled him gone
rally. He blew his whistle and his
follow policeman flew to his rescue.
There was bloody fight between
tho two policemen and tho students,
bats and police clubs flew thick and
fast thrshgh the air, and it was ovi-
dent5that the policemen must soon
succnMb by reason Of superior num-
bors. 61n the mean time Prof. Sloan,
ssScIhg president Of the College; Prof.
Davis and others, military and civil
ians, we're rushing in to prevent fur
ther bloodshed, for there were bloody
heads and faces without number.
HOW PROF. DAVIS WAS HURT.
In trying to quiet tho students
Prof. Davis received a severe blow
across the head by bat or some
thing else. In the general melee it
is impossible to tell who struck him,
but it was not intended for him.
Nevertheless the blood streamed
from the wound all ovor his face, and
it was at first thonght that he was
most seriously wounded. Policeman
Dowie in the meantime was one mass
Of clotted blood about his hair and