The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-08-08
GARY AND PATTERSON FIGHT
BLOWS HIT AT LAURENs.
Two Candidates For Governor En-
gage In Fisticui. on the stand.

Kohn writes OF the camDaign meeting
at Lsurens on Saturday
The great educational campaigi
evolved into u slugging match today
1t WAS somewhat the unexpected which
happened. Frank B. Gary and A. How
ard Patterson had rough and tumble
fight before u thousand Laureas people
men and women. They fought with des
peration and determination until jim
Tillnan and others separated them
and then they wanted to get back al
each other. Had the accident occurred
years ago in this county, when there
were CARLOAD OF pistols q. u meeting,
there would have been funerals here to
morrow, but now all the feeling seems
to be between the candidates. Today
the result was two badly bruised faces
and emphasis on the yle of campaign
ing going on, and II others showed the
same spirit there would BE- many more
tisticuffs from day to day. Al today :
meeting Mr.. Patterson in his speech
attacked MIR. Gary about his Charles
ton speech, reading the clippings and
making the statement published. Mr..
Gary thought this persistent effort as
to make 1t appear, indirectly, that he
straddled in Charleston, or favored a
local option while In Charleston with
tho license feature, which he insisted
by reading extracts was to place him
In q false position as to what he said
and his attitude on the liquor ques-
tiOn.
When MIR. Gary's turn came to speak
he Immediately replied that he uid
not " str raddle," ana that his position
then as now was plain. Mr.. Patterson
was sitting about live feet behind
where MIR. Gary was speaking, and Mr..
J. Jn .nr Fnf Il h at . Al
Gary want to explain sumethlng." Mr..
Gary turned squareiy around and salc:
Now, Mr.. Patterson, l want TO ask
you plainly is what have said about
that Charleston matter true ~ MIR.
Patterson said be would explain. Mr..
Gary replied that there WAS no use to
explain, but insisted on knowing wheth-
er what he had j lsL said about the
whole matter Was true or not. Mr..
Patterson went on to say the candi-
dates would not agree with Gary, or
something on THAI line, and saiu he
dared to prove his statements by any
OF the Candidates. Mr.. Cary insisted
ON direct reply as to whether his
statement about the Charleston speech
WAS true or not. BY this time the two
men were within arms length, looking
iercely at each other and, no doubt
looking for blow.
Mr.. Patterson said that If he was not
allowed to explain he must deny what
Mr.. Gary had said WAS correct. Mr.
Gary then said "lf you say my state
ment is not correct you say what is not
So" The two men joined. Patterson
struck out and claims to have hit first.
There was not q seconds difference in
the passage OF blows. Patterson struck
Gary an uphanded blow under the left
eye, which cut the skin for half an
incn long. Gary Fit Patterson on the
mouth apd cut the lip and struck him
under the eye. 1t WAS not u minute be-
fore half y uIZt men were around the
two combatants they were up against
each other, cllncned, and sevreal blows
were passed, but they "er G pulled apart.
Gary was taken toward th . front OF the
stand and Patterson TO the rear. They
said nothing, but were eager and
watching. Crowds pressed up 10 the
stand, some yelling tor one candidate
and some for another. BY the aid Of
two policemen, Sheriff McCravy, Sena-
tor Tiilman and Chairman Smith,
those who belonged on the stand were
instructed to get back and sit down,
and those who did not belong on the
stand to got OIL. AT this time the can
dldates had mopped their faces and
wiped the blood from their bruises.
When quiet was restored Mr.. Gary
faced tho audience. Somew hat dis
hevelled and bruised, and qulvering
all over and with cllnched hands, he
spoke out, and said when he left home
he decided he would be Il gentleman
and give no possi BILE offence 10 any one,
In turn he would not take any insult
from any one. He had treated MIR.
Patterson as u gentleman and friend,
but he had gone too far, and he would
allow no man to insult him without
hitting him in the mouth. MIR. Gary
apologlzed with feeling and almost
tears for having fought before ladies,
and expressed mis- deep regrets az the
Incident. Then he went on and con-
cluded his speech, cutting it here and
there.
Mr.. PattersO was allowed to make
statement and said he was very
sorry for the occurrence. He did not
like such things. He and Gary had
been warm friends and he had beer u
staunch friend of the family, but " hen
ever man told him he lied he tried
to put his Ilst in his mouth and give
him the best he had in his shop.
When the two candidates had taken
their seats a policeman, who looks like
the pictures of Mr.. Dlnkelspiel, good
naturedly held out his hand and said
combatants s., or they would have to
60 before the mayors court. Mr.. Gary
paid his % and Mr.. Patterson followed
suit
The officer, when asked about the
matter, said 1T always cost that amount
for fight In town, but the combatants
could 60 to court II they wanted and
they might get back their money, but
they had only one rule. Mr.. Patterson
and Mr.. Gary left the stand soon after
the speech Of Mr.. Gary. 1t so happen
ed that they were guests at the same
house, but one Of them has changed
his stopping place.
Through the Efforts OF Clerk OF
Court Bolt Mr.. Patterson and Mr.
Gary met, shook hands and agreed t(
be friends and comrades as wheI
they entered Laurens. OF course nei
ther of the contestants was hurt to any
extent.
After the scrap 1t was up hill work
for all the candidates until Tillmar
was presented and he was received
with enthusiasm. He whOoped thing,
up and had the boys hurrahing HI
took primary, and called me up to th'
front to noto the vote. Not dozer
voted for prohibition, but when 1t cam