The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-02-14

The good humor soon died away, how.
ever, and shouts OF indignation were heard
from the Democratic members.
Then loud above the tumult came voice
clear and sharp:
I've are dealing with 4 pack OF hentten
and hounds. Lets 80 to the Opera
House.
Shouts of approval greeted this proposal.
and out OF the door ami down tue brond
steps streamed the crowd, hnstening along
st. Clair street toward the Opera House.
Close behind came General Collier OH @
run. He shouted orders to Lieutenant Col
onel Gray, who wis standing by the steps:
few quick orders were given by TINT Off.
Ger. and away toward the Opera House
went the soldiers on the dead run.
1t was not u parade. They rau up the
middle OF the street and easily distnnced
the legislators, who took the sidewalk. aud
handicapped themselves ny the numerous
posts, boxes and pedestrians that dlled
the way.
When the lawmakers arrived all they OBJ
tained for their run OF Il quarter OK mile
was the privilege OF standing On the op.
posite side OF the street and gazing at the
Opera House, the front OF which was occu
pied by painting llue OF soldiers In double
rank. with fixed bayonets. General Lyons,
the oldest and most corpulent man in the
House, had, despite his physical draw.
backs, managed to bent the soldiers and
get into the hall. He was politely requested
to come out, which he did, with the re
mark:
1T does not look as though quorum
will get in
Thomas Heffner, owner OF the Opera
House, demanded that the members OF the
Legislature should be admitted. It was
~ ha nl0IunaH nnh thp
militia had no right to keep anybody from
it. He was com petely ignored by Lieu
tenant-Colonel Gray.
Speaker Trtmbe stepped up to Lieuten-
|, ant Colonel Gray and demanded entrance
to the hail. 1t was refused. Turning
around, Mr.. Trimble addressed the crowd:
.Gentlemen. we are denied admtasi6pto
the Opera House. We will nowndj journto
the Court House,. ~
Away went the Gro wd with good-nntursd
yels OF dersion at the. soldiers, who hafl
orders to remalu at the SOpera House, and
could not leave.
The triumph OF the lawmakers was short
lived. Before they had gone one hundred
feet from the Opera House, around the
corner swung second company OF SOL
dIers directly in their path. The second
heat OF the race was now on, and away
wort the digniled Senator'S and Repre-
SentaliyeS down the street, In cloud OF
dust, yelling Ikea pack OF Indians. Along
side rnn the soldiers.
It was the same story over again, and the
legislators were permitted to look ut the
outside Of the Court House, while the SOL
diers held the path. General Collier had
arrived by this time, and Speaker Trimble,
advancing from the crowd, said
"Don't shoot, General"
"I anu not going to create any tronble. l
won't shoot unless have to-" was the re-
ply.
'We wish to be admitted to the Court
House," said Mr.. Trim5le.
Both men were smiling.
"It cannot be done, gentlemen" said tie
General calmly.
This settled it for tn Q time being, at least
and the crowd melted away, determined
however, to hold IN Getting luter, some
where, and somehow.
Speaker Trlmble announced TINT "the
Legislature will now adjourn subject to
my call" -.l
All the crowds had dispersed. It was
decided by the military authorities that II
another attempt at meeting was made to
arrest all concerned Ia the gathering and
lock them up.