The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-08-08
GARY VS.. PATTERSON.
A Lively Scrap Between the two Candi.
dates at Laurens.
Special to the State.

Special to the State.
LAURENs, Aug 4.-The great educa-
tional campaign evoluted into slug
ging match to-day. 1t was somewhat
the unexpected which happened.
Frank B. Gary and A. Howard Patter-
son had rough and tumble fight be-
fore thousand Laurens people, men
and women. They fought with des-
peratiOn and determination until Jim
Tillman and others separated them,
and then they wanted to get back at
each other. Had the incident occurred
years ago IN this county, when there
were q cartload of pistols at q meeting,
there would have been funerals here
tomorrow; but these days all the feel
ing seems to be between the candi-
dates. To-day the result was two
badly bruised faces and emphasis on
the style Of campaigning going on,
and if others showed the same spirit
there would be many more fisticuffs
each day.
From day to day Mr.. Patterson ham
Mered at Mr.. Gary about his Charles
ton speech, reading the clippings and
making the statements published. Mr..
Gary thought this persistent effort was
to make it appear Indirectly that he
straddled in Charleston OF favored a
local option while in Charleston, with q
license feature which he insisted was
not the case, and that Patterson's
effort by reading extracts was to place
him in false position as to what he
had said and his announced attitude
on the liquor question. AspersistentIy
rs Mr.. Patterson would make his state
ments just So persistentiy would Mr..
Gary insist that his position in Char
lesion, as elsewhere, was plain and un-
equivocal and not intended to be nor
was it misleading, and Mr.. Patterson
kept OH with his statements as pub
lished, and from day to day this kept
| up and Mr.. Patterson got me to send
the papers his speech on this very mat
ter and Mr. Gary was asked for his
reply, which have Deen both pub
lished.
To-day Mr.. Patterson repeated and
reiterated about Mr.. Gary's alleged
straddle in Charleston. When Mr..
Gary's turn came to speak he imme-
diately replied, as has been published,
that he did not "straddle," and that
his position then, as now, was plain.
Mr.. Patterson was sitting about FIVE
feet behind where Mr. Gary was speak
2ng and got UP anu said: "Mr. Gary,
want to explain something"
Mr.. Gary turned squarely around and
said: "Now, Mr. Patterson, want to
ask you plainly-is what have said
about that Charleston matter true757
Mr. Patterson said he would explain.
Mr.. Gary renlied there was NO use to
explain, but insistsd On knowing
whether what he had just said about
the whole matter was true or not.
Mr.. Patterson went on to say the
candidates would not agree with Mr..
Gary, or something on that line. Mr..
Patterson said he dared him to prove
his statements by any of the candi-
dates.
Mr.. Gary insisted on direct reply as
to whether his statement about the
Charleston speech was true or not. BY
this time the two men we're within
arms length, looking iiercely at each
other and no doubt looking for blow.
Mr.. Patterson said, yes. he denied as
being correct what Mr.. Gary had said,
if he could not explain. Mr. Gary
then said: .If you say my, statement
is not correct you say what is not So"
The two men joined, Patterson
struck ont and claims to have hit first.
There was not seconds difference in
the passage Of blows. Mr. Patterson
struck Gary an underhanded lick under
the left eye, which cut the skin for half
an inch long.
Gary hit Patterson on the mouth anu
cut the Lip and struck him under the
eye, judging from the bruise. It was
not minute before half o dozen men
were around the two combatants, they
were up against each other clinched
and several blows were passed, but
they were pulled apart. Gary was
taken toward the front of the stand
and Patterson to the back. They said
nothing but were eager, and the watch
ing crowd pressed up to the stand.
Some yelled for one candidate and
some for another. Two policemen,
Sheriff McCravey, Senator Tillman and
Chairman Smith moved for every one
to get back and cit down and get of
the etand Rv this fima fha con3;dotos
had mopped off their faces and wiped
the blood of, for blood flowed from
both Of their bruises.
When quiet was restored Mr.. Gary
faced the audience, somewhat dis
heveled and bruised, and quiverine
sll <S--sT and with clinched hand, and
s:e:el:; CUT asuii saiG when he left home
he decided he woald be gentleman
and give no possible offenBe to anyone
and in turn he would not take any
insult from anyone. He had treated
Mr. Patterson nm n ry6n&tnr,,ou o~,H