The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-08
THE LAURENS RUCUS.


FulI Account Of the InprOmptu
Fisht-Laurens Solid for the Dis'
pensary.
The State.
1anrens. Aug. 4.-The great educational
"a nnaign eyoluted into smuggling match to-
day. II was somewhat the unexpected which
happened. Frank b. Gary and A. howard
patterson had rough and tumble fight be-
tore a thousand Laurens people, men and Wo-
men. They fought with desperation and de-
termination until Jim Tillman aud others
separated Them and then they wanted 10 get
back at each other. Had the accident occurr-
ed years ago in this county, when there were
a CARLOAD Of pistols at meeting, there would
have been funerals here tomorrow ;'but these
days all the feeling seems to be between tne
candidates. Today 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.
HOW 1T STARTED.
From day to day Mr.. Patterson hammered
at Mr.. Gary about his Charleston speech.
reading the clippings and making the state
ments published. Mr.. Gary thought this per-
sistent effort was to make II appear indirect
Iy that he straddl led in Charleston or favored
a local option while in Charleston, with
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 at
titude on the liquor question. AS persistent
y as Mr.. Patterson would make his state
ments just so perslstenty would Mr.. Gary in
sist that his position in Charleston, as else.
where, was plain and unequivocal and not
Intended to be nor was IL misleading, ana Mr.
Patterson kept on with his statements az
published, and from day TO day this kept up
and Mr.. Patterson got me to send the papers
his speech on this matter and Mr.. Gary was
asked fol, his reply, which have been both
Today Mr. Patterson repeated and reiterat
ed about Mr.. Gary's alleged sLraddle In
Charleston. When Mr.. Gary's turn came 10
SPEAK he Immediately replied. az has been
published, that he did not "st:addle." and
that his position then, as now, was plain.
PATTERSON WANTED TO EXPLAIN. .
Mr.. Patterson was sitting about five feet be-
hind where Mr.: Gary was speaking and got got
up and said: "Mr. Gary, l want to explain
something"
Mr.. Gary turned squarely around and said:
Nov, Mr.. Patterton, want to ask you plain
ly-is what have said about that Charleston
matter true?" Mr.. Patterson said he would
explain. Mr.. Gary replied there was no use
to explain, but insisted on knowing whether
whathe had just said about the whole matter
was true or not.
DARED GARY TO PROVE STATEMENT.
Mr.. Patterson went on to say the candidates
would not agree with Mr.. Gary, or something
on that line. Mr.. Patterson said he dared
Mr.. Gary insisted on a direct reply as to
whether his statement about the Charleston
men were within arms, looking fercely al
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. MIR. Gary then said: III you
say my statement is not correct you say what
Is not So"
JOTSED IN THE ERAy
The two men joined. Patterson struck out
seconds difference in the passage OF blows
Mr.. Patterson struck Gary an unhanded lick
under the left eye. which cut the skin for half
all inch long.
BLOOD WAS COMMON.
Gary hit Patterson on the mouth and cut
the lip and struck him under the eye, judging
from the bruise. 1t was not minute before
batants, they were up against each other
clinched and several blows we're 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 watching crowds pressed up to
the stand.
YELLING FOR BOTH.
Some yelled for one candidate and some for
another. Two policeman, Sheriff McCravey.
Senator 1illman and Chairman Smith moved
for every one to get back and sit down and
get OF the stand. BY this time the candidates
had mopped off their faces and wiped the
blood off, for blood flowed from both OF their
bruises.
GARY's APOLOGY.
When quiet was restored Mr.. Gary faced the
audience, somewhat disheveled and bruised
and Quiverlng all over and with clinched
band. and spoke out and said when he left
home he decided he would be gentleman
and give no possible offense to anyone and In
one. He had treated Mr.. Patterson as q
gentleman and friend, but he had gone too
lar, and he would allow q o man to insult him
without hitting him in the mouth.
MIR. Gary apologized with feeling and al
most tears for having fought before ladies'
and expressed his deep regret at the incident
then he went on and concluded his speech,
cutting 1t here and there.
PATTERSON SORRY.
Mr.. Patterson was allowed to make q state
ment and said he was very sorry for the oc-
currence. He did not like such things. He
and Mr.. Gary had been warm friends and he
had been staunch friend of the family, but
whenever man told him he lied he tried to
put his fist in his mouth and give him the
best be had In his shop.
FIVE PLUSKs EACH.
When the two combatants had taken their
seat police officer, who looks like the pic |
lures ol MT. DlnkelSplel, good natured, held |
out bis hand and said IL would cost each OF
the con batants S. or they would have to 20 !
before mayors court. Mr.. Gary paid his S. |
and then Mr.. Patterson, when asked, handed
over his S..
THIS TIE LAURENs CUSTOM.
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 wan ted to, 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. BY
strange coincidence they both were guests at
one home, but they are now at different
homes.
THEY SHAKE HANDS.
Through the efforts of Clerk OF Court Bolt.
MIR: Patterson and Mr.. Gary met, shook hands
and agreed to be friends and comrades TO
each other as when they entered Laurens.
Of course neither OF the contestants was hurt
TO any extent.
TILLMAN TOOK HIS PRIMARY.
After the scrap 1t was uphill work for all
until Iillman was presented, and he was re.
ceived with enthusiasm. He whooped things
up and had the boys hurrahing. He took