The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-05
CANDIDATES FIGHT
FISTS USED By PATTERSON AND
GARY AT LAURENs.
EACH DREW OTHERS BLOOD.
THEY WE'RE SOON SEPARATED BY
TILLMAN AND OTHERS.
Patterson Had PcrsistentIy Charged
Gary with StraddIing the Liquor
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Gary Fin
ally Denounced His Statement as
Untrue-The Two Candidates for
Governor Then Came Together
with Fists and Blood Was Spilled.

|
Untrue-The Two Candidates for
Governor Then Came Together
with Fists and Blood Was Spilled.
Columbia, S. c., Aug. 4.-Frank b. Gary
and A. Howard Patterson had a rough
and-tumble fight to-day before thousand
Laurens people, men and women.
They fought with desperation and de-
termination until Senator Tillman and
others separted them, and then they
wanted 90 get back at each other.
Had the incident occurred years ago in
this county when there was a CARLOAD
of pistols at a meeting. there would have
been funerals tomorrow.
From day to day. Patterson has ham
mered az Gary about his Charleston
speech. Gary thought this persistent ef-
fort was to make 1t appear indirectly that
he straddled or favored local option while
in Charleston. and that Patterson's ef-
| fort was to place him In a false posi-
ton as to what he had said and his an
nounced attitude on the liquor question.
As persisteutly as Patterson would make
his statements. just so persstently would
Gary insist that his position in Charleton
as elsewhere, was plain and unequivocal
To-day Patterson repeated and reiterat-
ed his statements about Gary's alleged
straddle in Charleston. When Garys turn
came to speak, he Immediately replied that
he did not "straddle," and that his POSI-
ton then. as now, was plain.
How the Trouble started.
Patterson was sitting about five feet
behind where Gary was speaking and got
up and said:
Mr.. Gary. I want to explain some
thing"
Gary turned squarely around and said:
Now. Mr.. Patterson. I want to ask
you plainly, is what 1 have said about
that Charleston matter true?"
Patterson said he would explain. Gary
| replied there was no use to explain, but
insisted on knowing whether what he had
just said about the whole matter was true
or not. Patterson said he dared him to
prove his statement by any of the candl-
dates. Gary insisted on direct reply az
to whether his statement about the
Charleston speech was true or not.
BY this time the two men were within
arms length, looking fercely at each 9TH
er. Patterson said, yes; he denied as be-
ing correct what Gary had said If he
could not explain. Gary then said:
III you say my statement is not cor
rect, you say what is not So
The two men struck Patterson struck
out and claims to have hit first There
was not seconds difference in the pass
age of blows. Patterson struck Gary an
up-handed lick under the left eye, which
cut the skin for half an inch. GAry hit
Patterson on the mouth and cut the lin,
and struck him under the eye.
1t was not a minute before half a doz-
en- men were around the two combatants.
They were up against each other cinchei 4
and several blows were rassed, but they
were pulled apart. Some were yelling for
one candidate and some for another Two
policem. n, Sheriff McCravey, Senator TIL
man and Chairman Smith made every e
get back and sit down and get off the
stand.
Both of Them ApoIogfzed.
BY this time the candidates had mopped
off their faces and wiped the blood off
for blood flowed freely. When quiet was
restored. Mr.. Gary faced the audience
somewhat disheveled and breathless, and
quivering all over, and with clenched
hand he spoke. saying that when he left
home. he decided that he would be a gen.
tleman and give no possible offense TO
anyone, and in turn he would not take
any insult from anyone. Mr.. Gary apol-
ogized almost tearfully for having fought
before ladies'
Mr.. Patterson was allowed to make a
statement and said he was very sorry for
the occurrence. He did not like such
things. He and Mr. Gary had been warm
friends and he had been a stsnch friend OF
the family, but whenever a man told him
he lied, he tried to put his fist in his
mouth, and give him the best he had in
his shop.
When the two combatants had taken
their seat, police officer good naturedIy
held out his hand and said it would cost
each OF the combatants s. or they would
have to go before the Mayors Court. Gary
paid his IS, and then Patterson, when ask
ed, handed over his s.. The incident Is
| believed to be ended
TON Ann IN AnnnIX nAtxnnA