The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-07-10

OF South Carolina Rs il were, and ar
now in "the State of Edgetield." The
are likewise no longer " on the fence
- if sensitive ones will pardon this ex
preston, which only means that the,
are now on "The Ridge" This is
famous fruit and peach ridge, The fame
OF which has spread far beyond thu
borders of tho State, as has the patri
otto and sometimes startling RECORD
contributed to the universe in genera
by historic old EdgeGeld. The candi-
dates arc not seeking peaches on this
peach ridge-they are earnestly seek.
ing that other juicy and delicious fruit
for which this centre-this vineyard
this orchards equally famous" po-
lltical plums." Tho tree this season
has only about ten plums-evcn the
fertile soil of old Edgeticld can do no
more.
Plum seekers and plum dispensers
gathered in the old court house here
the scene of much Edgefeld history
al II O'Clock to hear discussions on
frmt harvesting, with especial refer
ence to securing plums. Promptly at
IL o'clock County Chairman Huinsfold
called the meeting to order, appropri.
ate prayer being made by the Rev. G.
w. Davis. Ice water and fans wei
among numerous evidences of the
thoughtful reception extended here.
Some of Col. Talbert's friends met
him at the station and made pleasant
cries for their particular favorite. Lib
eral cheers in the audience at the men,
ton of John G. Sheppard's name.
Mention Of old soldiers was always q
signal for cheers Plums were eagerly
soughL---some Of the brethren shin
nying around" at a Lively rate; others
placing -patent-extenslon step lad
der at the foot of the tree-a tree
which stretched il. the wrong direction
even as fast as grew the tree of
Jack the Giant Killer.
The court house was full when the
meeting began, many of Edgetield's fa-
nous beauties being present. The
listeners heard with that interest al
ways shown OH this subject by an
Edgetield audience.
1t was expected by knowing ones
that this Edgelield meeting would not,
except in its reflex action, be a SOL
emn occasion. In genuine Edgeheld
spirit, long confined and non-riven
asunder, it surpassed, 80 the old cam
paigners affirm, anything ever seen in
South Carolina. This was occasioned
by the mouthy and most vociferous
tempest war OF mouths and of noise
between the rival factions of Tabert
and Tillman. For exactly 43 min
utes after Col. Tillman was introduced,
this howllng and yelling was so per-
sistently maintained as to effectually
stop even attempts at speaking. Many
times when the roar Of hOwling voices
were at the utmost extreme of frenzled
shrieking it was perfectly patent that
what was once popularity supposed to
have "broke loose in Georgia" had
permanently established headquarters
in Edgefield court house, South Caro-
lima. The yelling began Immediately
, at the close of Ansel's speech and for
some time cheers and counter cheers
for Talbert and 'rillman prevented
Hayward, who was to follow, from
speaking. He did speak and when he
stopped and said, "My honored friend
Talbert came TO my town and spoke,
so did my distinguished friend Till
man, and no one yelled for Hayward I"
the cheers Of the house greeted
him. Col. Talbert was received with
most cordial enthusiasm but the coun-
ter cheering for Talbert and Tillman
grew 50 turbulent and confusing that
not one word could be heard before he
stopped speaking.
Lieut.. Gov. Tillman was received
with long continued cheering and ap-
plause. BY this time, however, the
rival factions were wrought to such
frenzy that Chairman Rainsford, Tai
bert and Tillman could do absolutely
nothing. No appeal had any effect.
The noise grew louder at frenzied in
tervals and then decreased when
throats could no longer bear the STRAIN
to yell again when renewed strength
came. For exactly 43 minutes Col.
Tillman faced the crowd and only
stopped when it became easily appar.
ent that the rival factions had no idea
of stopping their hooting and yelling
p There were few drunken men in the
crowd but not much anger was visible
the reporters chair and table were up
set when Col. Tillman's friends rushed
up with crown of flowers, put it OF
his head and bore him i'll their arm
out on the square. The rivalry was g,
great that in few minutes Talbert'
friends came up and bore him out il
similar manner. Your cOrresponden
knows nothing of the men who mad
the disturbance, each side claims tha
the other packed the house, both side
claim q victory. Your correspondent
saw mob Of red, perspiring faces AM
wildly swinging arms; yelling mouth
were wide open in frenzy; insane
distorted, countenances were wlldl
shouting. A storm of lncessant cheers
{hnrfahs and cries for Talbert and Til
man were heard with little or no cesst
tipn and human beings presented th
humiliating spectacle of crazed inebr
ates..
1T is impossible, unless with @ bunc