The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-07-09
GEN. HAMPTON's CAMPAIGN
An Event in the History of
Sumter Worthy of Being Pre-

An Event in the History of
Sumter Worthy of Being Pre-
served.
To the Editor of The State
A great deal of history is made in
South Carollna-interesting history
we'll worth being preserved in perma-
nent form, yet how Indifferent are our
people, as q whole, to our history.
The most important political cam
paign meeting held in Sumter during
the last third of the Nineteenth centu-
ry was the great Hampton demonstra-
tion held October z, 1876. 1t was esti-
mated by those who accompanied Gen.
Hampton in his triumphant progress
through Carolina to have been the
largest and most enthusiastic meeting
held up to that time, with perhaps a
single exception, that of Abbeville in
point of numbers. Mr.. Carl Mckinley,
a gentleman of scholarly attainments
who is the author of Z" An Appeal to
Phnraoh," was the correspondent who
reported the meeting to the News and
Courier. There was one feature of
the meeting of 80 striking o character
and which appealed 80 strongly to the
audience that we allude to it here, and
will let Mr.. Mckinley tell 1t in his own
language:
"Gen. Hampton and the other
speakers dismounted from their car
riages and approached the stand. AS
he entered the space between the
ladies' stands, these rose up and
showered down flowers upon him and
before him until the ground beneath
his feet was carpeted with them. A
company of little girls, representing
all the States, all clad in white, met
him half way, and strewed their floral
offerings in his way.
&C But the crowniDg ceremony was
reserved for the last. A fair young
girl, clad in mourning and bound with
heavy chains, to represent South Caro-
lima, stood on the verge of the stage,
| just where the speakers afterward de-
liveIed their addresses. AS Gen.
Hampton approached, and when every
eye was fixed upon the two, and while
he was as yet but few PAGES from
her, at word and as if by magical
touch the hablliments OF mourning and
the heavy CHAINS fell from her at once
and she stood forth before him and the
throng clad in garments of snowy
whiteness-a beautiful emblem of
South Carolina redeemed.
The drama was well planned, well
executed, and it's import recognized
and acknowledged by such burst OF
enthusiasm and shouting, and waving
of hats and handkerchiefs, and roars OF
cannon as made the scene truly most
impressive one. AS the clank of the
falling chains was heard, Gep. Hamp
ton raised his eyes, and, seeing tht
beautiful child before him, and under
standing the new tribute paid him IL
her person, his face flushed, and h,
bowed deeply and reverently to he
and to the multitude. He spoke few
kind words to her in an undertone; sh
took her place in the company of he
sisters, and he ascended the steps @
the platform, and with his party too
the seats placed for them"
The girl who Mr.. Mckinley dc
scribed as attired in mourning was hi
tie Miss Minnie Cuttino. She was al
: terwards married to Mr.. Iaidore Hoy
of Sumter, and was the daughter @
Mr.. w. III. Cuttino, who was afte
wards clerk of court, and was th
granddaughter of the Rev. David "
Cuttino, an earnest minister of tt
Baptist denomination. Like her Fl