The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-08-20
HEMpHILL AHB Lt1IMER FIGHT.
THE GAFFNEY MEETING SCENE
OF DIFFICULTY.
They Were Separated Before
Many Blows We're Struck.

Gafney, Aug. 14.-There is some
thing either in the water or the atmos-
phere that calls forth a difficulty Of
some sort every time candidates or
officials speak here. It will be remem-:
bered that it was at this place that;
Senators Tillman and McLaurin found
that arguments availed nothing and
both rendered their resignation to
Gov. McSweeney and the incident of
the Jim" Tillman-DeCamp episode,
few weeks, ago, is still fresh in the
minds of the people. But today two
would-be senators came to actual
blows, and all about a small matter.
It happened this way:
At the senatorial and congressional
candidates meeting held here in the
court house today, Congressman Lati-
mer was the first speaker Off the Uni
ted States senate. When his turn
came, the dinner hour having arrived,
a majority of the 500 audience left.
Latimer did not want to speak to the
depleted crowd and asked permission
of the chairman to be allowed to post
pone his speech until after dinner, the
time allotted to the congressman. The
matter was left to vote, and it was
unanimously ordered that the speech
be postponed as requested.
Latimer jumped up and said: l
want you all to come back here and
hear me, for these five Lawyers have
been jumping on one poor farmer,
and I am going to answer them. =
AS they were leaving the bar of the
court room, Hemphill said:
'Latimer, you ought not to say
that, for none of Us have been jump
ing on you today, and you know it.
It has always been our rule to end 8
meeting before we stop, and it will
not be right to infringe upon the time
of the congressman. -
Latimer-You want to make me
speak to empty benches: you care
nothing for the congressman.
Hemphill-I do care for the con-
gressmen, and you know it.
By. this. time they were facing each
other. and both very angry.
Latimer-I know that you don care
for them.
Hemphill-G-d d-m you, you know
that is not true.
A BLOW ON t. CHEEK.
Latimer then drew back; and hit
Hemphil a severe. stunning blow on
the cheek. Several men jumped:in be-
tween them and the driving blow sent
by Hemphill at his antagonist fell
short Of its mark. Hemphill then
grabbed his umbrella and tried to hit
Latimer .ver the head of the linterfer-
ing men, but he could not reach him.
Several men grabbed hold of both an
tagonists, who were making desperate
efforts to get at each other, and In the
scufHe Hemphiu was pushed back be
tween two chairs in the jury box, but
was Instantly helped TO his feet, again.
This ended the incident as far as this
correspondent saw and heard. 1t is
rumored that Hemphill followed Lati-
mer out of the court room and asked
him why he struck him, and Latimer
replied .'becanse you cursed me"
"ID1D NOT CURSE YOU"
To which Hemphill reioined: 81
did not curse you..'
Latimer said: "Well if you did not
curse me, apologize. -
This latter statement is mere hear
say, but the first part is testimony
and vas heard and witnessed By many.
The whole affair was totally unex-
pected, for during the entire campaign
there has not been any. controversy to
amount to anything between these two
gentlemen, either off Or on the stand.
BEFORE THE MAYOR.
Both Hemphili and Latimer were
notified to appear before Mayor Little
this evening, and, pending an inyesti-
CATION, both were required to put up
$40 each for their appearance.
At Late hour tonight Mayor Little
decided to allow Messrs Hemphill
and Latimer forfeit their deposit Of
$40 until morning.
Washington, Aug. 14.-Under date
of Wednesday the 18th instant, Minis
ter Bowen at Caracas, reports to the
e$oxa 1oDo r%,oopf $hof Tho, .eifu alton