The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-08-20
Latimer and iiemphiIl Fight at Gaffney.

There is something either in the
water or the atmosphere that calls
forth difficulty of some sort every
time candidates or officials speak here.
1t will be remembered that it was. at
this place that Senators Tillman and
McLaurin found that arguments avail
ed nothing and both rendered their
resignation to Gov. McSweeney and
the incident of the "Jim" Tillman- De-
Camp episode. n few weeks ago, is
still fresh in the minds of the people.
But today two w0uld-be senators came
to actual blows, and all about n small
matter. 1t happened this way:
At the senatorial and congressional
candidates. meeting held here In the
court house today, Congressman Lati-
mer was the first speaker for the Unit
ed States senate. When his turn came,
the dinner hour having arrived, a
majority of the 500 audience left. Lati-
mer did not want to speak to depict
ed crowd and asked permission of the
chairman to be allowed to postpone
his speech until after dinner, the time
allotted TO the congressman. The
matter was left to n vote, and it was
unanimously ordered that the speech
be postponed as requested.
Latimer jumped up and said: II
want you all to come back hero and
hear me. for these five lawyers have
been jumping on one poor farmer, and
l 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 jumping on
you today. and you know IT. 1t has
always been our rule to end a 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 tho con-
gressmen. and yon know it,
by this time they were facing each
other, and both very angry.
Latimer-I know that you don't care
for them
Hemphill-G-d d d-m you You know
that is not true.
Latimer then l:ew bnck and hit
Hemphill 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 it's mark. Hemphill then
grabbed his umbrella and tried to hit
Latimer over the head of the interfer-
ing men, but he could not reach him.
Several men grabbed hold of both an
tagOnists, who were making desperate
efforts to get Mt each other, and in the
scuffle Hemphill 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
Latimer out of the court room and
asked him why ne struck him, and
Latimer replied "because you crrsed
me-"
To which Hen.phill rejoined: II did
not curse YOU"
Latimer said: well. if you did not
curse me. l apologize"
This latter statement is mere hear
say, but the first part ia testimony and
was heard and witnessed by many.
Tho 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 CT on the etand.-
Correspondence Columbia State, Aug.
14th.