The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-12
The FOOTBALL RIOTS.
Statements by representatives OF
South Carolina College and
CIemson---Both Sides En-
deayor to Shift the
Responsibility.

Tie ill-feeling, bad temper and open
clashes between Clemson cadets and
South Carolina students have been de-
plored by the alumni and friends, Of
both institutions. The newspapers
have subordinated desire for sensa-
tional stories to real interest in the
welfare of the two institutions, and
many facts were not given publicity.
The following statements will be of
great interest:
To the Editor of The State:
It was hoped last night that the
settlement Of the trouble between
Clemson and Carolina had been final;
but in learning that the Clemson corps
after returning from the college cam
pus had openly said that they had COM
PEELED Carolina to back down, and af-
ter reading the somewhat incomplete
article in The, State this morning, l
think, in justice to the South Caro-
lima College students, that all the facts
should be brought before the public.
They are as fellows:
Just before the time for the parade
to start I was told by an orderly that
Gen. Willie Jones wished to see who
ever was in charge Of the South Caro-
lima students. Being an old student
of the class of '99, and having helped
those in charge in organizing the
students for this parade, was asked to
represent the college before Gen.
Jones.
Gen. Jones stated to me that Col.
Sirmyer, the commandant of Clemson,
objected to transparency which the
Carolina students we're going to carry
in the parade. This transparency
showed growing game cock, marked
IS. G. c." standing on the head of a
dead tiger, and Col. Sirmyer claim
ed that it would be an insult to the
Clemson corps for this to be carried in
the parade, a tiger being the we'll
known emblem of the Clemson foot
ball team.
Having stated to Gen. Jones that on
Thursday night that similar transpar-
ency had been attacked by some Glenn
son cadets, who had used swords,
wounding two of the Carolina students,
and that all day Friday Clemson men
had openly boasted that they would
not allow such a transparency to be
carried through the parade, I refused
the request. Thereupon Col. Sirmyer
stated to Gen. Jones, Chief of Police
DAILY and myself that if this transpar-
ency were carried he would not be re-
sponsible for the action of the men
under his command. This statement
| was made also in the presence Of the
| Clemson band and battalion staff.
| At this iuncture Clemson cadet
stepped up to Col. Sirmyer and said ::
s'We will get it if they take it in.o
| Col. Sirmyer half turned in his saddle
and said: 81 know you will.'' Then,
after some words between Col. Sirmy-
er and myself as to this statement l
asked him if he as colonel command
ing the Clemson corps of cadets,
meant to say that he could not control
his men. He again replied, 81 will
not be responsible, :" and then said to
Gen. Jones that if such transparency
were carried in the parade his corps
would not enter. / then said to Gen.
Jones that in case Clemson chose to
stay out he should just let them do so.
I then went back to where the South
Carolina students were drawn up.
Capt. Gonzales, Gen. Jones and
Chief of Police DAILY all rode to our
formation and saw the transparency
and said they saw nothing objection
able in it: but they asked the stu
dents, FOR the sake of peace, to 60 into
the parade without it, but just then
our time csne to enter the parade and
we started with the transparency
without any more talk.
We completed the march without
any trouble, save that as we passed
Clemson's headquarters, in the old
agricultural hall, stone was thrown
by some one and struck the automo-
bile in which the transparency was
carried. We cheered the Clemson
corps as we passed them in the parade,
and they returned the salute.
Immediately after the parade the
Carolina students marched straight to
the campus and there [ made them a
shert speech, saying that Carolina had
carried her point and urging the stu
| dents to be careful to avoid any
trouble that night.
I talked to some gentlemen about
five minutes and started up Sumter
street. At the corner of Sumter and
Pendleton I was met by some Carolina
students who told me that the Glenn
son men were coming in force. l turned
and went back to the campus. AT
this time the Clemson corps were al
the corner of Pendleton and Sumter
streets, half block from the college
entrance and saw there was no time
to assemble any more Carolina stu
dents. About 80 of these were at the
gate and we took our position on the
low wall or coping extending from
the side gate to the driveway, a
distance of about 40 feet. We barely
covered the wall. We had scarcely
taken our position before the cadets
were right in front of US. They were
very angry and excited and they swung
in towards the college. We ordered
them to halt, and l recognized Maj:
Wiley of the Clemson battalion and
told him that should his men come
on the sidewalk the trouble would
start. They stopped at the edge OF
the sidewalk, ran up into close form
alton parallel with the wall. numbering