The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-07-09
TILLIHlIIAN H0HLED
DOWN IN EDGEFlELD.
RoWdy and Disgraesful Exhibition
al Campaign Meeting g---Friends
Of TaIbert and the jim-Tili-
nantes Responsible.
OTAER CANDIDATES GET LITTLE CON
SlDERATl0N.

Edgefeld, July 2.The State cam
paign meeting here today degenerated
into a hoWIing match between the
Jin-ti ilImanites and the supporters OF
Col TaIbert They hoRleo and yell
ed until the speakers could not make
themselves heard. Altogether it was
"a ro#dy and disofderly meeting.
I5 was expected by knowing ones
that this Edgefeld meeting would not
be a solemn occasion In genuine
Edge6eld spirit, long confined, and
non-riyen asunder, it surpassed, SO
the old campaigners affirm, anything
ever seen in South Carolina. This
was occasioned by the mouthy and
most Yociferous tempest war of mouths
Of noise between the rival factions of
TaIbert and TiilImaa. For exactly 43
minutes after Col. Tillman was intro
duced, this bowling and yelling was
50 persistently maintained as to efec-
tnally stop even attempts at speaking.
Many times when The roar Of hoWllng
voices were at the utmost extreme OF
frenzied shrieking it was perfectly
patent that what was once popularly
supposed, to have = broke loose in
Georgia = had permanently established
headquarters IL Edge6eld court house,
South Carolina. The yelling began
Immediately at the close Of Ansel's
speech and for some time cheers and
counter cheers for Yalbert and Till
man prevented HeyWard, who was to
follow, from speaking. He did
speak and when he stopped and said,
- NY honored friend Talbert come
to my town and spoke, SO did my dis
tinguished friend Tillman, and no one
yelled for HeWyard-the cheers of the
house greeted him. Col Talbert was
received Wita most cordial enthusiasm
but the counter cheering for Talbert
and Tillman grew so turbulent and
confusing tha5 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. Nc appeal had any effect.
The noise grew louder at frenzied
intervals and then decreased when
shroats could no longer bear the
strain to yell again when strength
came. For exactly 43 minutes Col.
TIllman faced the crowd and only
stopped when it became easily appa-
rent that the rival factions had no
idea of stopping their hooting and
yelling. There were q. few drunken
men in the crowd, but not much anger
was visible, the reporters chair and
table were upset when Col Tillman's S
friends rushed up with crown of
flowers, put it on his head and bore
him in their arms out on the square.
The rivalry was SO great that in few
minutes Talbelt's friends came up and
bore him out in similar manner.
Your correspondent knows nothing Of
the men who made the disturbance,
each side claims that the other packed
the honse, both sides claim victory.
Yonr correspondent saw mob of red,
perspiiing faces and wildly swinging
arms; yelling mouths were wide open
IN frenzy; insane, distorted coun-
tenances were wildly shouting. A
storm. of iRcessant cheers, hurrahs
and cries for Taibsrt and Tillmsn were
heard with little or no cessation and
human beings presented the hamil-
iatsng spectacle of erazed ineeriates.