The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-20
MESS NO. EIGHT" /"
A Remarkable Reunion at Swan
sea of Confederate Veterans.
.Soecial to The State.

Special to The State.
Swansea, May 1.-THE Confederate
veterans will meet in Columbia this
week for reunion. Last week a
most successful and also remarkable
reunion took place in Swansea, %
miles south of Columbia, and good
feeling flowed among the participants
like rivers of sparkling wine, and ten
der memories of last week with those
five vets, viii ever grow fresher ana
more Joyous. Company Z of the Sec.
ond cavalry was composed largely OF
F1man university students. Ten OF
these students formed mess known
as mess No. 81 and of this mess
seven survived when the south laid
down its arms; but, alas, sad to tell,
two of these splendid young men
Benz B. Nichols and John ?. Austin
poured out their life blood upon
their country's altar in defense OF
rights they held SO dear, while third
one (Thos. E. Davenport died after
having been mayor Of the city of
Brunswick, Ga.
Five of Mess No. s, after separa-
tion of 80 years, each coming from a
distant home, met at the residence OF
DR.. w. T. Brooker, one Of the mess,
in Swansea, and TO see them was to
exclaim: Behold how they love each
the other.
Dr.. Ben Il. Knotts, prominent
physician Of OrangebuEg county; Mr.
Joel r. P. Goodle5t OF the Spartan
Inn, in Spartanburg city; Mr.. ". +.
Rhame, cashier of the Sumter bank /;
DR.. Mac. B. Harrison, a leading physi-
clan of Palmetto, Fla, and DR.. W. Z.
BROKER Of Swansea, who is in high
gepute professionally and socially, and
is an all-round public spirited citizen,
composed the happy party, and from
two to three days were joyously passed
n the home of the delighted hest.
The deeds and dangers, and joys and
sorrows of their young days were pass
ed in review, their memories OF past
events refreshed. The old ties of
brotherhood which had weaJhered the
storms of nearly four decades were
strengthened and inyigorated and the
hours of their stay together were as
aeeting as the moments OF devoted
lovers soon to part.
All the members of the mess we're
educated, cultured and refined; noble
sons Of noble sires. They have all be-
come more or less prominent in life.
Col. A. Blythe, distinguished
member of the Greenville bar, and Dr.:
Jas. NJ. McClanahan, popular and
prominent physician Of Oconee, were
The two survivors who were absent
from the happy meeting. The unfor-
tunate failure to have them present
was the only source Of regret to each
OF those assembled.
The prominence and usefulness Of
these gentlemen, the high Christian
character Of each of them, the fact OF
their being alive and well after the
lapse of such a period, their assem-
bling together-in part, at least, By
accident-when most of them had not
seen each other since the close of the
war, and the unity and good feeling
snd harmony and marked affection
existing between them, which is the
highest possible testimonial to the
worth of the men themselves, combine
to render this most unusual and re-
markable reunion. As remarked by
oae of the party: "lt is not likely
that anything equal to this has occur
red in the history of Confederate re-
unions.''
The heads of these veterans are be-
ing silyered and there will come
another reunion, and may this one be
the best of all and with no separation.