The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-24
CONES out STRONG FOR q eARRlvAL.
A Acifizea Whe Helped Make the earnivalof
Tsn Years agoa Success Favors An
ether.
Editor The Item.

then editor OF the Watchman and
sSouthron suggested in the Watchman
and Soushron, that Sumter should get
sup some kind OF an entertainments.
which would Even up the citizens and
get them out cf their doWn-hearted
spirit, caused by the supposed death
blow inflicted by the purchase OF th3
charleston, Sumter and Northern
Railroad and the breaking up and re-
rnoval of the shops and headquarters
from Sumter by the Atlantic Coast
sIine.
ss ass that time Sumter had less than
sour Thousands dss inhabitants. There
was not foot Of niacadamizeo street
Il the city. We had one or sWo small
iadussrial enterprises We had only
hand 6re-e -engines and hose reels. Onr
spossofHee Was a third class affair. We.
had Just gotten rid, by fire, OF g dliap.
idated and by no means ornamental
wooden building, called the city ball,
opera house ard beef market. Hnn-
dreds Of acres of land near the center
OF the city were planted IN cotton OF
corn or allowed 5osgrow mp IN weeds.
George EppersoE s hogs enjoyed, IN
common with those of other citizens,
Ehe unrestricted laSury Of our muddy
and sandy streets upon " hieh city
ceancii spent thousRds OF dollars IN
hauling sand from one part Of town
TO another. There were no hospitals.
The police force was uniformed In any
soad thing from cotton jeans suit,
sh wool hat an one gallus accom-
paniment, withous collars, to four
dollar suit OF three different shades
and ages. Ne had one lame grey
marc that was blind III cne eye and
could not see good out of the other,
and one mule, belonging to the city.
Every freight train did Its own shift
ing. We had possibly SIX trains
day. Old Dave Sanders was the chief
fish yender and fruit seller; and with
his Quaint cry Of 6 Huh me! On your
napniculecies, fine fishes and tingsp
was Che only noise producing thing
which made US think ne we're a living
n city. We had, Z think only three
raiIfeads. Hundreds of men we're cut
off work and were leaving Sumter; and
g 10 Rent, p1acards we're pasted on
So many hensss that the town was
spotted like it had the lnasies. You
could get a, house at yol1r own price,
proyided Won had any employment
which paid enough to pay rent. Every
hoiv was blue, and many went away to
make their fortunes, but a great many
refu rned--som of them walked back
Tor their health. But the editor Of the
Watchman had confidence in Sumter.
He stuck to his post : fodder or mo-
fodder. ,, About that time, TIE
Daily Item was launched. lt was1
IN experiments. and a very expensive
experiment too. for seven or eight
years. An old hand press and
negro elbow grease were the motive
Dowers OF that period. But the dark
est hour before the dawn had arrived,
and there IS silver lining to every
cloud. The newspapers saw it and
took up the cry TO revive interest IN
the cid s Game Cock City =
It vas proposed that we have
great blow ont In the shape OF q
Game Cock City Carnival, and make
bluff at keeping up appearances.
reat many said, Oh that is
focaishnesss Sas some say to6ay. In
fact, funerals and fires have been q
benefit to Sumter on more Stlan one
occasion. don't mean all kinds OF
IunefalS pus sae lainelai =. 49, Sa oss
dogy OF g pesslmlss!c crsIaAes suoaso aaa
bea dsy or rejoicing evety e..ae M uIe
OF snesn ttllns a.., up n.s sgss Sa.,se 20
5csoaAeas.op sue s1asny ou ont
.as sa!cy 81 .s..e ae Ste. Rnt one
.ooa t 5aeer.s;ned sae .sy ~ rnen cot toeether
smo aess1 ~ sla.a ,; worE for
saa anu s.aase, , va A, = vss ,,,.s fraa 60 coun-
sls -, =. ,d IA n z foag;as Sera
sss ~ As - e aaa ~ o thas Sence and
~ ,s ~ e,.s 81 ~, taa hest carnival
i3s AZ ~ 800 svs * sss-o,;ns @ hsfore ori
,4ss.4 -. - .'s-s-1 -
sa.;ss. -. .-.sas d;.,,,., -, ,.;c;ratad in
- s1s1. sssa..tsrta - 80 ;nanstr;aI an.
80. snast over
ssS sss.maen - s,'I NaS yo-s- and New or
80 Tsse,,ss.s,ss 800, as = ,,aoi,,s came TO
Srr.sa- .,s.s~ 49,, ia NO rot scnrnssderSum-
sys.,ssi, ~. .ss;, !. Js.d snsvc They taya heen
=. ss.s 80, - .1- f,air
ls Isss 80 ssa ssse : N,,s ~ - +i,aS tsafSes
onss 49, .ha a'ss Ssc;ao;"a . - the ,,sw