The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-25
WANTED TO WHIP TOM
DIXON.

Author OF "The CIansman'' Was Hiss
ed IN Columbia and He Called the
Hissers Scalawags Then Two
Grandsons OF Gen. McGowan Wanted
to Fight. ~ 80 80
Columbia, OCT. l7.-Thomas Dixon,
Jr's., drama, The Clansman," !"
coupled with curtain tall from the
author, who does not seem able to re-
frain, being extremely vitrioiic when
gated with Kissing, is q dangerous
thing to enact before an imflammable
Southern audience. The two came
near precipitating riot and q panic
with deadly results here Saturday
night. The theatre, which was crowd
ed several hundred beyond capacity is
poorly equipped with exitss and q
panic would have resulted in the death
Of many women and children.
At the earnest solicitation of Mr.
Dixon, who pleaded that his troupe
was about to desert him for fear, and
who said publication would ruin the
success Of bis play, and In Difference to-
the pleadings Of the prominent society
men involved, who acknowledge now
that.they acted 10 hasty manner in
several respects, the newspaper people
agreed not to go into the details If this
and also to Withhold reference to the in
cideut which occurred at Mr.. Dixon's
hotel Immediately after the play when
three young men endeavored to, call
him out for an apology for referring to
them as scalawages when they hissed
him in his curtain talk ut the theatre
But the thing Is beginning to leak out,
az was to be expected, and in justice it
is as well to give an uncolored account
of the incidents.
The young men involved in the no
ted incident, which would have ended
in q bloody affair had the oyerwrought
partizans of Mr.. Dixon known what
they were up to, come from families
which have produced leaders In the
commercial and industrial and political
and intellectual development Of the
State for generations back. And they
are themselves college graduates and
socially prominent, and should there
fore have had better control of them-
selves. Their conduct was due to i'm
petuously rather than to any spirit OF
rowdisim, as all are young men of
character and high sense Of honor.
They lost their heads, but it Is evident
that tn cir motives were the best.
When Dixon appeared q few men ex-
pressed their disapproval of the pro-
priety of putting such play on the
boards by leaving. Othera, among
them the three young men who after
ward got into the difficulty at the ho-
tel, remained and Kissed in derision at
Dixon, who stood erect, silent, unfiin-
ching, waiting opportunity to speak.
Immediately bis partizas began Kissing
the hissers. His retort about the scala
wag element still more clear Y definec-
the line between bis partizans and
those condemning him and his play,
but his oratory, directness and brilliant
CIV Immediately gained him control of
the major portion of the house and he
concluded amid applause, and some
Kissing.
When the Kissing began there were
some North Carolinians near the chief
hissers. 1t was afterward learned that
threats came from half dozen of these,
and Dixon had bis strong local parti'
zans.as we'll. he being kind man who
is quickly liked with intensity or hat
ed with warmth. All the elements of
serious trouble were present to the eye
of man who has studied these COM
bustible South Carolinians.
Wien Mr.. Dixon alighted from bis
carriage at the hotel with his wife hall
an hour later, the three young men had
gone there to meet him and one Of
them accosted him in the lobby just
after he left his wife at the stair, tell
ing him they wanted "to see him a.
bout matter" He excused himself
to see to his wife and afterward sent
word that he could not come down.
They rent him a denunc;tary note,
in which they also called HIM liar
for referring to item as scalawags,
There was no reply,
They also sent uote informing him
where to find them the next morning.
No reply. They wanted to make him
apologize.
They camped in the hotel.
The next morning Mr.. Dixon sent
for Col. Henry T. Thompson, his old
time personal friend, who found Mrs.