The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-11-23

Tuesday, the goth, was great day
in South Carolina. The old Confedcr-
ate soldiers, their SONS and daughters
went to the capitol of the state and
took part in the mveiling Of monu-
ment to one OF South Carolina s great
est men, Gen. Wade Hampton.
Of course it is impossible for the
Herald and News to handle all that
WAS said and done on this occasion but
we give from the daily papers syn
opsis of the exercises incident to what
the State calls South Carolina s great
est day since tue Reconstruction.
BY the time the procession had
reached the State house grounds, the
park was already thronged with peo-
pie, and the two acres on the east were
rapidly becoming black with figures.
Horses stood picketcd or tied by the
bride to tree, many little ones were
held i'll arms, to share with the grey
boards in viewing the historic event.
When the speakers of the day arrived
at the great stand, it was difficult for
them to make their way through the
immense crowds. One the platform
were not only the participants but
many distinguished men, including
members Of the general assembly, If
the monument commission, congress-
men, the governors staff, some old
veterans, members Of the United
Daughters of the Confederacy, the
surviving relatives of the chieftain
and others.
There was slight delay in begin
ming, because Bishop Capers had not
been able to force his way through the
tremendous jam. Finally, he arrived
and the crowd closed in again, and a
sea of faces surged beneath the sides
or the rude wooden platform, drapcd,
rs it was, with the flags and colors
OF the lost Cause. Col. j. Q. Marshall
WAS obliged to ask The crowd 10 break
while thc little girls. the descendants
cf Gen. Hampton, who were to unvcil
the mnlmmcnt, could reach its base.
IS fast as the children advanced to-
wards the granite plinth, the crowd
surged in behind them and face
crowded on face, so il seemed from
the stand
The crowd not only occupied the
spaces adjacent to the stand but
spread far and wide over the lawns.
Many people climbed trees while 9th
crs sal in the windows of the State
house, and still others sat far above
Gn the stone balustradc and on the
slate roofs.
Red and white was everywhere, on
badges, on flags, on ribbons, red shirts
and white shirts with rcd stripes, the
Stars and Bars of the Confcdcracy
and the colorS Of the battle flag, all
were seen on all sides. Way up against
dome of grey--for ii was cloudy
when the exercises bcgan--thc blue
state flag, with the white palmetto,
floatcd languidly from the staff, in
the almost impcrccptiblc breeze. From
the window Of thc Confederate relic
re- m in the capital, swung i'm immense
'.Hh?c flag.
The Patriot Priest.
There must have been between 5000
and 10000 ncopIc within sight of the
stand when Bishop Capers rose TO
make the opening prayer. This in
itself was an impressive SIGHT and
brought to mind many memories. The
veterans thought of the days Of battle
when the young trooper led them, the
younger ones Of his life in the priest IS
gown. The friend Of Hampton, the
beloved soldicr-pricst, was his CON-
radc in the times Of war, his intimate
i'll after life, and when the illustrious
chicftain lay still and cold, pronounce
cd above his bier the last words. The
prayer was feeling one and delivered
with the pathetic emphasis of friend
ship. Bishop Capers said:
Almighty and Eternal God, our
Heavenly Father, in whom we live
and move and have our being, we
come into THY most holy presence,
humbly acknowledging our depend
ence upon Thee, and THY constant