The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-03-01
ONE INSTRUCTED FOR EVANS. THE
OTHER FOR WRIGHT.
Evans Men Captured the House at
JOneSbOrO on Convention Day-lIOt
Time in the Ancient Town and
Bloody Riot Barely Averted.
Veterans of the Home
on Special Train.

Veterans of the Home
on Special Train.
Special to the Courier.
Jonesboro, Tenn, Feb. 24.-Well, it
was hot time.
Jonesboro,. old, staid, quiet was
perhaps never before the scene of so
much turmoil and excitement.
Pistols were fiourished, open knives
we're hid away up sleeves, and keen
eyed, excited individuals, crazed with
political wrath, were ready to shed
blood, if need be, to carry point; or,
at any rate, it SO impressed the hum
dreds who were packed in the court
room and vestibule of the ancient court
house, with its massive colonial pillars
and well-worn stone steps.
1t was just such scene Of wild dis
order that attended the opening of
convention No. 1 in this quaint old
center Of the splendid history of by
gone years.
Shades of Sewer and Jackson would
have vanished at the scenel 1t was by
no means in keeping with what mod
ern-day civilization is supposed to
guarantee.
1t was not republican against demo-
crat, but distinctly family row-a
house divided against itself
On one side was II. Clay Evans and
his loyal supporters. They were num-
bered by the hundreds, and many of
them wore the white ribbon badge,
which bore in large black letters the
word, evans"
On the other side was Col. Brownlow
and his desperate following, designat-
ed by the name wright" This fac
ton wore no badges, but quite large
per cent. of it wasahFought from the
National Soldiers Home and wore the
blue or was attired in citizens garb.
Maj. Paul +. Devine was in command
of the Brownlow forces. Including
the Soldiers Home crowd, there were
three ordinary coaches full and they
were packed in, even thicker than the
proverbial sardines. Having dumped
this delegation, the train proceeded to
Limestone and brought small delega-
tion from stations west of Jonesboro.
Then there were people present from
oil parts Of the county, and altogether
the crowd Numbered perhaps more
than thousand. Brownlow and Ev-
ans were, OF course, present in spirit
only.
A large delegation of Evans menwas
in town early and had access to the
court room. When the Soldiers Home
crowd aud others from Johnson City
arrived at 10 o'clock they marched to
the court house Immediately and the
room was soon crowded until not an
other person could enter. When the
Evans men saw the Brownlow crowd
advancing, the yell was heard on vari-
GUS lips: "All Evans men to the court
house; the old soldiers are comingl'
This was uttered time and again, so
that the Evens men were first to enter.
While the crowd was assembling,
Hon. A. A. Taylor responded to call
and made rousing speech that fred
the Evans faction with determination.
Mr.. Taylor was Justify applauded at
frequent intervals as he proceeded with
his rallying speech. Sam R. Sells and
others spoke, following which County
Chairman William f. Garter called the
: meeting to order, and straightway the
election of chairman and secretary
was entered into. The Evans factor
nominated Adam b. Bowman, of John
son City, for chairman, while thC
! Brownlow faction nominated d. A
Vines, Of johnson City, as chairman
: The Evans men largely outnumbereC
: the opposition in the building, al
Though a consi erable number o
Brownlow men were unable to GROVE
their way into the building, and natur
: ally enough accepted it as an excuse t.
. hold convention No. Q
!, AS a result Of the vote, Mr.. Bowman
was elected chairman. aud was declar
ed by Chairman Carter, of the count
committee; but in spite Of this, ther
was disposition to seat Mr.. Vines
= and this was what started roug
10 house. Some one caught hold of MI
4" Vines and pulled him back to preven
him from being seated. Others too
= it up on either side, aud as far back a
D. the fas,hest limits of the room ther
D. we're men afire aud anxious to get int
y the explosion. Ihe CLEAN of knive
?, and revolvers made it appear that deaf
,e and destruction were at haud.
Deputy. Sheriff Brown Seaton occr
l, pied the middle ground of the conflict
y y and his words commanding peace fe
[. with the lishtness Of downy feather
le on the audience. Realizing that onl
u q desperate move would count, Deput
n Seaton whipped out from beneath h
1, coat shiny big revolver, apparent
/. two feet in length, and warned IL
ce crowd thati was either order or bloo'
os - shed. The heroes Of the conflict gre
TO calm, but it had the opposite effect {
a. the frightened audience. There was
~, struggle to reach doors and window
:" and mass of trembling individua
tie rolled down the front steps like so IN