The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-28
LAST TRIBUTE TO HAMPTON.
THE WARRIOR ON HIS
CHARGER.
Thousands Were Present-speeches
at dwelling Ceremonies Made By
Marshall, Butler, Heyward-Names
Close Linked With Hampton's.

me O2y Set apart IOf tAS uANS11AAAo
of the Hampton monument is one
never to be forgotten. 70 South Caro-
Enians there could be no occasion
more full Of interest than the COM
memoration, in so worthy a manner,
Of General Wade Hampton. To the
people Of the State, gathered together
in Columbia today, are brought to-
gether by the same spirit Of love OF
their State and desire to honor the
memory of one SO closely associated
with the glory Of their States history.
All day yesterday they were com
ing into the city and the crowd today
has been large, as it should be.
Columbia has given the day up en-
tirely to the occasion. Business was
suspended some hours during the
morning, and Main street seemed
more like an outdoor place of re-
ception than the business center of
busy town. The day has been almost
perfect and the state house grounds
were dotted during the early part Of
the morning with groups Of veterans
talking over old Hampton days.
Long before time for the parade
the crowd centered on Main street
and from the state house to the post
Office the streets were lined with peo-
pie who seemed content to spend the
time standing out in the warm sun
shine talking to the many frineds
they met here. There are almost as
many ladies in the city as men, the
Daughters Of the Confederacy and the
college girls mingling with the vet
,erans, the sons of veterans the mill
tia and the university students.
The merchants have speared no
pains to make the decorations at
tractive, and to those seated on the
steps Of the capitol it was a beautiful
sight. The blue sky overhead enclosed
Main street, were banner and flags
bearing the Southern cross and drap-
cries Of red, white and red Of the
Confederacy blended in the distance
with the gray. uniforms Of the vet
erans gathered at the postomce for
the parade.
The crowd on the streets was an in
teresting crowd. There was a good
deal of cheering as the parade passed
along, but the spirit which character
lied it was one of enjoyment and ap-
probation and cordial fellowship with
the one next.
Seeing the old Confederate flags,
tie gray uniforms, the red shirt, call
ed up in the mino Of the old soldiers
many an incident and thrilling scene
in which perhaps these Identical rel
les had figured.
The Monument Unveiled.
In the crowd assembled to witness
the unyeiling Of the monument to
Wade Hampton today and to give a
last greeting to South Carolina's dead
chieftan, there are old and young,
veterans who followed him to battle,
men who were with him in 1875, men
and women then unborn, and strang-
ers from afar caught up by the spirit
of the occasion.
Significant is the fact that just 80
years ago all eyes were turned so
Hampton. At every railway station
anxious crowds were assembled to
catch any news that might be afloat.
Hourly messages came and went
from one end Of the State to the
other. Here in Columbia angry crowds
surged to and fro. No man knew
what an hour might bring forth. The
one supreme figure, calm and un-
ruHed, that kept his head through
all the storm, was Wade Hampton.
On his broad shoulders rested the
fate Of a people.
The people trusted not in vain. He
rose to the occasion, saw that con-
fict with the federal, authorities must
be avoided at all hazards, met the ex-
cited crowd Of his fellow-countryrle
at Democratic headquarters and told
them to go home-that was all.
'I have been elected governor Of
South Carolina and by the eternal
God I shall be governor, or else there
shall be none. Disperse quietly and
go to your homes" These were his
words and they settled the gravest
crisis in South Carolina's history. 40
man saw the way out but Wade
Hampton, the chevalier without re-
proach.
Now thirty years after. Wade
Hampton sleeps beneath a great live
oak in Trinity church yard, and what