The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-05-05
"REMINISCENCES OF TRYING TIMES.
The Days of 10. as Witnessed by Major John W.
Holmes, of the Barnwell People.

Laurens representatives.
Good work was also being done in
Washington, and after weary delay
information was received that the
House securing a majority of mem
| bers would be recognized as the
legal one by the incoming admins
tration of President elect Ruther-
ford B. Hayes. To make converts it
was decided that the Wallace House
should occupy the hall of the House
of Representatives, which had been
held by the Mackey House before
that time.
In a very leisurely way the Demo-
Gratis strolled down to the State
House before the Republicans had
walked up. In advance had gone
Chairman Haskell, Representatives
James L. Orr, R. w. Simpson and
John G. Blue, and Sergeant-at-arms
Browne with number of assistant
Sergeants, all of whom had occupied
positions as Colonels or Brigade
Commanders in the Confederate SER
vice.
They found two doorkeepers at
the door of the Hall, one white and
one colored. Judge Haskell knew
them both and whispered to them
separately that he would blow their
brains out if they tried to prevent
their entrance. Orr took hold of the
white man, gave him sling that
carried him 20 or 80 feet away, the
door was opened and the Democrats
entered and took possession, Gen.
Wallace occupying the Speakers
chair. Afterwards the Republican
members came in and occupied the
other side of the Hall. An inferior
chair was procured for Mackey,
placed by the side of that of Speaker
Wallace and the dual houses both
commenced proceedings at noon.
During the continuance of the dead
lock from noon until midnight OF
each "a hours two Speakers, one a
Democrat, the other Republican,
were addressing the House. When
one became exhausted another would
take his place. The oratorical dis
play was continued until midnight.
During all this time the members
sat with their hats on, smoked as
much as they pleased, had their meals
sent to them from their boarding
places, and every white Democrat
contracted a severe cold.
The arguments of the Democrats,
public and private, were sufficiently
powerful to convince the required
humber of Republicans of the error
of their ways, they forsook their
sinking political craft, gladly &C
cepted membership in the Wallace
House, giving it the majority which
secure it's recognition as lawgul
House by the Hayes Administration.
When this had been accomplished
the Wallace House, at the direction
of Speaker Wallace, withdrew to
Carolina Hall. This was done to pre-
vent bloodshed. The Republican
Speaker, e. w. M. Mackey, had been
informed by Col. Haskell at the be-
ginning of the dual occupation Of the
House that If trouble came he, Mack
ey, had been selected as the first VIC
tim of Democratic vengeance. Four
brave men had been selected and in
sSructed to take care of him. One
of these, a man of powerful ply
sique and corresponding courage, sat
day and night on the top step of the
Speakers platform within six feet OF
Mackey. We asked him why. He
replied that If collision came it was
his purpose to seize Mackey and throw
him through the window.
I0u. I1dLupCOu LOU oAoS ~~>~
Gen. Huger, commander of the Fed
eral troops in Columbia, that If a
single Democrat should be killed not
a member of his command would be
spared. Gen. Hampton had a force
to make good his threat. Several
thousand men, many of them Confed-
crate veterans had come of their
own accord to Columbia, ready and
resolved to win for home rule or
force the establishment of military
government. Many Of; them had
brought guns of various sorts along,
all claiming that the weapons needed
repairing and they wished the Co.
lumbia gunsmiths to put them In
good condition for the winters hunt
ing. Every afternoon towards sun
down they would gather in Main
Street in front of Governor Hamp-
tons little Office and call on him for
a speech. He would address them in