The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-06-28


and Glorious VictOry--NOw 1t is
"Well Done" and the Hero Would
Ask as Reward NOtary's Commits
sion. Blease to Pay the Fee.
Abbeville, June 25.-Some time
ago Mr. w. p. Beard Of this city. on
behalf of Governor Blease, accepted
the challenge extended Governor
Blease by Col. Fielder, of Atlanta, to
personal combat, and since that time
has received number of letters from
people in different parts of the State;
the last chapter in the controversy is
written in an open Letter, which Mr..
Beard has addressed to Governor
Blease in which Mr.. Beard reports a
victory over the Georgia forces, and
retires from the field Of battle to en-
Joy the serenity of a peaceful exist
ence.
.,
among other things. $50 trust that in
view of my recent prowess in defence
of the State you can see your way
clear to sending me a commission as
notary public. This is no more than
justice and won't hurt anyones feel
ings. If you will pardon a suggest
of
your contingent fund; 1 am sure our
delegation will endorse that as they
endorsed about everything else dur
Ing their candidacy last summer"
Whether Mr.. Beard was serious in
his suggestion for compensation for
offering to expose his anatomy to
Col. Felders bullets for the honor of
the State remains to be seen.
The full text of the open letter to
Governor Blease Is as follows:
To His Excellency, the Hon. Cole
man i. Blease, Governor Of South
Carolina--Sir: Pursuant to instruc-
tions, / have the honor to report TO
You our complete and very spbstan-.
-tial victory over the predatory forces
recently levied in Georgia for the
purpose of invading our beloved
State and destroying the very Pal
ladiums Of our liberty.
The campaign. sir, was short,
sharp and decisive" and its disas-
ferrous results will forever discourage
the ambitious schemes of Georgia
militarianism.
Our plan Of campaign was fawless.
as evidenced by the result, the only
weak point being the commissariat,
but blackberries are now ripe. which
improves conditions wonderfully,
considerably raising the morale of
our noble volunteer forces.
Without egotism l can assure your
Excellency that the people Of this
State are to be congratulated upon
the fact that this dangerous emer-
gency arose at time when the
writer was not otherwise engaged,
and was able TO give it his prompt
and undivided attention, else Colum-
bia might have been wearing the
willow instead of Atlanta, as q result
Of the late unpleasantness with
Georgia.
While K is with pride that / re-
port above facts. as evidence of the
ability and Willingness Of our people
| not only TO defend themselves but to
conquer peace, yet me thought
saddens us all when contemplating
bright galaxy the Atlanta bar (not
the near-beer One,) led by that he
| roic and picturesque figure, the gal
liant Col. Fighting Tom himself. All
Of which brings to our minds those
sad lines of the poet. "Of all sad
words of tongue or pen, the saddest
of these, what might have been"
Now, your EXcellency, as [ am
| about to lay down my arms and enjoy
| JUSIlcG
| to yourself congratulate our people
upon having n Governor whose pa
triOtiSm impelled him to efface him
self temporarily in this great and
recent crisis in order that the best
interests Of his people might be con-
served, and who without envy or
| jealousy afforded others every on.
portunity to occupy the limelight and
acquire the "bubble" reputation.
In the same spirit Of immOlation,
| sir, ] now relinquish into your hands
my commission as generalssimo and
| Poo Bah" in chief of the army Of
defence recently raised to repcl the