Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-11-08
WATSON IN EDGEFIELD.
In His Inimitable Way Hon
Thos. E. Watson Writes of
His Recent Visit to
Edgefield.

in the Jefersonian of his visit to
Edgefeld:
Well, we crossed it at Luke's
Ferry on Thursday, Oct. 26th, on
our way to old Edgefeld, where l
was programmed for a speech.
Somebody had taken the conjure
bag off the automobile and we had
no accidents at all. 1t seemed too
good to be true. South Carolina
friends Messrs. Parks and Mr..
King-met US at the ferry; and we
were soon in Clark's Hill, where L
had the pleasure of a handshake with
my friend Esper Mcdonald. Then
on to G. D. Minis, where a pot of
hot coffee and other creature COM
forts were added to the very warm
welcome which he and his lady ex-
tended to us.
Then on to Edgefeld-one of the
historic towns of the old South.
The Fair management put me at II
o'clock, Eastern time.
Why the dickens do they erect
the speakers stand so far away
from the audience? Bedad, l al
ways call for volunteers to take up
the stand bodaceously, and move it
up near the folks. I'd rather stand
in a creek and talk to the people on
the bank than to stand on the other
side and spiel across the water.
Well, the men and women of
South Carolina are just like any
other good Southern people, and
they made me feel at home. Ex-
Governor John G. Sheppard made
one of the happiest Introductory
talks 1 ever heard u wonder why
his high character and splendid tai
ent are not demanded in the public
service of his great state?)
In my address ! had spoken of
Reconstruction days, the carpet
|,baggers, the negroes in power, the
18th amendment, &c. AS I'closed
the negro band struck up March-
ing Through Georgia"
There were SO many people
crowding around me to shake hands
and say kind things that I did not
at first notice what the band was
playing. But when / did notice it
1 called the attention of one of my
South Carolina friends to it, and
asked:
DO you suppose those niggers
are doing that to even up with me
about my speech" f"
We were all in good humor, how
ever, and didn't consider the matter
worthy of investigation.
Possibly the coons intended it as
a compliment. Nevertheless, |
think the managers of Southern
fairs might see to it that music in
sulting to the South is not played
on the Fair grounds. certainly
did not expect to hear "Mmching
Through Georgia" in the glorious
old town of Edgefeld, in a county
where the Red Shirt did such gal
liant service.
1t was a perfect day. Fleecy
wells were curtaining from sight the
sleeping stars. Tints of Indian
Summer glowed along hedges and
river bank.
And as we rode along the coun-
try roads, my thoughts went back
to the historic deeds and the histor-
ic names with which that part of
our State abound. Forgotten, are
the greater number of those deeds;
forgotten, the greater number of
those names.
Edgefeld was an old and flourish
ing town when Atlanta did not ex-
list; and when Nashville was a neg
Iligible border village. To the pull
pit, to the bar, to the national coun-
ellis, to the battle line, what town
and county have given so lavishly
to our country? Think of a COM
paratively small circle embracing
the homes of John G. Calhoun, of
George McDutfie of the noble line
Iof Buffers and Pickenses, of Pres
ton Brooks, of Edward Bacon 1.-THE
Ned Brace of Georgia Scenes), of
Geo. D. Tillman, of Senator Ben
Tillman, and the Revolutionary he
roes, Majors Mike Watson, Samuel
Hammond, and Captain Richard
johnson.
How many of the intelligent peo'
ple who heard me OH last Thursday
know that Lorenzo Dow had
preached the Gospel at Edgefield
more than 100 years ago? And
that William Barrett Travis, one of
the immortal few who made of the
Alamo the American Thermopyl@,
was born in old Edgefeld? He was
in command, at the Alamo. Here
is his last message to the outside
world:
Il am still here, in fine spirits
and we'll to do. With l45 men l
have held this place 10 days against
force variously estimated at from
I zoo to Rnnn- and I shall continue