The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-20

mayor for the following day and the
answer was insulting, and nothing said
about the request. When it came to
the primary it was plain what we had
to expect, and it was put up to the
governor and the trouble averted by
having preparations in advance as
precautionary measure. All this was
published and need not go over it,
There were some who censured my ac-
ton and the action Of Sheriff Martin
In endorsing it. We knew and many
others knew that we. had done wisely
and saved this community from trou-
bic on the day of the primary.
The result was a majority for Maj.
Hyde on the face of the returns and
claims by which the Hyde supporters
were confident the majority would be
increased, or, at any rate, q clear ma
ljority with challenged votes thrown in
to swell it. A protest was pending
before the committee to support the
Throwing out Of the box which had not
been counted. The Hyde people were
prepared with fifty or sixty witnesses
to support our challenges on the one
side or the other. ! knew that there
was an extreme tension and q critical
situation. Others agreed with me.
We hesitated as befOrc-especially in
view of the doubts Of good citizens
who had blamed us before-to do
more than ask the same precaution-
ary measures. We asked and secured
them, but held them in reserve, hop
ing we could avoid trouble in time.
We hoped to save Charleston from the
disgrace and calamity which has fall
len upon her. AS to where the respon-
sibility must fall the community will
judge in the light of what has gone
before and what has come after.
The meeting Of the committee was
called today to canvass the returns,
hear protests and declare the results.
Before it was called to order, there
was shot fired, fusillade of shots,
a riot ending in bloodshed, the Wild
est disorders, a call for the sheriff and
the militia to take charge Of the sit
uation, and the orderly process Of the
law was postponed until tomorrow.
The first shot that was fired am
positive was fired in the hall room.
On seeing pistols flourished in the hall
} room. l hurried to the telephone to
) notify Sheriff Martin Of the trouble, he
having previously requested me to no.
THY him of any trouble. l had made
arrangements with another commit
teeman to stay at the phone so that
II any trouble occurred l could get him
to telephone at once, but finding the
committeeman was not at the tele-
phone. as 1 had requested, l went to
the phone myself. While trying to
get Sheriff Martin over the telephone.
some man, quite an old man, in the
crowd cut at me with a pocket knife.
lodged and he slightly wounded my
left arm-I have scratch there now
then ran to the door and appeal to
Sergt. Quinn to stop the shooting. In
stead of this he drew his pistol up at
me. Seeing this. turned to go back
10 the rear OF the room and some man
In the crowd coming from the north
west corner of the room opposite the
doorway, called out, Here is the SON.
or-a--, I'll get him." and he threw
his pistol up at me, and at that time,
thinking that I was in for a shot, I
instinctively threw my arm up. About
tniS tlme a shot was fired from the di-
rection In which this man was coming.
Ihen l saw the young newspaper man
on the floor at my feet l pulled away
and at that time someone else was
yelling there goes the son-of-a--l
we want. In going around the table
| saw Chief Cantwell at the second
east window with pistol in his hand
| as though he was fixing to shoot some
one who was bending over at the win
dow. In the confusion | cannot say
whether he shot or not | then ran
Dack to the table. and being totally
unarmed made my way out of the
''all' Z >sINTN-
have made it Il rule to go unarmed
all the time | have been serving as
chairman Of the executive committees |
Immediately after the first shot was
iired there was regular fusillade OF |
shots in the room. AS soon as pos
Siblc the sheriff and the militia re-
Spondcd to tho call which had been