1898

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1898 in Clemson History

Notable Alumni

Events that occurred in 1898:

  • David Wistar Daniel is elected to join the faculty as Associate Professor of English. He will serve on the Clemson faculty until 1947.
  • The State Legislature passes a law requiring that railroads provide segregated coaches for black and white passengers.
  • January 19: "In response to an invitation from President Hartzog and the Board of Trustees to visit Clemson College, the General Assembly spent Jan. 19th visiting the different departments of the College. They came from Columbia on a special train arriving here at 8 o'clock that morning. The President and the Faculty took charge of them and showed them through every department of the College. They visited the dairy, wood and machine shops, electrical and mechanical laboratories, and the foundry, saw the students at work and saw just what is being taught here. Before leaving they called to order by Senator Mayfield and Lieutenant-Governor McSweeney offered resolutions of thanks and appreciation, which where [sic] unanimously adopted. Senator Mayfield proposed three cheers for Clemson College, its officers, and the boys. This was responded to by the boys with three cheers for the General Assembly of South Carolina. At five o'clock they were accompanied to the train [probably at Cherry's Crossing on the old Blue Ridge Railroad line - editor] by the cadet band. Their train pulled out 'mid cheers from the law-makers and music of the band." (The Chronicle, February 1898, V.1, N.5, pages 39-40).
  • February 15: The battleship U.S.S. Maine explodes in Havana Harbor, Cuba, killing some 260 crew. Although the cause was probably due to a coal bunker fire setting off an ammunition locker, the Yellow press blames the Cubans and whips up the Spanish-American War.
  • February 17: Cadet W. Lanham, of Summerton, South Carolina, dies in hospital three days after being stricken with appendicitus. Dr. J. A. Mood, of the sanitarium in Sumter, was called to perform surgery but the cadet lingered before passing. His family was with him during the short illness. The Chronicle publishes "A Tribute of Respect" on page 47 of the March 1898 issue, V.1, N.6.
  • February 19: "Judge Farrar, 'Jonnie Reb,' of Virginia, delivered his famous address on 'Lights and Shadows' before the corps of cadets on Feb. 19th. It was a story of life in the South during the war, and was filled with pathos, wit and humor. After the lecture proper he gave a short sketch of a Southern family during and after the war, as told by an old family slave. This sketch was interspersed with negro melodies, in which the rich baritone of Judge Farrar was assisted by our local quartette. The lecture was thoroughly enjoyed by a large and appreciative audience." (The Chronicle, March 1898, V.1, N.6, page 45).
  • February 28: "Bessie Reece, a chambermaid at the hotel, was brought before Judge Hook to answer a charge of attempting to burn down that building. On Monday morning, February 28th, the girl was sent into one of the upper rooms on some domestic errand. Half an hour later fire was discovered in this room. It was extinguished, but not before it had damaged the furniture and the bedding. The next day she was sent into the parlor to build a fire. It was also not long before fire was discovered in this room also. From the appearance of the charred place on the wall and floor under one of the windows, one would judge that the curtains had been pulled down and set on fire. Mr. Jaynes, of Walhalla, made an eloquent defence for the '[negro],' * and inasmuch as there were no witnesses for the prosecution, and the evidence was purely circumstantial, the prisoner was discharged. No motive can be assigned for the girl's action. The damage amounted to fifteen or twenty dollars." (The Chronicle, March 1898, V.1, N.6, pages 44-45). * socially incorrect word substitution.
  • March 2: The Board of Trustees meets, makes an appropriation for establishment of a textile school at Clemson. Intent is to have it in operation by September 1898. The rise of the textile mills in the Upstate makes this addition logical. (The Chronicle, March 1898, V.1, N.6, pages 31, 42.) This building will eventually be named Godfrey Hall.
  • May 28: "On Saturday, May 28th, our base ball team left for Pelzer, via Anderson. 'Tis needless to say that they went with full intentions of being defeated. The team arrived at Anderson about 11 a.m. and remained there until 2:30 p.m., and to their sorrow heard that the train from Belton to Pelzer was one hour and forty minutes late. Through the kindness of Captain Marshall we were greatly relieved. He telegraphed the Superintendent of the Southern Railway for permission to run his train to Pelzer for us, and a few minutes afterward Captain Marshall's engineer was splitting the wind at a one-mile-per-minute rate. On arrival at Pelzer we sent our baggage to the hotel and made our way through the many factory kids to the grounds. At 4:45 p.m. the game was started and Clemson, though light weight and young, played a steady game, did heavy slugging at the bat, and amid the yells and cries of the factory kids, the game closed with a score of nine to two in favor of Clemson. The features of the game were that McMakin and Shaw, Clemson's battery, used their heads to perfection, and heavy slugging at the bat for our team. Nearly every ball knocked was placed. The two runs made by Pelzer were made on Clemson errors." (The Chronicle, May 1898, V1, N8, page 43.)
  • June 3: Almost two square blocks, 23 buildings, in downtown Walhalla burn - that community's worst fire. Wooden structures, built close together with no regard for fire safety, contribute to the spread of the flames.
  • September 1: Henry Aubrey Strode, Clemson's first president and professor of mathematics, dies at his home in Amherst County, Virginia and is interred there.
  • October 8: In the second meeting with the University of Georgia, Clemson travels to Athens to open the football season, but falls, 8-20. Georgia leads the series, 2-0. "Clemson had gone to Athens with no hope of winning, but at the end of the first half it looked as if she had a fighting chance, and hopes ran high. Their game showed them how strong was their aggregation. Even the final loss of the game could not destroy the assurance that they had a good team, and had played a good game. Probably to this Georgia game is due in large measure the following series of victories. Our men saw what a good chance they had of turning out a winning team and from the Georgia game the interest never flagged, and their ambition was never lowered." ("A Resume of the Last Football Season and the Prospects for Another Season", The Clemson College Chronicle, June 1899, Volume II, Number 9, page 430.)
  • October 20: In the only game ever played against Bingham, the Tigers win on Bowman Field, 55-0. "The Bingham game, farcical as it was in some respects, resulting in a score of 55 to 0 in Clemson's favor, confirmed the men in their style of play was the best she had ever had. Every play went off like clock-work, despite the fact that the season was still new and the personnel of the team unsettled. Everything, however, has its disadvantages, and in this game the accident to our right tackle, Baxter Lewis, deprived the team of one of its best players and most loyal members." ("A Resume of the Last Football Season and the Prospects for Another Season", The Clemson College Chronicle, June 1899, Volume II, Number 9, page 430.)
  • November 17: In the third game of a four-game season, the Tigers beat South Carolina College, soundly blanking them, 24-0, in Columbia on Thursday of State Fair Week. Clemson enjoys a 3-1 season record, SCC a 1-2 outcome. The Tigers lead the series, 2-1. "The Carolina game followed, and another zero from our opponents and 24 points for Clemson was recorded. Clemson men delight to 'do' the S. C. College, and their ambition in this direction was fully satisfied this season. A larger score would have indicated that Carolina had dropped back 'out of Clemson's class'. ("A Resume of the Last Football Season and the Prospects for Another Season", The Clemson College Chronicle, June 1899, Volume II, Number 9, page 431.)
  • November 24: Clemson takes on Georgia Tech for the first time in a game played in Augusta, Georgia. The Tigers prevail, 23-0, for a 3-1 season record. Georgia Tech finishes 0-3.



1897 The 1890's 1899