Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-02-27

i
corner in Colleton, and almost the name Of eve.
ry man and woman that was ever born there.
I'm Coeton man, myself, and if you sarvcd
in your young days in those parts, we ought to
know each other. My names K; but
what may your'n be, old gentleman :"
The latter hesitated, but at length replied,
firmly.
"My names B. and he moved as he
answered to the tavern entrance.
"What w was the exclamation of the other.
"What you don't tell me that you are Phil
B, the son Of old Harvey B-,of NJ
c. settlement"
"Ihe very same,' said the other, now turn
ing full upon the ouestioner. "What do you
know about him or me?
"What do know about you9" cried the 9TH
er, with shout, and starring from his seat;
'.what, don't know about the bloodest tories
in the whole settlements Oughtn't to know
you? Oughtn't you to know me and to fear
me tool Have YOU forgotten this!" and, dash
ing off his hat aud thrusting up his hair as he
spoke, he showed great scar which traversed
nearly the whole line of his forehead.
B recoed and started as if to seek shell
ter in the tavern, but before he could do so,
COL K, with tiger.like ferocity, sprang up
on him. The other, now that the thing was
unavoidable, showed himself no ways back
ward and the two clnched, as if with talons
of steel. one hand Of K being wound in
with the long, thin grey hairs of B, while
the fingers OF the other hand were griped about
his neck with such riveting firmness, that, in
all instant almost. the eyes of the sufferer SEEM
ed to be starting out of their sockets. b,
meanwhile was by no means nbecile or idle.
He locked his enemy in an embrace OF iron
sinews, about the waist, and seemed chiefly
bent upon throwing him, matter more easily
resolved upon than. done. And there and thus,
these two old grey.headed men, each more
than eighty years of age, were renewing the
conflict of half a century past, and presenting,
in real and terrific drama, the wrathful spirit
of that fierce civil war which had never died
out in either bosom.
The whole scene was over in few moments.
At first, the company, taken completely by
surprise, Sat motionless. But when their first
astonisllment subsidized, they darted in and tore
away the conlbatants from their terrible hug OF
hate which they had taken upon earh other.
and which, by this time, had brought both OF
them down upon the pavement 1t WAS not so
easy to separate them, and after the lapse oil
several minutes, when K lay down upon
the bench from exhaustion, while his enemy
had disappeared, it was discovered that the I'm
gers of the former still cutched and held hand.
iul Of the long grey hairs of B. The lat
ter was no more seen 1t the Bulls Head."-
The proprietor kept him out of sight till night,
and then sent him to 81 distant tavern, where he
lay pcrdu till K had left the city.
1'he cause Of this fierce n'omentary conflict
may be readily cunjectured by all those who
have any knowledge of the history Of the Tory
ascendency of South Carolina during the Re-
volutnn. 1t involves story, which, from the
lips of k, whose digressons were endless,
and his episodes numerous, was very long
time in telling. may dismiss it in few
words. K and B. were playmates in
boyhood. They grew up to manhood togeth-
er, but separated, AS their fathers did, aud as
was frequently the case, taking different sides
in the great issue between the colonies and the
crown. The fuctuation OF the contest found
thetwo parties aternatel in the ascendant, and
al such periods, neither exhibited much torbear.
ance in the exercise of power. Hate took the
place OF former intimacy, and wild spirit OF
revenge was hegotten by frequent excesses.
X and b were yet scarcely men,
when they came to blows They were Aepara.
ted without doing each other mischief, in the
separation of their several parties. k
was one of Marion's men; D. became
Lieutenant of LoyalisIs, sometimes commanded
by British Colonel; at other times, particu.
larly towards the close OF the wal, being under
the command of Cruger, Leslies, or Cunning
ham. While on a scouting expedition, with Il
small squad under his own control, B
penetrated the old settlement Of his bnyhood.
k and his father. the one with Marion,
the other with Sumter, were both absent
When they returned they found the family
homestead heap Of ashes. and the mother OF
X was murdered. The sister, who es
capped to the house of neighbor, and who had
once been an object Of B--'s passion
who was supposed, indeed, to have regarded
him with favor, in spite Of her fathers wishes
was the first to report against him. She al
legged that he himself had put the fire TO their
dwelling, and she believed that it was his bul.
let which had stricken her mother as she fled.
1t is due to B. to state that he solemnly
denied the latter Impeachment. He admitted
the arson and deplored it in his old age-de.
plored it to the landlord OF the Balls Head.
and to others, by whom he was rescued from
the fierce gripe of K But K