Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-04-03

minds, armed constantly with the deadl.
rifle, and feeling assured that their strong
arms and sure aim would any where gair
them a livelihood, should have become phys
ically, the most powerful of men, and tha
their minds, often naturally of the highes
order, should have elaborated ideas singular
ly characteristic of the extraordinary scene:
and associations with which they were sur
rounded Their professional pride was il
ascending "rapids." This effort Of human
strength to overcome natural obstacles was
considered by them worthy Of their STEEL
The slightest error exposed the craft to be
thrown across the current or to be brought
sideways in contact with rocks or other OBJ.
structions, which would inevitably destroy
it. The hero vaunted "that his boat never
swung in the swift current, and never back
ed from "shute !"
The chief amusements were CROUCH frol,
ics," dancing, fddling, and fst-fghts. The
incredible strength Of their pectoral muscles,
growing out of their peculiar labor and man.
ner of life, made fights with them a direful
necessity-it was an appetite, and, like press,
ing hunger, had to be appeased. The keel
boatman who boasted that he had never been
whipped, stood upon a dangerous eminence,
for every aspirant for fame was bound to dis
pute his claim to such distinction. Occa-
sionally, at some temporary landing-place, a
number accidentally came together for a
night. From the extreme labors of the day,
possibly quietness reigned in ''the CAM" ("
when, unexpectedly, the repose would be
disturbed by some restless fellow Growing
forth defiance in the manner of game
cock; then, springing into some CONSPICUOUS
place, and rolling up his sleeves, he would
utter his challenge as follows:
"Fm from the Lightning Forks of Roar
ing River. Pm all man, save what is wild
cat and extra lightning. I'm as hard to run
against as cypress snag-I never back wa
ter. Look at me-a small specimen-harm-
less as an angel-worm-a remote circumstance
"a mere yearling Cock-a-doodle doo |
did hold down buferlo bull, and tar off his
scalp with my teeth, but I can't do it now
I'm too powerful weak, Iam."
By this time those within hearing would
spring to their feet, and, like the war-horse
that smells the battle afar off, initiate their
nostrils with expectations. The challenger
goes on:
"I'm the man that, single handed, towed
the broad-horn over -bar-the indenti-
cal infant who girdled hickory by smiling
at the bark, and ifany one denies it, let him
make his will and pay the expenses of fun
eral, Pm the genuine article, tough as bulls
hide, keen as rifle. I can out-swim, out
swar, out,jump, out-drink, and keep soberer
than any man at Catfish Bend. I'm pain
fully ferochus-I'm spiling for some one to
whip me-if there's a creeter in this diggin'
that wants to be disappointed in trying to do
it, let him yell-whoop-hurra!" |"
RiAe-shooting they brought to perfection
their deadly aim too told terribly at the
battle of New Orleans. As hunters, the
weapon had been their companion, and they
never parted with it in their new vocation.
While working at the oar or pole, it was
always within reach, and if deer unexpect-
edly appeared on the banks, OR migratory
bear breasted the waves, it was stricken down
with unerring aim.
By an imperative law among themselves,
they were idlers on shore, where their chief
amusement was shooting at mark, or play
ing severe practical jokes upon each other.
They would, with the riae-ball, and at long
distances, cut the pipe out Of the hat-band
of fellow-boatman, or unexpectedly upset
cup of whisky that might, at "lunch-time," e"
be for the moment resting on some ones
knee. A negro, exciting the ire of one of
these men, he at the distance of hundred
yards, with rife.ball, cut off the offender
heel, and did this without thought that the
object of his indignation could be more seri-
ously damaged by an unsteady aim.
Cutting off wild turkeys head with a
rife ball at hundred yards distance, while
the bird was in full flight, was not looked
upon as an extraordinary feat. At night-fall,
they would snuff candles at fifty PAGES, and
do it without extinguishing the light. Many
of these extraordinary men became so expert
and cool, that in the heat of battle they
would announce the place on their enemy
they intended to hit, and subsequent cxami-
nation would prove the certainty of their
aim. "Driving the nail" however, was
their most favorite amusement. This con-
sisted in sinking a nail two third ofits length
in the centre of target, and then at forty
PAGES, with a riAe-ball, driving it home to the
head.
If they quarreled among themselves, and
then made friends, their test that they bore
no malice, was to shoot some small object
from each others heads Mike Fink, the
best shot of all keel-boatmcn, lost his life in
one of these strange trials of friendship. He
had difficulty with one OF his companions,
made friends, and agreed to the usual ccre.
mony to show that he bore no ill-will. The
man put an apple upon his head and placed
himself at the proper distance-Alikc fired,
and hit, not the inanimate object, but the
man, who fell to the ground, apparently
dead. Standing by was brother of this
victim either of treachcry or hazard, and ii
an instant of anger he shot Mike through
the heart. Ina few moments the supposed
dead man, without 4 wound, recovered hi.
feet. Mike had evidently from mere wanton
| .>a.. l;nnlnnnd tho nn1lo hu chont;n1. Lnr,on,