Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-07-24
THE BORDER RJJFFIAN.

The Kansas correspondent OF the Able
vile Banner, gives the following graphic
sketch of the "much talked of and much
traduced Border Rufian"
"Imagine fine looking man, with heavy
beard and moustache, felt hat, red shirt, (no
coat blue pants, heavy boots drawn over
the pants, immense Spanish spurs, pair of
water proof scabbards, each containing large
navy repeater Sharpe's rifle slung over
one shoulder, ana large Bowie-knife stuck
into the right boot or swinging to the same
belt with the repeaters, charging down upon
you across the prairie on fine bay, or alarge
Kentucky mule. As he comes nearer, you
see that he is completely prepared for long
march, rapid movements, and SOLITARY en-
tertainment' on the prairie. He rides deep
Spanish saddle, which, without appearing
numbered, is yet rugged with the greatest va
riety of articles. His horse-hair larraette,
with an iron picket at one end, hangs from
the high pummel. A porte-manteau or a
pair of saddlebags contains change of linen,
an extra red shirt Gin case of rain, and two
or three days rations of bread, dried beef,
ham, ground coffee and sugar. A pair of
blankets, and military cloak, with cape
and sleeves, are tied on behind. a pair of
pouches at the pummcl, contain flask or
two of whisky (also in case Of rain) and some
other extras. A canteen slung over the
shoulder contains water, and neat leather
box fastened to the belt is full of cartridges
and caps. Besides all this, there Is general
ly number of leather thongs, fastened to
rings in various parts of the saddle, to which
hang tin cup, small cofec-pot, sometimes
frying pan, a hatchet, &c., &c. Thus ca
parisoned he can move with ease and ccleri
ty, and like the brave knights of old, is ever
ready for fight or fun, and is equally at home
in camp, in squatter's shanty, or on the
lonely prairie Most of those with whom /
had an opportunity to become intimate, had
crossed the plains, to Santa Fe, or Salt Lake,
OF California, several times, and were, in con-
sequence, the best ox.drivers, the best cooks,
and the most hardy soldiers that I ever saw.
Rough in their manners, but generous as
sailors, and sharp as travellers, they are al
ways welcome, and always manage to win the
hearts of their fellows. They are from the
border counties of Missouri, where they leave
their families and come to the Territory oc-
casionally to hold their claims, pay theirtaxes,
vote legally, and, if necessary, fight. Most
of them intend moving into the Territory as
aoon as it is made a slave State Such are
the men about whom the whole negro steal,
ing pack are raising their howl, And where
they are not known, doubtless much capital
can be made on the assertion of their forci,
BILE intervention in the affairs of the Territory
But am assured in what assert, that more
Free-soilcrs' votes than Border Rufiians, were
polled here at the last election on the pro.
slavery ticket. How it happened can be
readily accounted for, The true position of
the border Mlssourians, in fact, is to look on
calmly, and without interference, at the op,
erations of the ballot-box, confident as they
are of the success Of our party; but that
when blows must be struck, to be ready to
sustain US with their arms"