Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-07-16
Revolutionary Gale.
From Noah's Times and Messenger.
the MYSTERIOUS RIfLEMAN.
AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION.

A group of youngsters, ten years before
the revolution, stood on level green in
New York, with a mark before them and
their firearms ready. They were on the
ground occupied now by Charlton and por-
ton of Varick streets, but which then form
ed part of the open and romantic country.
The outskirts of the then abbreviated city
were what may be termed POLITICALLY pictur-
esque, made up of rocky, sandy, uneven,
but yet elegant grounds, which afforded op-
portunities for the enjoyment of field sports
and the prosecution of other matters, as we'll
as for the agricultural occupations which
give men bread. The frequent appearance
of Indians in this quarter, from the time of
Peter Stuyvesant down to the period of
which we write, created desire among the
young men in all directions to emulate their
skill as marksmen. 1t was no unusual thing
to get land by shooting the best shot, and
many lot which is valued at this day at
thousands of dollars, and affords its owner
the means of becoming season subscriber
to the opera, was obtained by striking the
bulls eye of target. The group we would
call the attention of the reader to was one of
five persons, four of whom we're striplings,
but the fifth greyhaired man, whose rubi-
cund visage and rotund proportions publish
ed the fact that his birth place was Great
Britain. He was admiriug mark in the
target, and addressed the lad who had made
it, and who was leaning carlessly on rifle
that showed better condition than any other
piece on the ground.
"Why, Charles, you are second Tell, or
will be. You must have practised constant
ly to have acquired such proficiency"
"Why, to say the truth, good Locksley,' -
replied the young man to his venerable in
terlocutor, "I do little else than shoot. My
riAeis my mother, wife and children--though
of the latter I am scarcely old enough to
speak. At any rate, Bess (the riae) is my
banker, for the silver 1 use is nearly all pro,
duced by her."
~ never saw such unerring aim," remark.
ed the old man, wonderingly.
cit merely shows what inclination, and
the constant pursuit of an object, will ac'
complish. Ones ambition sometimes runs
in strange currents. Mine directs me to ex.
eel all other persons in shooting. Every
mark that my bullet pierces produces more de.
light than 1 can we'll describe and if 1 had
my choice of the flame of the greatest genera
or the greatest marksman of the world,
would unhesitatingly choose to be the lat
ter"
While the younk man was speaking thes'
words he loaded his rifle. The old gentle
man listened as he surveyed surrounding oh
jects and suddenly pointed to locust tree
upon the extreme end of one of the branche!
of which sat robin that made the vicinit,
vocal with its song Pointing to the bire
with one hand and holding piece of silve
money in the other, the old man said-"Now
Charles, this is your reward for that bird.
~ cannot" was the young mans reply
"CannotH' exclaimed the old man, in
surprised tone-"Why"
"Because I never kill birds"
"Well, then the twig that he sits upon
as slender as pipe stem. Can you cut tha
off,"
Charles Piggot-the young man-nodde
in the affirmative, brought his rifle to aim
and pulled the trigger. Redbreast rose int
the air and sailed away with strange twi
ter, while the twig of which he made perc
dropped, in eddying circles, to the grouno
Charles's young companions raised lou
shout, and, at the same time, he, blushin
with pride, received the silver guerdon
his skill.
"Humph" muttered old Locksley.-
"Who ever saw or ever heard of the like
Why, the Indians only do these things, bu
not with lead. say Charley, you must tur
this great talent of yours to account. Neve
relinquish its practice"
"Not l :" exclaimed Piggot, pocketin
the silver. "When die, it will be rifle
hand"
After few unimportant trials of the sui
stance of the we'll riddled target, the part
shouldered their arms and came across tt
Kings Farm into the city. The scene d
eor;hed actuallv occurred. and the last mel