Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-02-17
9nusiitIg 8eaaing,
From the Walterboro' Sun.
HOW IKE FURGUSoN 'PADDLED"
DIR SHERIFF


Ike Ferguson was genius-a real liV'
specimen Of the six-foot, dare-ievil Arkan
sian. He was the terror of all "corn-shuck
ings" and "log-rollings" throughout the coun
ty, for he never attended one of those .festi
walls without closing its festivities with /
row. As I said before, he was six feet tall
well-preportioned, and strong as the nythi'
Milo, when he rent the ancient oak.
Now Ike, although good fellow at heart
had one serious fault-he would drink whis
ky. 1t was really wonderful to observe th'
facility with which he disposed Of a quart o
"bast-head," and equally, if not more won
derful to observe after such imbibations tht
singular dexteEity- with which he would ge
into . row, and the almost superhunat
strength displayed by him in getting out
Manya time has he been jerked in tht
law" for assault and battery, "contrary tt
the form of the statute ia such case made
and provided" Things at last come tt
such pass that no court was considered
in good. working order unless Ike Ferguson
had been fined for various breaches of.tht
peace.
On one occasion he had been fined, ant
the injured party had appeared as witness
against him voluntarily. Ike swore in the
fullness of his wrath that bad click him OF
sight, He kept his word.
Itso happened that at"house.raising" wa
to take place short distance from Ike's resi-
dence, and the whole country received an
invitation to attend, with the exception Of
Ike. This slight aroused his indignation,
andiRo order to, show'his independence, he
concluded to go ahy how, and'made his pre-
parations accordingly. He knew that pipes
and tobacco wotld be plenty, and that whis'
ky would be sAying around loose, and he
anticipted lots of fun. The eventful day ar.
rived, and Ike proceeded to the scene. He
was rather coolly received by the company,
as belwas there without invitation ; bat he
didn't care for that, but pulled off bis coat
and rendered valuable assistance in raising
the house. About. dinner time the work was
completed, andall hands, adjourned to din
nersF Ike had possessed himself of jug,
containing half gallon of "old Bourbon, -
and in the space ofhalfau hourhe was pref
ty we'll inebriated, and, moreover, very quar-
relsone. For some time he bad been vaunt-
ing his qualifications, which no one appeared
to notice, when, lasting his EYE over the as
sembly, he espisd the person who'had testi-
fedagainst him few weeks before. He
rose from bis seat, rolled up his sleeves, put
on his hat and took abig chew Of tobaeeos
and excldmad: r.,
"JimsMoors, I kin wbip you or sny other
sheep-killing, suck-egg dog, dog-on YOU"
"Jim Moore" didn't see fit to pay any at
tention to this moderate assertion, and Ike
declared 'Hhe'd be id If he didn't show
him, too," hithim a wipe about the ear, and
laid him out horizontally. Three, or four
more interferred, but Ike, to use his own
words, "soon cleaned them out, ~ and having
nothing more to keep him, he departed for
home. On his way there he met friend,
to whom he related with great glee the "glo-
rioas fout' in which he had been engaged.
His ftiend listened attentivcly, and at the
conclusion called his attention to the fact
that the grand jury would Soon convene, and
there was fine prospect of his being pre-;
sented. Ike had sworn that he would never
again be fined, and he again repeated it,
with a maledietion on all grand juries, Judges,
witnesses and the whole country generally
and promiscHously.
The grand jury convened,and sure enough,
Ike was presented and indicted, and a writ
issued to the Sheriff of Lawrence county,
commanding him "te take the body Of Isaac
Ferguson, and him safely keep" &c. Now
the Sheriff Of the aforesaid county was man
fully as large as Ike, and as peaceable as
Ike was. quarrelsome. He was green and
lazy, but had, withal, a high appreciation OF
himself, and the dignity ofthe Office he fan.
cied he Adorned. He was morally afraid Qt
Ike Ferguson, and when he received the
aforesaid writ, his heart sunk within him,
and he trembled in his boots. The command
must be executed, be thought; but how to
doit, was the question. Atlast he conclu'
ded to employ stratagem, and in pursuance
of this idea, he mounted his horse, and rode
to Ike's residence, which he reached about
6 o'clock, P. NJ. Ike was at home, and vel
knew what brought Tommy there, but put
ting the best face upon the matter, he invi
ted-him in, gave him drink, and asked hin
to sit by the fire till he went to feed hi'
horse. Now Tommy had no notion Of let
ting Ike out of his sight, so he proposed at
tending him.
mBut, Tommy" said Ike, ''its half a mile
and the ungodlisst road-J-e-erusalem"
uWe!l, I've been riding all day, and it'll
do me good to walk awhile, replied Tommy
Ike could demur no longer, so off they
started. He was uneasy and restless, fol
he was afraid the writ would be served up
on him, and so he concluded to try once more
to get Tommy to remain at home.
IFore God" he exclaimed, I've got t.
90 three miles for some corn. That's tot
far for you to walk, Tommy; you know
YOU'VE been SICK" and Ike's features ex
pressed great commiseration at the precari
Gus state of Tommy's health.
ooh, no." replied Tommy, ri voule
walk ten miles to enjoy the benefit of you
instructive conversation"