The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-04-08
Exciting Scene at the Post Office


There was an excitement created OF
Saturday morning in the vestibule of til,
postoftice, which has been the "town talk
ever since.
1t seems the mails were not opened on
Saturday quito us early rs usual. and NJ
nine o'clock large crowd Of people had
collected, Of all ages, sexes, sizes and coadi
tions. At five minutes past nine the eager
crowd began to grow impatient, and pressed
encrgeticaly up towards the delivery win
siows, each one trying 10 obtain position
in advance Of the other.
"Don't crowd" says one; "Stand back,
says another; while a third, with elongated
features, cries out, SECT off my corns +
Which remark was answered by an inebri
ated individual with, mo place for corned
beef here" The owner Of the mutiatcd
corns aptly rctorted, Nor corncd pork
either" This clever response caused a
swinish sound to emanatc from the would
be witty corn destroyer, and a hearty laugh
from the bystanders.
"Open that ar post Office" cries big
clustering bully in a checked slirt.-'Shc.
yer fiy-trap," replies white coated philoso-
pber from the opposite corner. "\Nill yes
ask for lether for Ms,her Barney Flame
gina" yells HiJernian, protruding his
uncombed head through the door from the
rear. "Nothing for Mr.. FIannegin," shouts
an accommodating gentleman, in an official
tone ofvoce. "Dry up, Msther FIannegin,' ~
says young clerk, initiating Barney's tone
and manner. "That's my pocket book, sr,''
politely addresses a gentlemanly looking
person, as he scizes upon we'll filled wallet,
just as strange, fancily dressed, muStacl-
ed stranger was about to relieve him of its
weight and bulk. "Ah is it?' SAYS tie
stranger, in the same polite manner, Il beg
your pardon, sir, but" "Yon can apollo
gize to the officer, sir" replies the gentle
man, handing the distinguished stranger
over to one Of the guard, who gently assist
ed the owner Of the fashy costume and
taultless moustachc out into the fresh air,
and generously provided quarters for the
stranger at the city's expense. Nine o'clock
and fifteen minutcs-mals not distributed
yet. Crowd are impatient, when suddenly
the windows are thrown open and on rush
the multitude to get their portion Of the
mail matter. Just at this moment the start
ling shout Of "mad dog" "mal dog" was
heard at the entrance, and at the same time
wild yelpiuy, bark, interspersed with all
the various Xxi yi's for which canine lungs
are so admirably a,lapted.-Now a terrific
scene ensued, Some ran one way, some an
other, but all seemed anxious to get outside,
as the wild animal seemed to be in their
very midst, and making his way towards
the front of the excited throng. ''Let me
OUT" Murder" "IIere he comesw "Look
out !" "Shoot him. ''kiIl him !" "ki vi,
yi!' "bow-wow In less than three
minutes the room was vacated by the fright
ened crowd, with the exception of single
IndlVlduai ilttle man, with Keen, black
eyes, who boldly advanced to the open win
dow of the general delivery department and
cried out in a loud voice, care there any
letters for 'Wyman the vantrioquist ?"
A hearty laugh greeted the question from
few of the outsiders and the clerks who
had witnessed the pell,'nell flight of the
terror-stricken crowd; but we'll venture to
to assert that the weird joker got more
curses than letters, on this occasion, for the
preparation of his cruel hoax.
TAKE LIFE AS IT CoMEs.--'I like 90
ing out to dinner-to good dinner. if pos
sibIe-bnt to bad dinner occasionally,
rather than not 60 out at all. l like meet