The Republican journal., 1872-02-29
Bese+ in a Bar-room.

Beset in a Bar-room.
The lounrers IN low groggerles here at
the North are low and Deastly enough in
their natures. They are human. how
ever, when compared with many of the
same class among the poor whites OF the
South who are not only beaStly in their
habits, but are tiendish and bloodthirsty
in their tastes. A writer in Appleton
journal, describing one OF the old towns
ot South Carolina, pictures tragedy that
occurred there, which illustrates the fierce
rcck leSsness of human life that was, and
Is vet. to some extent, characteristic OF
the Southern bar-room loater:
Once, in the tall of IS5-. there came
into Aiken an oil trapper and hunter from
the neighooring State OF Georgia, for the
purpose of selling "A store Of skins and
choice venison-hams. which (accompa-
MED by his SOM he had laboriouslv con
veyed thither in a rough, springleSs cart.
Sam Gregory, the Old mans name, was
known to some persons in Aiken as a
straightforward honest, simple hearted
Methodist an individual Of few words,
but those always civil and amiable and
As easy. on most occasions. TO deal with
H. an unspoiled child Though seventy
years OF age, he was ~ upright as a pine,
tall in stature. with undiminished muscu-
lar vigor and activity. The son. then
about tWonty-nlne or thirty, was. in the
mnutest particulars, the image of his ia
Their, except that ne topped the elder 10y a
couple OF inches, although old Gregory
was upward Of six feet high.
1t was ''sae-dayn upon which these
two found themselves minglng with what,
TO their woodland eye, seemed quite a
crowd amoYg the shops and warehouses
ory had been accustomed to treat in the
disposition OF his hides and hams, having
left the place. our hunter was obliged to
seek custom elsewhere. He went from
shop to shop, exhibiting specimens of his
stock in trade. but luck was against him ;
he could obtain no purchaser on any
thing like fair terms.
AT length he came to an establishment
which, supposing it to be a grocery, he
carelessly entered, his son Just behind
him. Il was not grocery, however, but
a notorious bar-room. KEPT by a fellow
nicknamed "Bully Bob"
Bully Bob was even worse than his
class in general. HAVING grown rich
by the sale of liquors. he waxed inn
pertinent, ORGANIZED a :. body cnard''
Of "Mohawks' who 0beyed his slightest
nod, and were the pest of the sober por-
ton of the community both night aud day.
One OF the buIlys rules, Gas sternly car
ried out as the laws of the Modes and
Persians) was that no man, woman or
child should enter his bar. no matter
how or when, without being made to
drink
In this unhallowed place. and in the
presence of the bandy-legged beetle
browed, broad-chested, and fiery-nosed
genius Of the same, the Gregorys now
stood, looking about them 10 that lost,
bewildered way, characteristic of the
backwoodsman in town or city, and the
effect OF which Is half ludicrous, half pa
thetic
We'll. strangers, = 9rowled Bully Bob,
'aire ye a going to stop thar all dav
W ats the liquor ?"
Old sam explained, in his simple, limo
cent way, that he had made a mistake
a. to the place, and that fact was. nuth-
er Jenny (pointing 10 his SOM NOR
his dad CHATS me. boysl ever tux to
liquor Vet, nor ever mean to-"
Whereupon. he turned TO the door. and
seemed about to leave. None o. that
now - yelled Bully Bob, leapine to the
counter. and locking the door Instantly.
me key Of which he put into his pocket
You old fool" he continued. "TU
make We swill pint Of whisky neat. and
pay double for it, to boot -
Here WAS dilemma. Bully Bob was
supported by half-a-dozen loungers. and
20 attempt resistance seemed madness
That did not strike the Gregorvs. how
ever. After recovering from lille mar.
ural surprise at the unexpected positlon
the elder demanded their freedom.
LET US 90. r said he.
when you've done vour dootv, and
obeyed ORDERS" replied Bob. who had
again taken his place behind the bar. and
was searching among his bottles: Sam
wheeled round, bat quite deliberately.
and walked toward back-door that was
open, beckonlng Jem to follow
But three Of Bob's men put themselves
cooliy IN his way. NO use old un."
SAID one OF them. with provoking grin.
Perhaps it was the threat, or insult,
conveyed in this movement, which reused
old Gregory's blood but certain it is that
the next instant he had dashed his oppos-
ers vigorously aside, and might have
gained the door and passage-way beyond
II The entire party in Bully Bob's interest
had not come up and attacked him.
They were six men In all with whom
the GIegorys fought at first, with no
weapon but Natures; but at length. a
pistol having been discharged at tie old
mans head, he drew his long, keen knife,
cut down two of his assailants, seized
Bully Bob. who had just Joined the melee,
by the ''scraff'' Of the neck, and, through
The amazed and d;sco 'me tt[1i Lli
with hin, ta,,,n' -9'o otn5 9ul'a aiol'
father ,vn,ndod ana bIaeS;, "''7i his
.Hnrt .Iem o., as.ed tho esIdor hr;oer
Ozone for y, arSwerad Ion, Nth i ao,,.,
conciseness and sinkine sInwl Wv TO q the the