Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-10-29
The Sturp Teller.
THE SAMPVILLE SPECULAT0R.

At the close of one of those financial hur.
ricanes which periodically affect the United
States, I deemed it we'll to adopt custom
prevailing in that great country. The GUS
tom allude to is 'going West" People are
very fond of going West, and undertake the
Journey from various and often mixed mo-
tives. My own motives were very mixed. In
the FIRST place had received from my friend
Wash Sparkington-best of friends and most
intrepid of spectators, the coolest hand at
poker, and the neatest organizer of "corner"
ever meta few "points" concerning the
rising young township known as Sampvllie,
through which railroad was shortly to be
driven, for the purpose of develping the re-
sources of the country and enriching these
spectators who had got the "point' early.
In the second place it was very hot in New
York, and my physician had recommended
change of air. Thirdly, had just broken of
an engagement to marry Miss Nettie Fish,
whose "pa," originally ferryman, had re-
Gently "struck ile," and was bumptious &C.
cordingly. Fourthly, spool" to sell certain
stocks "short," in which I was heavily en-
gagged, had not proved success. As Spark
ington observed, the bottom had fallen out of
the spec. Filthy, things had gone generally
wrong with me, and it was necessary to change
the venue in order to avoid unpleasant conse-
quences.
Under these circumstances | concluded to
try Sampville, and endeavor to recuperate by
buying up the land through which the projec-
ted railway was to pass. A farewell dinner
at Delmonico's was given in my honor by
"the boys" All the usual formalities were
- SnIn frSn In
circulated among the golden youth present
that was going to Europe to negotiate the
sale of my family property, an efigy, in ice
cream, of the good ship Barataria, in which l
was supposed to be about to cross the Attain
tic ferry, occupied the centre of the table
Mumm's extra dry and the finest Chambertin
circulated freely and I fatter myself that
considering the awkward posture of my affairs
I made reasonably brilliant and effective
farewell oration.
Forty-eight hours later I was in Sampville,
and was at once impressed by the evidences
of prosperity visible in that fourishing loca-
tion. The first duty of man had been fulfilled
by the construction of an enormous hotel,
where indigestion could be acquired on the
most exorbitant terms There was no lack
of excellent food, villainously cooked, and
the loss of the fesh-pots of Delmonico weighed
heavy on my soul. Still there was compensa.
ton. Sitting opposite to me at the table was
a Western belle eating green corn after the
primeval fashion, that is to say by seizlng a
corn cob-plentifully annointed with butter
at either end, and gnawing the juicy morsel
without regard to appearances.
On making inquiries concerning the land
on sale at Sampville, my spirits were slightly
dashed. Somebody had evidently got the
"point" before me. Looking carefully over
the lots through which the railroads must nec-
essarily pass, I found that they had been
bought up within a short time by single
speculator-one of the original settlers in
Sampvile His name, Van Klauwenhoek,
indicated his descent, from fine old Knick-
erbocker family, and 1 marvelled much to
find the representative of an ancient race veg
etating in the West. Of course, hated him.
He had clearly forestalled my little specula-
tion, and, if to be bought off at all, would not
part with his purchase except at large
profit.
Much depressed and fatigued by my stroll,
1 Idrifted into the Ketchum House, the big
hotel aforesaid. Bringing up at last against
voice exclaiming, II guess I'll take mine
straight" and turning sharply round, l en-
countered my old friend Hezekiah Dodge,
who from hi Oh legal and political position,
had step by step taken down track, till he had
sunk into loafer round bar out West. 1t
was the old story; plenty of 60 but no ballast.
Hez would-in the beginning-work for
weeks, like man, then 60 con bust" till
his best friends we're scared at his appearance,
and would then pull up at once, and become
decent citizen till further notice. His garb
indicated that he had visibly declined in the
world since we had last met, and certain
glassiness of the eye told that tale which is
revealed at once by the light blue iris, but
long concealed by the rich brown eye so fire.
quently met with in the States. His hand did
not shake, Of course-the potations of the day
had steadied it; but Hez was little unsteady
on the high heels of a pair of dainty boots,
which contrasted strongly enough with his
generally rough appearance.
Gradually edging Hez out of the crowd, l
lured him away to quiet cobbler and cigar,
when he became at once coherent, and deliv-
cred many sarcastic remarks on that one horse
place, Sampville. Now, thought I, is my
time to get posted on this section of tha coun-
try, and at once opened out on real estate,
inquiring, by the way, who and what Mr..
Van Klauwhenhoek might be.
"Look here," said Hez, 81 am as fond of
Klauwhenhoek as am of Injuns. He refus-
ed to lend me ten dollar bill few days
ago-the mean cuss-and let me tell you he
owns almost the hull township. Fust of ALL
he started in dry goods, then he went into
grain, and lager beer, and lumber, and now
is president of the bank. He is smart man,
yes sirl And they don't know much Of his
antecedents round these parts, and they don't
inquire No. sir, in this section of the country
it amt we'll to ask too many questions. So
long as a man has the stamps, we don't in
quire how hegot them. We take it for grant
ed that our citizens have all busted up some
where or other, before they came to this last
place that was ever made, and we don't ask
where they did it.
This was getting unpleasant, so reminded
Hez that should like to know more of Van
Klauwenhoek.
"Oh! said he, looking wistfully at his
empty tumbler, which was Immediately refill
ed at my request, 81 could tell you about the
prettiest story you ever heard about the high
boss of Sampville. I knew him years ago
down to Pergamus, in the State of New York.
He was always straight backed cuss, and
committed all sorts of villaipy. without get
ting any enjoyment out of it, except the pleas
ure ofdoing wrong for wrongs sake. He was
not called Klauwenhoek then. When man
goes West to change she air, he may as we'll
change his name at the same time. Wal! he