Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-05
A RELIC OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

A RELIC OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Mr. N. c. Steele, of Kossuth, Mississippi,
contributes to the Corinth Neacs very inter
esting article concerning the early history of
York county. During the revolutionary
struggle, one Jonah Bird was an active tory
in this section, and robbed and plundered the
defenceless proving himself terror to all
whose protectors were in the patriot army.
Among those whom he robbed was Archibald
Steele, an old and inoffensive man, who had
five sons fighting for American independence.
After the close of the war, Joseph, one of the
five brothers, determined to take revenge upon
the tory, Jonah Bird; and accordingly one
morning with his old army sword in hand, he
repaired to the poor fellows home with no
other intention than to take his life. This
was fearful thing, yet it was decided that
the wretched man must die. He was called
out into his yard and told his doom. The
poor fellow, upon bended knees, pleaded most
earnestly for his life, promising if that was
spared to do anything required of him. But
his pleading was no more than might have
been expected, and this story would probably
never have been told, had it not been for the
peadngs of his wife and children. Several
times the deadly weapon was raised to strike
the fatal blow, but the strong arm was un-
nerved by the screams and pathetic pleadings
ofhis wife and helpless children, and as the
fell instrument came down, it was turned, the
side instead of the edge striking the unfortu-
nate man whose life it was raised to take. At
last the avengers sympathies were so aroused
by the prayers and tears of the disconsolate
ones that Bird, on making certain promises,
was informed thathis life should not be taken.
He told Mr.. Steele that he knew where many
of the stolen things were /; that they had been
sunk into deep hole in creek near by.
This is Fishing creek, York county, South
Carolina. He promised to 60 and gerthem
if possible and to leave the country in given
time. These were the conditions of pardon,
and accordingly they Immediately set out to
recover the submerged property. When they
arrived at the spot they found the creek frozen
over, but the tory hestated not to obey the
command to dive for them. So, crash goos
the ice, and down goes the diver into the deep
blue water. For moment all is silent, save
the ripping Of the water as it whirls around
the spot where the diver went down. In a
moment more the water parts and up comes
the diver. What is that he holds in his
hand? All! it is one of the old pewter
basins stolen from the milk-house.
Shaking himself, he dives again for the
stolen booty and soon rises to the surface with
something else in his hand an old oven lid,
or Spider" perhaps. Again he dives and
rises again, until at length he holds in his
shivering hand an old pot-rack which has
since served to cook many dinner, and
though long since superseded by the cooking
writer's father, in Alcorn county, Mississippi.
Thus for nearly one hundred years we have
the history of the old chain pot-rack, to which,
had it the power of speech, it could doubtless
add many years and thrilling events; as, for
aught We know, it was forged in some foreign
land, for its owners are ofScotch.I Irish descent.
Aside from the very romantic history OF the
pot-rack it shows that the "way of the trans
gressor is hard"
Old "ring pot-rack," may you ever remain
as zone of the family" and in the hands OF
IT, ose who will delight to respect and cherish
the associations and thrilling events which
around thy olden rings do cluster. And may
it be thy province to speak lessons of "truth
and soberness," in silent yet impressive tones,
to those who may chance to learn thy long
and eventful history.
A REpRoBATE.-A person applying to the
Judge Of Probate for letter of administra-
ton, walks up and raps. The Judge bids him
walk in, when the stranger inquiries:
"Does the Judge of Reprobate reside here?
II am the Judg of Probate, sir" answered
the Judge.
"Ah all the same, suppose" said the
stranger. "My father died detested, and lett
number of fatherless scorpians, of which
am chief AS it is, and being the oldest in
fdel, the business naturally dissolves on me;
and if you will grant me letter of condem.
nation, will see you handsome ly sacrificed"
na~ Mr. James L. Simpson, an estimable
citizen of Anderson, died on the 29th ultimo.