Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-02-03
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER, Jan. 81, 1875,


CHESTER, Jan. 81, 1876.
The supper given by the Stonewall Fire
Engine Company, at the Cotton Hotel, on
Tuesday evening of last week, was an exceed
ingly pleasant entertainment. In the cele-
bration of the fifth anniversary of their ex-
istence as an organization, they were Joined
by considerable number Of invited guests,
who gave unmistakable evidence of their en-
joyrnent of the good things so bountifully
spread before them. After partaking Of the
delightful viands, the cloth was removed,
glasses were filled to the brim with rosy wine,
and the speech-making and merry-making
began. There were no regular toasts, and as
a consequence, no prepared speeches as on
former anniversary suppers Of the Company !;
but impromptu toasts were given, which met
with replies sparkling with wit and producing
peals of laughter Mr.. W. A. Clark, of Go.
lumbia, responded to toast given the bar Of
Columbia. Being also fireman, he extend
ed to the Stonewalls the greetings Of the fire.
men of his city. Mr.. John Buchanan spoke
for the press. His remarks were very happy,
and excited much laughter. A toast to the
Ladies' Monumental Association met with a
response from Major 8. P. Hamilton. Mr..
John G.. McFadden and Mr.. j. j. Mcclure,
members of the town council, were called
upon and replied briefly. While the latter
paid his respects to the shinplasters, or "rag
baby" of our town, the former promised to
exercise his influence in securing more hose
for the stonewall Company. The grand jury
was toasted, to which Mr.. W. B. Burnett
responded quite eloquently. Alluding to this,
the centennial year, he thought that South
Carolina should do all in her power to bring
about friendly feeling among the people Of
our common country, and should join hands
with Massachusetts in the effort to accom-
plish this end. Mr.. ]. j. Hemphill and Mr..
T. G. CASTOR were felicitous in their remarks.
The friends of Mr.. w. S. Gregg were enthu-
siastic in their calls for him, but he would not
be persuaded to make speech. The String
Band enlivened the occasion greatly by means
of their very sweet music, both vocal and in
strumental. Two comic songs by Mr.. j. K.
Marshall and Mr.. N. B. Alexander, were
encored to the echo. Major T. S. Mills, the
popular captain of the company, presided
over the elegant entertainment quite hand
somely. The jolli6cation. was kept up until
a late hour of the night, when the Stonewalls
and their friends left for their homes in q
happy condition.
The colored people from every portion Of
the county aocked to our town OH Friday to
witness the execution of one of their number,
Stephen Young, convicted at the last term of
the Court of General Sessions, of the murder
of George Mercer, also colored. At II o'clock
the doomed man, under the charge of Sheriff
Walker, and guarded by the Chester Rifle
Company, was conveyed in carriage to the
place of execution. Arriving there, Young
was put upon the fatal platform, and then al
lowed an opportunity of making a declaration
of his sentiments. He said that he did not
uread to d1e; ne felt brave and willing to
die; he felt that the Lord had cleansed his
soul, and that the last day of his life was the
best day. He felt that he would pass to glo.
ry and live forever with the Lord. He told
the large crowd looking upon him that they
must be careful that they be not caught in
the same snare with himself 1 have endeav-
ored to give not only the idea, but the lam
guage used by the criminal while standing
upon the scafEold. His relatives, who were
present, were permitted to tell him goodbye.
To them he said farewell, and exhorted them
to meet him in heaven. Then occurred a
scene of crying and lamentation that would
have softeped with pity heart of adamant
A Roman Catholic priest from Columbia ad-
ministered to the condemned man, lowering
on the brink of eternity, the last rites of that
church. Bidding the world again farewell,
he put himselfin position for receiving the
black-cap, and for having the rope placed
around bis neck. He displayed his calmness
and GOODNESS in asking the Deputy Sheriff to
fix the rope right. Everything being in read
iness for the performance Of the last act in the
awful tragedy, this was done by Sheriff Walk
er, and in moment Stephen Young was sus-
pended between heaven and earth. He was
suffered to hang in this condition for several
minutes, when his body was taken down,
placed in coffin and given over into the
hands of his friends. The Rife Company,
which had formed in circle around the in.
strument Of death, again took up the line Of
march for town, where they soon arrived and
we're dismissed. The execution, which took
place in an old field in the vicinity of Ever
green Cemetery, was witnessed by probably
the largest number ofpeople that ever assem-
bled in Chester on any one occasion-some
placing the estimate at FIVE thousand persons
A stream of living humanity overspread the
broad acres lying around, and even the tops
of trees were filled with individuals desirous OF
getting good view of the horrible spectacle.
A better argument against public executions
could not be given than that furnished last
Friday by the scene at the scaffold.
The last two days have witnessed remark
able change in the state of the weather. Du-
.;,o nort;,n of loot ueek the mildness WAS