Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-06


arriving that day, and feeling considerably i'm
proved in mind and body by what we had seen
and enjoyed. w.
Correspondence of the YorkviIle Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER. 10
".... CHESTER, Jan. 3, 1875.
The Chester and Cheraw Railroad Compa-
ny, through their representatives, J. A. Has.
eltine, President, and Col. j. D. Wylie, Of
Lancaster, applied, few days ago, before
Judge T. J. Mackey for mandamua. instruc-
ting the County Commissioners Of Chester to
levy a tax to meet the interest on the bonds
of the county Of Chester, issued in aid of the
Chester and Cheraw Railroad. This man
damus was asked for because Of the peculiar
phraseology of the act, a doubt was felt by
the County Commissioners whether it was
their duty to make the levy. They did not
doubt the validity of the obligation Of the
county of Chester to meet the interest on its
bonds issued in aid of the Chester and Cheraw
Railroad but they entertained some doubt in
regard to their duty in.the premises. So it was
thought hest by all parties concerned to OBJ
tain solution Of the difficulty from the Judge
of the Circuit, which was accordingly done.
The mandamus was granted, requiring the
County Commissioners to levy the tax.
Alta late meeting of the Master Masons of
this place the following memt ars fthe order
were elected for the ensuing y lr: j. B. Nc
Fadden, ". NJ; j.. s. Withers, s. W. J.D.
Means, j. W.; N. B. Alexander, 58ecreqry,
I. L. Clubhouse, Treasurer. The installation
services have also been held, when the breth-
rem elected were formally invested with the
robes of Office. At late meeting Of Chapter
Masons the following members were elected
for the ensuing year: j. J. Mcclure, H. p;
T. S. Mills, King ). R.. C. M. Alexander,
Scribe; ]. B. McFadden, c. H. 6. W. Cur.
tbs, p s. /; I. Heyman, r. a. c.; j. u. Kauf-
man, G. NJ 3d. E;N. B. Simpson, G. NJ.
2nd y; I. McIver, g. NJ 1a r.; G. E. Cobb,
Secretary; l. L. Clubhouse, Treasurer, and j.
H. Crawford, Sentinel On Thursday even
ing last the Masonic brethren had grand
jolli6cation in the way of a good supper,
which was; greatly enjoyed BY, all present.
The entertainment differed from that sof last
year, inasmuch as it was confined entirely to
brethren of the order, l have been requested
to state that the Deputy Grand Master of
this Masonic District, Colonel A. Coward, Of
Yorkville, will meet the Masters Of the va
rious Lodges, at this place, on the 2nd Tues
day Of January.
cording to appointment, on the 23rd ultimo,
and proved quite a success. The chiyalric
amusement was witnessed with pleasure BY
thelarge number of persons who we're present.
The first prize was awarded to Mr.. p. w.
Hardin, Knight Of Sandy River the second,
to Mr.. G. s. Cook, Knight Of Chester; and the
third to Mr.. v. B. McF Fadden, Knight Of the
Bellies. The Queen Of the occasion was Miss
Laura Brown, Of Rossville; her Maids Of
Honor we're Miss Belle McFadden, Of Lewis
vile, and Miss Mamie Hardin, Of Chester.
After the riding and crowning, the party ad-
journed to building near by, where the mazy
dance was begun, continued, and did not end
until the close of the day. ''=@. ~
The holidays passed off quietly and pleas
antly here. The young men gave dance at
the Cotton Hotel, which was q very enjoya-
BILE affair, A considerable number Of ladies
graced the occasion with their presence, and
looked as charmingly and danced as prettily
as the sterner sex could desire. Our neigh
boring town, Union, by the presence Of two
of her fair and attractive representatives, car
ried off the honors of the evening. The dam
GERS displayed their pleasure in the amusement
by the lateness of the hour at which they
ceased to trip the light fantastic toe. In ad-
dition to the presence of youth and beauty,
matrons, with their lords, attended, and look
ed with admiring eyes upon the beautiful and
dazzling scene.. Hst..2 N iatn,'.
Sc Christmas day was principally celebrated
at this place by the colored population, who
appeared upon our streets in great numbers
and in very happy spirits. For the most part
their behavior was quite commendable.
Still, there was one obstreperous fellow, who
in consequence of an excessive indulgence in
mean whisky, became 30 belligerent and pow
erful in bis own estimation as to defy the
combined police force. Iti enough to say
that he was locked up until he had cooled of.
The whites were also happy on, that blessed
day, if their exuberance of feeling was not so
demoustrative as that of their colorsd friends.
Their happiness took shape in the form Of an
extension Of the ordinary salutations Of that
day, in an exchange Of presents, and lastly,
but by no means least, in q very general and
hearty enjoyment Of that delightful beverage,
egg-nog. There were some who, acting upon
the principle that Christmas comes but once
a year, imbibed rather freely and we're slight.
ly overcome.
While good order and peace reigned in
town, the county was not so happily blessed
Blackstocks and the vicinity were the scenes
of two unfortunate affairs, one Of which re-
suited in the killing of a colored man, named
George Mercer, and the other, in the serious
wounding of colored man, named Leroy
Finney. The latter difficulty occurred in the
town of Blackstocks, on Christmas day, and
was occasioned by Finney's speaking to
white man, named Matthews, in regard to his
using his pistol in negligent and reckless
manner. Matthews, who was drinking at the
time, upon hearing the Objectionable remark,
fired the pistol at Finney, who fell, seriously
wounded in the head. Matthews Immediately
after the occurrence, fled, and has not yet
been arrested The difficulty, in which Mer.
Ger lost his life, took place within short dis
lance of Blackstocks, and the principal facts
are briefly these On the evening of the 9th
ultimo number of men and women, all col
ored, were assembled at negro house, and
were engaged in dancing Stephen Young
began to make disturbance; and after being
urged by George Mercer to stop it, and refns-
ing to do so, was put out of the house. In a
short time, being readmitted into the house,
and seeking out George Mercer, he gave him
a terrible cut with knife in the region of the
heart, producing almost instantaneous death.
The horrible deed was perpetrated 60 silently
and yet so surely, that the dance ceased not,
Il h. cll L G.