Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-05-23

impassioned appeal for law and order. He
might as well have talked to the wind. No
one paid the least attention to him. The
women went on with their sacking, and the
bystanders drowned Baldwin's voice with
their whoops and cheers.
"While 1 was gazing at the scene," said
the Major, 81 saw captain of an Alabama
regiment with whom had slight acquain.
tance. We were both in uniform. We agreed
that something ought to be dore to restore
order and stop the robbery. At his sugges-
ton we stationed ourselves at the door of a
store already overrun. In a few seconds q
vrago tried to pass us. I can see her now.
Her cheeks and lips we're red, but she had q
pinched, starved look, and an eye like q
hawk She carried in her arms half dozen
bars Of yellow soap, a piece Of dress silk, q
long box of stockings, and some raisins and
herrings. I said
"Madam, beg your pardon; but you are
forgetting yourself These goods are not
yours. You have not paid for them, and you
will not be permitted to leave this store with
them"
"She looked at me-" said the Major, "in a
mild way, as though endeavoring to compre.
hend what 1 said, and then went to the coun-
ter and threw down the goods. As she came
she deliberately took me by the arm and
slung me from her with such force that
went spinning around like top, and struck
the front of the building so hard that it took
the breath out of me. Then she quietly gath
cred up her load from the counter and walk
ed out. The Alabama captain looked at me
and laughed, but kept his hands in his pock-
cts and said nothing. I told him / thought
we we're out Of place, and he nodded. We
concluded after that to remain simple spec
tators.
Meanwhile the women were approaching
the Jews quarter The Hebrews were cred
tied with great wealth. 1t was said that they
had made barrels of money out Of the Con-
federacy, and the female communists went at
them without qualm Of conscience. Moses
and Isaac, however, had heard what was 60
ing on above and tried to protect themselves.
They put up their shutters, barricaded their
doors, ran up stairs and watched the proceed.
ings from the second story windows. But the
women were not dismayed; while some of
them ran for axes, others found long piece
of scantlng and used it as a battering ram.
The first door flew open amid the cheers of the
outsiders, followed by wall Of sorrow from
the Jews. "Oh mine Kott mine Kott! l
ish ruined ish ruined p was the cry. But
they made no further defense. Indeed, it
would have been dangerous for them to at
tempt it, for if one of the female robbers had
been hurt, the crowd of husbands and broth
ers would surely have avenged it.
"And So" said the Major, "the spoliation
continued. At last rumor ran through the
street, the Governor is coming 1t proved
true. Down the hill came Governor Letcher,
accompanied by his staff and a few friends
He ascended cart and made speech, which
had as much effect as such speeches usually
have The mob of women kept steadily at
work, and the Governor pumped himself dry
without the least effect. The crowd on the
outskirts opened respectfully for him to pass
out, and the Jews mourned more pitifully
than ever. The women pitched in with re-
newed vigor, and shawls, sugar, poplins, bot
ties of pickles, ribbons, washing soda, mus
Inns and bags of hominy were pitched in the
wagons at the door, Then second rumor
spread over the crowd. The President was COM
ing. This also proved true. President Davis
rode down from the capitol, followed by Cap
tain Gay, with hundred of the guards. He
mounted wagon, and everybody was silent
| had seen him several times, but had never
heard him speak. So forced my way with
in ten feet Of him, and stood spellbound. 1t
was the most eloquent speech l ever heard.
Tall and slender, he swayed with emotion like
the willow in the wind. His words were care
fully chosen. He spoke of his experience in
the Mexican war, and, while expressing his
deepest sympathies with the sorrows and suf.
ferings of the children of the Confederacy,
sternly maintained the necessity for law and
order"
The Major heard that many Of the women
stopped pillaging, and gathered at distance
listening to the words that they could catch.
At the close of the speech the President took
out his watch and gazed at it long and ear
nestly.
"'Captain Gay said he, 'order your men
to load with ball and cartridges"
The order was obeyed, and the ringing of
ramrods was heard. The crowd began to give
way.
"Captain Gay,' said the President, still
looking at his watch, if this street is not
cleared within five minutes, order your men
to fire down Main street until it is cleared "
"Mr. Davis rode away. Within three min
utes there was not soul in sight but the
guards. The mob funneled itself into the
side streets. Those nearest the President gave
the information to those in front, and rushed
against them with the force of wave. They
are going to fre!" The words were heard by
the pilferers in the stores. They knew the
character of Jefferson Davis, and they knew
the reputation of old Captain Gay. Where
Davis would not finch from giving an order,
Gay would not finch from obeying it. The
women dispersed as suddenly as they came,
and that was the end of the female commune.
They never held another meeting"
THE VITALITY OF THE SHARK.
During the spring of the year, 1862, when
the war was in progress, number Of army
officers left Boston in the new sailing ship
"Merchant" for a voyage on Ship Island.
Among the passengers were DR.. Hooker,
Lieutenants Prince and Emerson, and the
writer and we all witnessed the scene am
about to describe.
Early one morning, DR.. Hooker called
from the deck to us below that a shark was
following the ship. We took this to be a
practical joke and did not move from our
state rooms.
But when we did go upon deck, about six