The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-27

cr, tho coffin was lowered into tbo
grave, and the dirt shovcllod in on ton,
Oid Bill Fowler, the head Of tic
younger OF Fowler branch, who have
long been rivals Of tho elder and bluer
Dlooded phanohs, stood by the OPEN
ing, Clad in 4 white linen Shooting
jacket, corduroys, and big stoga boots.
lie sportcd brass earrings, and during
the service kept a sharp lookout for
any snipc and plover that might be
lowering about.
DilPs notions Of ...,.
THE pNs'r HISTORY OF IusRAcr
are dim and uncertain. lie rcmcm-
Dcrs in the reign of David Hannibal
when he could stand in his fathcr's
door and count the smoke from forty
wigwams. New England rum and
opium have dazcd his faculties, and,
beyond secret longing to be King,
i'c has little or,no ambition. s'If he
had," said old Mary, as she lit her
clay pipe with hot coal from the.
fire, and then, turning the bowl down.
ward, pu1ed away mcditativcly; "if
he had any ambition he'd II been King
lonS ago. Stephen want no real
King; nc was II 'scrpcr." A year
ago Dill had between thirty and forIv-
five hogs, but they have all been solf
70 buy opium. EX-Quccn Maria, who
lives under tho hill below him, sup
ports her family by washing for tho
summer boardcrs at Stratton',. In
the winter her boy, Wyandonk, goes
out with Ills shotgun and bags game
enough in IL day TO keep the family in
pork and corn meal for a week.
Below Maria's house lies Ovstcr
Pond, in which, years ago, "iniun
sam" the dissolute husband of the
oid Queen Dowagcr Aurclia, drowned
himself III drunken fit. Sam was a
lnll-blood, with al unqucnchable ap-
petite for rum. Op the
ELECTION DAYS OF TIE MoNTAUKs.
he would lie dead drunk on the floor
OF tho polling place until his friends
picked him up and holding up his rn-
conscious hand, gave his vote for tho
candidate OF their choice. These elcr-
ton days used to be great times ofliot-
lug aud fcnsting. Under the old H.
dian law, the succession to the throne
was supposed, as in Tu. KEY, to go 10
the oldest living descendant OF tho
original chief. Although the Pharaohs
were undoubtedly the true lincal de-
sccndants of the ancient kings, there
were always enough candidates of col
lateral branches to get up Il contest in
which case the kingship went TO the
one who could command the most fire
water. The mode ofcicction was sim.
pie. The pure bloods (halr breeds be-
fore the election Of David Pharaoh
were jealousy cXcludcO met BY them
selves in Il cabin on the hillside over
looking the Great Pond, and, after
boiling tho door and drinking rum
Suppiicd by the various candidates, be-
gan voting. The names Ofthe candi-
dates were called in the order Of SEN
iority, and as each was named lis
supporters held up their hands. The
tally was kept on a stick, which after
ward became the warrant or commits
sion OF the winner. David, the last
King but one, was charged
WITH GAINING HIS ELECTION
by practices savoring Of Twccdism.
The Fowlcrs had been making an
active canvass. and were believed TO
have secured Il clear majority for their
man, when David, by coI0niziny halt
breeds from Frcct0wn and S;,innceock.
and promising unlimited wl;skey and
TOBACCO to The rest, turned thc tables
on them and wcntin bvan ovcrwheinl-
ing majority. 1t was in vain that the
Fowlcrs stamped and swore and pro-
tested that such tricks belonged to thc
white man, and were unworthy of the
Montauks. David and his imported
voters had the organization, anddid us
they pleased.
Ills first act after he had been dcclar-
ed King savorcd still moro STRONGLY of
Ring rule. Under the old treaties thc
tribe were allowed TO pasture fifty cat
tic on any part Of Tie peninsula that
they chose. The privilege to pasture a
single animal was called a "rignt," and
the whole fifty rights were formerly
divided among the tribe, in the pro-
portion Of oDc-third for tho King and
he rest for tho commonwealth. David
improved OH this by conljscating an
additional third, making thirty-thrcc
rights III all, which, rs each one was
worth, on all average, So, turncdsomc
$40 more into the royal cxchcqncr than
formerly. His subjects grumblcd, but
David had tho convention and the
State committee, and it was no use.
!!e is also said to have appropriated to
himself the richest pasture lands and
IaIlcst cornhcldS. After his death
redistribution took place, his wife, the
ex-ts4cen Maria, however, being al
lowed to keep somc Of the plundercd
rights during her lifetime.
The Kings Of Montauk during tho
past half century have been as follows:
Hannibal Pharaoh the elder.
David Hannibal Pharaoh the young
Elisha Pharaoh (abdicatcd after
three months reign.)
Silsby Pharoh tho Good.
David Pharaoh, Twccditc and ballot
box suffer.
Stephen Pharaoh (titlo contested by
the Fowlers.)
From this list it will be seen that the
Lcgitimist or elder house Of Pharaoh
have invariably obtained the victory
over he Orleanists, Or Fowler branch.
a union of tho warning factions took