Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-01-16
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquire
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHEsTER. S. C.. January IA.


CHESTER, S. c., January IA, 1879.
To bring himself squarely up with the events
of the New Year in Chester, your correspon-
for brief retrospection. Passing over Christ
mas and the holidays incident to that festive
season, which brings good cheer to all, we will
begin with the day which ushered in Eighteen
Hundred and Seventy-nine and which will be
memorable in the annals of our local history
as the day on which the McGufin Guards gave
a street parade, much to the amusement of the
white people, and greatly to the astonishment
of the ebon race, the whites of whose eyes III
fine phrenzy rolled at the exaggerated antics
of the mystic band, who to say the least, out
rival the famous Mulligans or the, Gideons,
cOmmemOrated by the muses. The parade
closed with a variety of contests at Patter-
sons Green, including foot-racing sack-ra-
cling, in, which the contestants were enVeloped
in sacks; a wheelbarrow race a burlesque
target shooting and the climbing of a creased
pole on which was perched goose, the prize
to the successful competitor. The most
amusing feature of the sport, probably, was
the burlesque target shooting, in which the
''weepins" used were augers, the contestants
being blindfolded and required to find theitar-
get with the point of the auger. Had Ned
Brace been present he would have confessed
that this rifle team excelled in ludicrousness
the famous Georgia shooting matchtin which
Ned won the beef by shooting with the
''double wabble." Prizes were contended for
in each trial of skill, and were as follows: a
box of cigars on the foot-race, won by John
ME Walker; sack-race, bag of flour, won by
John Kahn; wheelbarrOW race, a pickle-stand.
won by ,Judson Albright; target shooting, a
silver cup, won by j. l.. Simmons; climbing
the creased pole, a goose, won by w. E. Moi
fat. The prizes were awarded by Judge Mack
ey, whose judicial mind was unbent in the
great hilarity, and his presentation speeches
were replete with wit and hum0r. At night a
masquerade ball closed the enjoyment of the
day, and it is with pleasure that I record the
fact that not an incident occurred to mar the
enjoyment, in which all participated, and
which was to Chester what Marli Gras is to
the Crescent city. In notable contrast to the
grostesque costumes and fantastic freaks OF
the McGufins, was the fine music rendered at
intervals during the day by the Chester Silver
COrnet Band, which is pet musical organl-
zation in our town and increases in proficiency
as it grows older. .' ... s':..,..
There was an unusually large number of
people in town on sales-day, some OF whom
were attracted by the sales, and others proba-
cident to the season, to visit town for the pur-
pose of comparing notes, exchanging views
and making preparations for the current year.
The following property was sold by the sher-
iff: House and lot in the town of Chester, Oc-
cupied by Mrs. DeGraffenreid. Bought; by G..
G.. Macoy for 81, 300. Tract of 200 acres of
land on Broad river, known as the "Hlll''
place. Sold as property of John A. Waters.
Bought by Wylie & Agurs for $500. Tract of
100 acres, part of the ''Cook" tract. Sold at
the suit of Wylie & Agurs ss. JnO. A. Waters.
Bought by Wylie & Agurs for $1O5. Tract OF
205 acres Of land, sold at the suit of f. NJ.
Cross rs. VIM. McCollum, was bought by Wy
lie & Aguls for 1920. Under order of the
Court Of Common Pleas, the Clerk sold $50
acres OF land, the property OF +. j. Worthy,
at the suit Of the National Bank Of Chester
rs. Worthy. Bought by the Bank for 81, ,5OO
Besides the foregoing, some personal property
was also sold under foreclosure Of mortgage.
Chester, emulating the good example set by
some other towns in the State, has determined
ring the present year there will be two graded
schools conducted in the school district COM
prising the town of Chester-one for white
and the other for cOlored pupils. Both will be
conducted on precisely the same principles,
and the same facilities, regulated by the pro-
ticiency of the pupils, will be afforded to the
pupils of each race. The school for white
children will be conducted at the Chester Male
Academy, to properly furnish which with fur
niture and appliances, the citizens have liber-
ally contributed about 600 independent OF
the sum necessary for school expenses. This
school will be under control of Mr.. W. II.
Witherow as principal, assisted by Mrs. Mar
garet A. Bland, Miss Bette Killian and Miss
Lizzie Cornwell. Besides the ordinary branch
es prescribed by act of the Legislature to be
taught in the free schools Of the State, Latin,
Greek, the higher mathematics and music
will be taught in the school for whites, the
pupils paying regular tuition fees for these
studies. Miss COrnwell, all accomplished mu-
sician, will be teacher of music and all the
other teachers are fully competent for their
respective departments. The colored school
will also be well provided with teachers, Of
whom Rev. 5. Loomis will be principal. If l
mistake not, your progressive town was the
first in the State to adopt the graded school
system, and have no doubt it will prove
III Yorkville. .:-. ..-... .. .....
The thirsty wayfarer, on arriving at Ches-
ter, need now have no excuse as to facilities
for obtaining drink, as we have twelve Ii
censed establishments at which the 0 be JOY
full is dispensed. These bar-rooms yield an
annual revenue of 5000 each.
The town election took place yesterday.
There were two tickets in the field-One, that
containing regular nominees by a meeting Of
IL. 1,,,C for