The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-06-16

: eiiectually changed the whole tenor o.
his life.
Once upon a time an eloquent freed
. man was delivering an entertaining
speech on Southern institutions, and
: two 'roughs' determined to disturb
the speaker, when Potter, who loved
o~,lcr, called them to order; bat again
the uncouth young men disturbed the
speaker, when Potter remarked that
there should be order, or he would
eject them from the house. One Of
them asked if ne could manage two OF
them. He replied that he should
surely try it # the disturbance was
moi stopped Then quiet rei-ned till
the speaker ended his discourse, when
one,,f the "rouehs" ''made for Potter.
and Potter laid him~on the floor by a
blow with his fist, leaving bim minus
two front teeth. The multitude
rushed the two disorderly lads to the
church door, and ''qujrted" them to
their ponies, and sent them away at
break neck speed. That memorable
event gave Potter the title Of Fight
ing Parson.
! \ desperado came to Bocrnc, Potter'a
county town, and, after galloping up
and down the streets in defiance Of
decent order. alightcd and stePpedlnto
a gallery where Potter wasseated with
isome ladies, and began to use indecent
la guage, when Potter pitched him
into the yard. The desperate man
made for his horse to get his six
shooter, and the ladies forced Potter
into the house. There being no fire
arms in the house, Potter armed him
self with & hatchet, and stood beside
the door, awaiting the approach Of his
antagonist; but he was too wise to ad-
vance. lie locscd Potter's horse and
led it down into the town. That was
an overmatch for Potter's patience.
He followed on at safe distance till
the thief halted near Il store; when
Potter advanced within ten or twelve
feet the desperate snatched his pistol
to fire, but Potter, as the nimbIe pan
thcr, leaped at him, and wrung his
weapon from him; and on handing it
to q bvstander the trough" clenched
hun, and a fearful tussle began. IN
the scramble the parson got hold of q
stone, and by one stroke laid the terri
bic man, as Goliath, on the earth
| The offender was committed to jail
under fine; but, at the kind cntreaty
Of the pugilistic parson, the desperate
man was sent out Of town, after pay
ing his fine, to parts unknown.
When travelling over this frontier
mountain world, III years agone, when
Wild Indians, and many half-civilized
white men, roamed over It's valleys
and plains, Potter often met with some
Of the gaming comrades Of his sinful
days, who ever greeted him with
affection and kind Of unpublished re
! spect. On a visit to a frontier mill
tary post, during one Of his ministerial
tours along the borders OF civilization j,
| he met several of these mreformed
,'chums7 Of his carly days. Small
towns grow up around these military
posts, and when payday" arrives the
gamblers come in from all parts to
reap a harvest OF gain. Potter was
driving along the street environed with
about fifteen bar-rooms. Suddenly q
voice cried ou;:
''FIa! here comes the fighting parsonI
Hold on there. old fell"
Soon his halted buggy was sur
rounded by singular crowd of hu-
manity, when a well-known voice
spake:
.Well, Mr.. Potter, we never have
any preaching here; can't you give us
a send-of to-night-that is, a sermon?"
Potter replied: with pleasure,
gentlemen, if you will provide ahouse,
and hear me civilly."
"Ycu bet, parson; we will be all
eyes and ears was the reply.
a saloon-keeper rendered his gallery
fronting Main street Seats were
taken from saloous to accommodate
tie audience. When the preacher
( drew near the place Of worship, there
being no such thing there as a church
bell, a human voice was used instead.
crying: 80, yesl @, yes! 0, yes DO
you hear? there Is 70 he some spang-up
religious racket on Mr. F.'s gallery by
the fighting parson-a reformed gam
bier, but now celebrated gospel
sharp Tie racket viii commence in
''ft.en minutes. So ali you old rum
mcrs, whisky guzzlerz, and card
sharPers, 90 Up and hear him, and
mend your ways; if you do not, you
all viii 80 TO hell, rs sure as YOU are
born"
Crowds came; saloon violins were
silent, and stiffness, as hat which
/ hovers over the tomb, hung its mantle
on the town, save that Of the strong
voice Of the preacher, which resounded
as the trumpet tones Of heaven. teIlinr