Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-11-03
The Sturv Teller.
THE SHOT IN THE EYE.

The following tale of Texas border life, is
a faithful portrayal of large portion of the
population of Texas forty years ago. 1t was
published originally in the Democratic Re-
vieW:
MY word for it, reader, should never have
ventured to construct professed romance
out of incidents so wild and strange as those
of this narration. 1t is only with the hope
that you will accept in good faith the assu-
rance given in the same spirit, that these
things really did occxr while I was in the
country, and most Of them within my person
al knowledge-that venture to relate them
at all. Remember, the scene is laid IN a
frontier county of Texas, and if you have
even a remote conception of the history
ofthat Republic and the general character Of
social elements, you will be prepared for
good DEAL
Shelby county, lying in Western Texas,
on the border Of the "Red Lands" was rather
thinly settled in the latter part of 49, What
population it had was generally the worst
caste of border life. The bad and desperate
men who had been driven over our frontier
formed rallying ground and head quarters
here-seemingl y with determination to hold
the county good against the intrusion of all
honest persons, and as a sort of "Alsatia" of
the West, for the protection of outlaws and
villains of every grade. And indeed to such
an extent had this prescription been carried
that it had become notoriousl y as much as a
mans conscience or life was worth who set
tied among them with any worthy purpose in
view for he must fall into their coufeder-
acy-leave-or die! This was perfectly un-
derstood and the objects of the confederacy
may be readily appreciated, when it is known
that every now and then party of men would
sally out from this settlement, painted and
equipped like Comanches, with the view of
carrying off the horses of some marked man ola
neighboring county then returning with great
speed, they would rebrand their plunder, re-
sumo their accustomed appearance, and defy
pursuit or investigation. Not only did they
band together for their operations in this way,
but single man would carry off fine horse
or commit murder with the most open au-
dacity, and if he only succeeded in escaping
here, was publicly protected. I do not mean
to have it understood that the whole popula-
tion at this time were men Of this stamp
avowedly.
There were some few whose wealth to a
degree protected them in the observances Of
a more seemly life-though they were com.
PEELED at least to wink at the doings of their
ruffianly and more numerous neighbors
while there was yet another, but not large
class of sturdy, straightforward emigrants,
who, attracted solely by the beauty of the
country, had come into it, settled themselves
down wherever they took fancy-with char
acteristic recklessness, neither caring nor ask
ing who were their neighbors, but trusting in
their own stout arms and hearts to keep a
footing. Of course all such were very soon
engaged in desperate feuds with the horse
thieves and plunderers around them and as
they were not yet strong enough to make
headway eficiently-were one after another
finally ousted or shot 1t was to exterminate
this honest class that the more lawless and
and assumed the name of "Regulators." They
numbered from eight to twelve-and under
the organization of rangers, commanded by a
beastly wretch named Hinch. they professed
to undertake the task Of purifying the county
limits of all bad and suspicious characters
or in other words, of all men who refused to be
as vile as they were-or if they were, who
chose to act independently of them and their
schemes. This precious brotherhood soou
became the scourge of all that region. When
ever an individual was unfortunate enough
to make himself obnoxious to them. whether
by successful villainy, the proceeds of which
he refused to share with them, or by the hate
full contrast Of his course-he was forthwith
surrounded, -,threatened-had his stock driven
off or killed wantoDly-and if these annoy
ances and hints were not sufficient to drive
him away, they would publicly warn him te
leave the county in certain number Of days
under the penalty Of being scourged or shot
The common pretext for this was the the &C
cusation of having committed some crime
which they themselves had perpetrated with
a view of furnishing charge to bring agains
him. Their hate was entirely ruthless ant
never stopped short of accomplishing it
purposes and in many bloody fray ant
cruel outrage had the question of their su
premacy been mooted, until at last there wer