The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-11-23
A QUEER MASSACHUSETTS aAN,
Effect of Northern Impressions of Southern
Life.

DIR. Il. 5. Hawk, o bird dog trainer
from Ashfield, Massachusetts,, has been
at Fort Mill for several weeks past hsv.
ing three dogs in his charge TO put in
training for the approaching field trials
at High Point. Mr.. Hawk is an odd
character and is the self-made hero of o
Pitiabie adventure, yet withal most lu.
dicrous one. The whole neighborhood
OF Fort Mill was greatly excited last
Friday evening over his sudden and mys-
terlous disappearance. A party of COL
ored people on the afternoon in question,
NJ" h!m coming though d cotton field in
which they we're at work, accompanied
by his dog. Suddenly he was seen to
ralse his gun and shoot his dog dead, and
then bound away for the wooda "like the
devil was after him." as one Of them ex-
pressed it. Shortly after he entered the
WOODS, they heard 4 second shot fired,
and moved by curiosity at his strange
conduct and his long absence in the
woods, they went to look for him. Com.
Ing up to where his dog lay dead, they
followed his tracks, which were about
seven feet apart. in the direction of the
woods. In an opening near the woods
they found his pistol, which had dropped
out OF his pocket. After entering the
woods his tracks could not be seen, and
the party of searchers scattered out in
all directions to look for him. The
woods were thoroughly searched but
nothing could be seen of the man. The
next day the whole neighborhood was
excited over the mysterious disappearance
and there WAS n genera hunt for the
missing man, but altogether unsuccess.
iui. as not sgn of him could be found
anywhere. Sunday they were still hunt
ing for him. and yesterday morning
while the people about Fort Mill were
meditating over the mysteriousness Of
the whole affair, exchanging views and
revolving the whole thing over and over
in their minds, q pale. faced man. wet.
muddy and tired, and with O frightened
look still upon his face, walked into this
city and made his way to Brem & Mellow.
ellis hardware store, where he is known.
II was none other than Mr.. Hawk, the
missing man. He still carried his gun.
and the shells on being taken out Of it
were found to be saturated with water.
Mr. Hawks friends lad heard of his dis
appearance, and after listening to brief
explanation of it, took him to room In
the Central where he undressed and en-
joyed refreshing rest.
Mr. Hawk states that he was coming
home from hunt, when he saw a party
OF negroes In the cotton field and imag-
med that they were going to kill him.
So terribly did this fancy frighten him
that he shot his dog to keep it from fol-
lowing him, fearing that the negroes
would see it and find him, and then bolt.
ed for tho woods. Once hidden from
them by the trees, he felt little easier,
but ran on AZ hard az he could until he
came to ditch, into which lie jumped
and lay down. He remained in the ditch
all night, and next day cautiously made
his way through the country until night
came on, when he again STAYED out.
Sunday and Sunday nigh. I: 1-as the
same way, and Monday morning about 9
o'clock he came into the city.
M cause can he assigned fuS this pe.
cuiiaf conduct other than that it is the
act of monomaniac. Mr.. Hawk, ever
since-his arrival Mt Fort Mill, exhibited
peculiar dread of the people, and of the
colored people in particular, and was
frequently heard to express the belief
that they intended to kill him. Hes STOP
ped at Mrs. Gibson's boarding house, and
on election day he remained in the house
ell day. Whenever anyone would enter
the house be =c.!a :.:s!h: &c his
room and lock the door. So COM
Pletely is he possessed of this fear that
he will not consent to 60 back to Fort
Mill, but has ordered all of his baggage,
guns and equipments 10 be shipped here,
when he intends to at once to return to
Massachusetts. 1t is, on the whole, re.
markabiy strange case, Mr.. Hawk had
plenty Of money and in addition was to
be paid 500 each for training the dogs
snd S25 for exhibiting them.
The people of Fort Mill treated him
as kindly as possible and endeavored to
do all they could to make him feel that
be was in hospitab'e spot of the moral
vineyard, but his strange and peculiar
fear continued 10 haunt him until it cul.
minated in his wild and aimless flight
Charlotte Observer.