Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-07-19
Nn,npruus Repartmeut.
HE sTRUCK FOR THE SHORE.

HE STRUCK FOR THE SHORE.
At Baton Rogue a Texas deputy sheriff
brought aboard the boat negro whom. he
was taking home on warrant for grand
larceny. The prisoner was humble and
contrite, as became his situation, while the
officer flung on the airs of hero and made
a great display of two revOlVers and a
boWie-knife. He told how far he had chased
the man, of desperate struggle to hand
cuff him, and wanted us all to promise to
stand by him in case rescue was attempt
ed. The prisoner was shackled to the rail
ing of the promenade deck and given his
dinner, and then the officer entered the
cabin to partake of his.
There were five Of us sitting in circle a
few feet from the prisoner, and the negro
looked 80 downhearted that every one Sc
cretly sympathized with him. About the
time the deputy had got down to the table
one of the group-a resident of Arkansas
calmly observed: .
"Gentlemen, I can tell by that nigger's
eye that he's going overheard and make
swim for it. Down here about three miles
we shall run within fifty feet of the point,
and he'll take that moment to 60 over
board"
eBut the officer ought to know it!' ex-
claimed Tennessees1 as he half rose up.
"You sit right down!" hissed the other
as his eyes flashed. ''I'm no particular
friend to the nigger, but Pm going to see
that the chap has fair show. II he's got
the sand to 60 overheard he shall have the
chance"
"Why," began another, but before he
could 60 further the man from Arkansas
gave half hitch around to bring his hip
pocket handy, and said:
81 don't tWant to appear unciVll, gentlemen,
b,,f fb1, man uyb 20 lie tho officer will have
a chance to shoot at me"
"This was business, and there were no
more protests. The boat swept along with
the swift current like horse on the gallop,
and we watched the prisoner. He looked
carefully around for the officer-then at the
point ahead, and we could see him tremble
with excitement If he did not receive
direct encouragement from the group, ne
at least realized that not hand would be
lifted in opposition. Now the steamer is
close in, the bank covered in the thlckets
and not a house in sight. Drawing full- M
breath, the negro rose up, snapped the
shackles with tremendous lurch, and went
over the rail like a flash.
'Right in front of the wheel, poor devil!'
whispered the man from Arkansas, as we
rose up and hurried aft.
Ten-twenty-forty- seconds, and
then black head shot up above the foam
ing waters, and a pair of strong arms struck
out for shore. We were mile away When
he drew himself up and waved his hand,
and the mile had increased to ten when the
officer came out with his sombrero on MS
ear and a cigar in his mouth, and began:
"Now, then, you internal nigger, J."
But the Internal nigger wasn't there.
"UNCLE JOINS" HORSE TRADE.-a good
tale is told of"Uncle John" Harrison, the
venerable county assessor. Some time ago
he strolled into Lum Simons' sale stable, on
Market street, and his attention wasattract-
ed to fine-loOking animal, apparently about
7 or years of age, but in fact over 40. She
hadn't a tooth in her head, and had to be
fed on mush. Uncle John sized her up from
the background, and asked Lum what he
would take for her.
'Seventy dollars, even money!" replied
Lum, rather uncOncernedly.
"I'll give you twenty-five" said uncle
John.
"It's co." replied Lum; "give me the
money!" and uncle John counted out tWen-
ty-two good hard slugs into the palm of
Lum's hand. The animal was backed out
of the stall, tied to the hind end of Uncle
Johns buggy, and the old gentleman drove
out home, chuckling to himself about the
good trade he had made. Arriving at home
he gave orders that the mare be well fed
and properly attended to, but the old animal
appeared to have lost her appetite by rea-
son of the change in her quarters, and the
food that was but in her trough remained
untouched. For several days she ate moth
ing at all, and Uncle John concluded to in
veStigate the cause. He pried open her
Jaws, and then for the first time discovered
she had no teeth. Thoroughly enraged, he
drove to town and called upon Lum Slmons.
"What kind of a. mare do you call that
thing you sold me the other day ~ said he,
addressing himself to Lum.
"Why, that's splendid animal, Uncle
john" replied the sleek horse-trader. 81
paid Sc for her."
"Butshe aint got any teeth"
''That don't make any difference. All
you've got to do isto feed her with spoon"
"Oh, YES; I see. Well, I'll fix her." said
Uncle John, and with that he returned
home. About two weeks later he called at
the stable again and exhibited roll OF
greenbacks. "Where'd you get it ?" asked
Lum.
"You know that mare you sold me? Well,
she strayed out on the railroad track few
nights ago, and was run over and killed.
The company's agent appraised her at $50,
and they settled with me for $40; They
never thought to look at her mouth. Pm
lust S1S ahead of the railroad. If you've
got any more like her at the same price, trot
'em out"
The story is told on Uncle John, however,
that he took the animal out and tied her to a
cross-tie just before the train came along,
and the "boys" say that part Of the halter
was found tied to the ties, but this Uncle
John most emphatically denies.-LouisriNe
Commercial.
THE BEATER BEATEN.-A farmer came