The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-12-19
PIKE COUNTY FOLKS.
AN ATTEMPT TO "BUsT UP,' 4 MEET.
ING AND now 1T FAILED.
A Singular Character Who Lives In the
Penpsy Iynnia Mountains.

| n Ilhc county, Ju. Correspondent VI
the New York Times gives the following
incidents in the life Of Jerry Greening,
one Of the family charged with shooting
a man in Dingman Township. He says :
The Greetings live by hunting, fish
ing, acting ms guides 10 visiting sports
mon, and by the sale of railroad ties
boop-poles, cord-wood, tan-bark, ship
knees, and other products Of tie woods,
which they have ransacked and stripped
for miles around, irrespective Of owner
ship or title. Some member Of the
family-aud frequently two or three Of
them nt once-has been defendant in a
criminal suit Of some kind, generally
ashanti and battery, at nearly every
term Of the Pike county courts for %
years. They are vindictiye and unfor-
giving, and any neighbor Of theirs, or
my other resident Of the county, who
has given them either real or imaginary
cause for 'grudge" against him,
knows that sooner or later he will be
made TO feel their vengeance in one way
or another. Old Jerry, although rs
hale, hearty, tough and active OF 70 as
he was Mt 40, has been comparatively
quiet and non-aggressiye for 10 wears
past. Previous 10 that his appearance
in Milford, or any other village, was sui
ficient TO excite general uneasiness, for
il was well understood that before he
started for home there had to I've a fight
md that il wonld have but one result
the nnmerciful clicking" Of some M.
fortunate townsman at old jerry hands.
II was his boast that he had never yet
met man that was enough" for him.
One day in 1867 he entered the Pike
County House in Milford, and was look
ing for Il fight. He was noisy aud
abusive M usual, and ,err0rized all who
were present. The landlord was a
strong young man, but peaceable and
non-combatant. He underworld TO
quiet old Jerry and induce him TO start
for home. Jerey then turned biz ntt,n-
ton 10 the landlord, and declared thnt
he would whip him. He proceeded 10
carry out his intention, hut the landlord
got in one blow between Jcrry's eyes
that felled him like an OK. The aid Of
physician had TO he called in to restore
him 10 consciousness. When he recoy-
cred he walked out Of the hotel without
a word, got into his wagon, and went
home. From that day he quit drinking,
aud has never been known 10 seek fight
since.
In old Jerry Greening's younger days
he WA the terror Of the whole region.
There was one man i'll the township.
however that he was nfrnid 10 "tnchlr. "
Ono fall backwoods preacher, known
~ the Mountain Ranger" opened n
protracted meeting in the school-houye,
three or four miles from Grccning's.
One Sunday, us Greening was hunting
deer in the woods, he met Il
neighbor who was also n noted
fighter. This neighbor told Green.
ing that If he wanted 10 see some fun 10
come along with him, M he was going
over TO the school.h, use TO "bust up"
the meeting, because his wife hnd got
religion and spent too much time at the
school.house. 0reening wont along to
see the fun. When they reached tho
meeting the services were at their height.
The two men Stalkcd in. The nggrieycd
neighbor walked straight up TO the
preacher, who wins tall, why, big. listed
man, and boldly announced that he had
come there TO clam" him and "bust up"
the meeting. The preacher paused in
his sermon, and, stepping up TO the in
trudcr, caught him by the collar and
flung him bodily out Of the window. He
did not come back. The preacher knew
that the man was held in almost rs much
terror in the community ms Jerry Green
ing, nnd that probably no one else in the
township would dare to fight him, and
30 tho preacher though. TO make strong
point with his congregation, and walk
ing back to his post behind his desk.
solemnly declared Tint il was entirely
owing TO the power of religion that he
had been able tn 50 quickly vanuuish
his nssailnnt, md asserted that any ono
IN the audience could have done the
Same thing II they had faith in religion.
Tho elect ON Jerry Grccning of tho
preachers summary disposition Of the
doughty disturbcr Of tho meeting wa,
wonderful. If religion could do such
wonders ns that, nc thought as he snys
himself III relating the siory-it was
Just what ho wanted to help him ont in
night with the one man in the town.
ship that no WIS afraid to "tackle." SO
TINT same night he event forward" and
Joined "the mOurncrs." The news that
Jerry Grecning was getting religion
spread oil over the country, and added
greatly to the success of the revival
Jerry tho second night after ho went for.
ward announced TINT tho next Sunday
he would tell his experience. One Of
Jery's hunting companions WAS on his
way to tho woods TINT dry after deer,
but when he heard TINT Jerry wns to tell
MA experience he stopped in Mt the
to hear him. setting his gun
iown by tho door While Jerry was
giving his experience the bON ing Of n
mound was heard Off on the ridge. Jerry
Kept on talking, but began TO prick MP
ms ears and crane his neck around to
look out OF the window in the direction
from which the hounds cry came He
knew tho dog was bringing deer
straight toward tho school.housc and
mat 1t would crop tho creek at well.
known runway only n few yards dis.
'nnt. Tho hound came nearer md
nearer. and presently Jerry saw through
tho window n big five-prongcd buck
tearing down the hill. This was more
than he could stand.
There's great big five prong buck."
70 shomfed, "and my gun amt within
Our mile O. here r.
He rushed from the school.houso, and
eeing the gun tho hunter Ind left Mt |
no door he grabbed ii and made for the
reek, Before he reached the runway
heard a shot and knew that some
no had shot tho deer. IL was his dog
mt had driven tho deer in, and he made
his mind to 60 on and claim at least
'rt OF the deer. When he got TO tho
Not there the deer lay dead, and stand
g over it was the one man in tho town.
mp whom he was afraid he could not
Ilck., He laid claim 10 the dee,
'ough, and the man said that if he rot
inf Hanr ka 4 |