Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-03-27
Estate of Doct. John Allison,
To lanes Ross.


Nov. O. g , half pints whiskey,~"....... 12
9l22
This liquor, I'll warrant, was pure; and
the prices not SO high as those now forced
on US by revenue laws.
One of the most exciting incidents / ever
house of Mr.. Ross. Just at daylight, a ne
gro, called Isaac Watson, was starting home
from his wife's house, when mad dog
jumped out of old Mr.. Ross garGen-the
present site of Moore & Sons brick build
ing-and attacked him. The negro recog-
nized the dog as one belonging to Dedman.
Three months previous, there had been
great excitement in the village. A mad
dog was known to have passed through,
which had bitten dogs, hogs, and even one
or two calves, that afterwards exhibited
signs of hydrophobia, and were immedi-
ately killed. Two negroes reported Ded-
requested to dispatch him. The dog was
fine one and great favorite Of his masters,
so he declined to kill him, but proposed to
keep the animal up in pen, in his yard, SO
as to avert any chance of mischief. AS it
was negro evidence, he could not be forced
to kill the dog, although much dissatisfac-
tion was felt at his not doing So. How the
animal escaped from confinement was never
known. AS the dog confronted the negro,
Isaac recognized him and knew his danger.
He repelled the furious bound with we'll
directed blow, hitting the animal on the side
of the head with his fist, hurting him heels
over head, several feet back, and, at the same
time, yelling at the top Of his voice, "get
out! get out !" Again the dog sprang at
the negro Again he was felled to the
ground, the negro still screaming with all
the power of his lungs, "get outn' but to no
effect were either blows or cries, for on,
again, came the horrid beast.
A number of persons had collected in con-
sequence of the negro's yells, most of whom
had jumped out of bed and ran to the rescue
without waiting to put on their clothes.
However, when they saw that the big black
dog of Dedman was The cause of the outcry,.
every one feared to draw near to 1saac's re-
lief, being afraid that the rabid creature
would turn on them. Guns were brought,
but they could not be used for fear OF killing
the man instead of the dog. The negro,
to move his eyes from his dreadful adverse
ry. He repulsed him again and again, by
the steady hard blows Of his fist; The dog
aiming every assault at the throat. The
sweat poured like rain from the negro's
brow-every pore was weltering, From
five to seven minutes did this awful combat
last, though seemingly to the intensely eX-
cited lookers-on three times as long, One
cried to him do this another that thus
suggesting relief. At last, Ben Chambers
called out, "choke him !"x Every one re-
echoed the happy thought. "Choke him
choke him ~ was heard from all sides. AS
the dog arose and came on with mad fury,
Isaac, instead of the oft-repeated blow, seiz-
ed him firmly with both hands around the
throat. "Hold him ! hold him ~ was now
the cry but the black man did not need the
admonition, for he held on with a death
grip. Sam Chambers seized a fence rail,
and ran up and broke the dogs back with
it, when he was then soon dispatched a; but
Isaac never let 60 his grip on the throat un-
til the brute was finally dead. The negro's
clothes were badly torn, his shirt in front en-.
tirely gone, the cuticle distinctly marked,'
but blood nowhere drawn.
I have witnessed many fights, both before
and since, in Yorkville; seen men strip to
the buff while their wives would hold their
bare back, and say, 'go in know you are
not the man ever to be whipped;" but
never have I seen anything equal in feroci-
ty or interest to the rencounter between
Isaac Watson and Dedman's dog.
Old Mr.. Ross lived to a great age, much re-
spected as a good man by the entire district.
His faults we're few-his virtues many.
Though fond Of his grog, he neverdrank too
much. have seen him perfoi II the remark
able feat of pouring his liquor into tumb-
Ter, put it in his pocket and carry it to his
we'll without spilling a drop. There he
added the cool water direct from it's source,
and drank his reviving beverage. Never
was the weary wayfarer turned from his
door unrefreshed. Comfortable bed and
board he always found given to him, Wheth-
er he had money to pay, or was without.
Old Mr.. Ross was indeed, q cheerful giver."
When he died in 1926, the community
felt as though q landmark was removed, so
entirely was heidentifed with, and beloved
in his vicinity
"His life was gentle; and the elements
So mix'd in him. that nature might stand up
say to all the world-this is q 1aa'. - -
Thomas Williams, Esq, was of a Virgin
ia family, but was himself born in Will
first located in Lancaster, and there mar
ried a Miss Crawford, cousin Of General
Jackson. Some years after, with family
of several children, he moved to Yorkviile.
He was a very popular man, and being en-
doWed with fine mind, soon had large
practice and the reputation of being the
finest jury lawyer in the up-country.
One evening there was knot of us gather
ed in McNeel's hotel piazza. COL Williams
was among the number, and also ventrilo-
quist named Charles, at that time visiting
York. Conversation turned on idiosyncra-
sizes and dislikes. Williams remarked that
he hated hogs worse, and was more afraid
of them, than anything else. He accounted
for it by having been bitten by one when
child. 1t was fact, he said, that his hair
fairly stood on end if hog bristled up at
him in the street.
That night there were services held by
the MethOdists in Crenshaw's "long room,"
which stood on the present site of Roses
Hotel-the congregation not then having a
church building. Col. Williams was Il
member of this denomination, and being
one of the most Jealous, he was, of course,
in attendance. The sermon was frequently
interrupted, near its close, by the cries OF a
I'M La: ,tcra al