Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-09-05
Mistellaueuns 8eadina.
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
"REMINISCENCES OF WESTERN YORK

For the Yorkville Enquirer
"REMINISCENCES OF WESTERN YORK.
Thomas Palmer, of whom we spoke in
the last chapter of these "reminiscences,
was the father of Richard A. Palmer, a
native of Yorkville, who, as a member OF
one of the Mississippi regiments, was
killed at the first battle Of Manassas, and
in the perpetuation of whose memory
company A, 18th S. G. regiment, took the
name of "Palmer Guards. y" In comp panies
A and B, of this regiment, Western York
was represented by some Of its best men,
many of whom we will speak of hereafter,
both as citizens and soldiers.
Many of our readers remember Abram
Tolliver Smith, commonly known as "a.
It. Smith," IA. t." was an inoffensive
man, and nobody could truthfnlly say any
thing else about him. Like many men at
the present day, he liked His dram and
would have it when it was possible to do
so. "Lige" Atkins and "a. IT," worked a
crop together in 1858 or $50. "a. T." had
never been raised to know much about
!
"Lige" did. ga. T.'s wife's name was
Margaret. She was the daughter of Riley
Arrowood, long and familiarly known in
that section as ''Riley Dink." He won
the soubriquet of "Dink" by initiating the
song of the jay bird. He would some
times get a little tight and stand upon a
log or stump and catch the skin of his
throat and bow his head from one side to
the other and say "Kill dinkle, kill din
kle." He was we'll digger by trade and
was frequently engaged in that work with
slack the Sailor" of whom we have al
ready spoken. Mr.. Arrowood died under
circumstances which showed that DR.. Alex.
White stood upon the top round of his pro-
fession. He had been sick for sometime
and DR.. White was his physician. The doc
tor had cautioned him as to his diet, and
among other things forbid the use of but
| termilk. This caution the patient neg
lected to observe. Bysome means he pro-
cured good draught of buttermilk and
drank it a few minutes before the doctor
came on his regular visit to see him. Be-
fore the doctor came within several feet Of
him, he riveted his eyes on him and asked
what he had been eating. When the pa
tient told him that he had drank some but
termilk and that he never felt easier in his
life, the doctor said: "You are dying
right now," and in a very short time he
breathed his last.
will now 60 back and take up a. T..
died than he. It was while he was en-
gagged with "Lige" Atkins that he went
every Saturday night to procure dram,
which he spent Sunday, generally, in
drinking. ''Lige" took no part in the
drinking. "a. T." had little jug that
held between a quart and half gallon.
This he strapped over his shoulder in q
shot-pouch style and went in quest of his
o! be joyful. You might have heard him
late in the night returning singing or at
tempting to sing, some old church tune,
but it was like Shakespeare's clown !;
"without time, note or tune"
Some of the neighborhood boys conclud-
ed that they would have some fun with
ga. r." So one night they ambushed
themselves near where Mr.. James Scog-
gins now lives. After awhile they heard
him coming. The moon was shining, but
as was his custom always he carried q
torch. He was left handed, and came with
flaming light in his left hand, singing at
the top of his voice to keep himself COM
pany. The ambuscade was in ravine
densely crowded with bushes weeds and
briers. "A narrow path led through this
thicket. AS became near it his voice rang
as if he was afraid something was in store
for him. Bang went a noise in front of
him, with another on each side, and al
most in his rear, another. At the first
noise he raised his light in his left hand
and peeped under his extended arm as if
to see what it was. Soon the light was
knocked out of his hand and one or more
of the party sprang upon him, while the
others yelled: "kill him hold him catch
him !" &C.
Without trying to further investigate the
situation as the negro said, "He asked de
feet to take care of the body" and sprang
off like first-class race horse. The little
jug became contemplate barrier to his
locomotion, and he gave it a toss that
landed it several corn rows from the i'm
provised path he took. The race was con-
tinued for about 200 yards, when the pur-
suers halted to enjoy a hearty laugh over
the success of their prank. TO reach home
he had to 60 close by where old man
"Billy" Strain lived. He called there to
relate his recent experience and ask some
of Mr.. Strains sons to 60 home with him !;
but they were not at home that night, and
the old man, who was an Irishman, said to
him in his native dialect: "Pshaw goo
long, it's nauthing; you're only dhrunk.
No 'biddy wants to hurt ye." The sport
was not so enjoyable after all, for "Lige,"
who was fond of litigation, wanted several
parties prosecuted, though it was not
done. J. H.. $.
THE CRATER OF NESUNIUS.