Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-02-29
For the YOrkyille Enquirer.

"REMINISCENCES OF WESTERN YORK.
On Bullock's Creek, near the bridge
on the Quinn's road, was what was
known as the "Barclay place." The
property is now known as the "Kell
estate" The hundreds, and per-
haps thousands, of acres of land con-
tiguous, formed one Of the largest
sheep and cattle ranges in the coun-
try. The Barclay house was thought
by the superstitious to be haunted.
All kinds of hobgoblins and ghoulish
apparitions could be seen there, by
certain people; and, not unfrequent-
ly, would some 'possum hunter be
led into the swamp by a Jack-Wlth-
a-lantern. All these only made 1t
notorious. \The inner walls OF the
house were literally covered with
vulgar, profane and ludicrous draw
ings that added to the terror OF the
timid. These drawings were intend
ed to represent the voices and sentl-
ments of dead people, and frequent
ly some advice to some living lndl-
vidual would appear, as though 1t
came from the spirit world.
All the sheep and dry cattle for
miles around would congregate here,
and for months, WoulC Craze over
this extensive range without any at
tention from their owners. Uncle
Jimmie Meek Qong Jimmie) or his
son, Capt. John Meek, would attend
and salt their sheep once a month, at
least. Frequently lambs would grow
up, the ownership of which might
cause a dispute between neighbors;;
Nothing of this kind ever amounted
to more than few words. Gener--
ally the one who got hold first and
marked, claimed the stock. Shear
ing time was a good occasion to per-
form this work, and different owners
would frequently visit the different
pens to see what kind of marks they
could find.
A good many wild hogs also could
be found in this extensive range.
Sometimes in the fall of the year
crowd of men and dogs would make
raid on these cunning, and in many
cases, dangerous animals. A good
many laughable incidents might be
recited in this connection. 10 see
half q dozen men up as many trees
yelling at the tops of their voices
to dozen or so spiked nosed "spank-
ers," while group of razor-backed
hogs formed a hollow square to resist
the attack, would fully describe the
scenes in which many people took
great pleasure. Among the older
lovers of the sport, we might men
ton the names of Uncle Reuben d.
Foster and Uncle "Red Bob" Nelson.
Uncle Robin Foster had dog called
Jink. Perched on the limb of a tree
out of danger, Uncle Robin would
call out: "Take him, Jink," and
when Jink failed to advance, the old
man would say that "the other dogs
won't support Jink." If the hogs
would get scattered and one caught,
Uncle Robin would say, II knoWed
if Jink got the ranks broke he would
save one."
Uncle Robin had large sorrel,
blaze-faced mule he called Dave. He
had as much confidence in him as a
mule, as he did in Jink as a dog.
Dave never would allow wagon to
stop without orders. Uncle "Red
Rob- would make fun of Uncle Robin
for Dragging on "Jink" and "Dave."
He was natural clown, full of wit,
humor and repartee. Both of these
good old men have passed to the
spirit world; yet we have many
pleasant recollections Of them to
which we may yet refer.
Speaking of these wild hogs calls
up an incident of a cunning old SOW,
reported by colored man named
Charles, belonging to Mr.. n. P. Ken
nedy. Mr.. Kennedy's lands lay near
the Barclay range, and part of the
corn farm on the creek was being
DESTROYED by hogs. Tracks could be
found in the field, and almost every
morning fresh signs of destruction of
corn; but no place could be found
where the hogs got in. The fence
and water-gap were examined and
found all right. One fence was
Joined to another until nearly the
whole of the Benton" farms were
included in the same enclosure.
Thus vast territory was included,
and the conclusion naturally arose
that in some of the thickets and
swamps the hogs were raised. Mr..
Perry Dye had a negro man named
Titus, commonly known as "Tite"
Dive. He had also little yellow (or
rather cream-colored) bull terrier
| called Ring. TO "Tite" and Ring