The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-23

river bottoms, and soon the forests began
to fall before the AK Of the pioneers.
Some of them brought slaves with them
and erected sawmills and framed houses
with glass windows to live in, and the
school master came along, but the crack
ers were in the majority and lived along
in the same old primitive way. AS late
as 1S47 they had gander pullings, and one
that witnessed that summer lasted two
hours and the original Bill Arp was the
victor. l could have seen more Of them,
but 1 did not care to just for the same
reason that kind-hearted man docs not
wish to see but one hanging.
One Saturday morning when we arriv-
at Blue Gizzard courtground, the clans
had gathered in unusual force. AS pre-
llminary to the more important contest
that was soon to come off, some of tho
boys were shooting at piece Of white
paper that was pinned to distant tree.
Some were gathered around the spring.
Some were trying old mother Tutten's
fresh cider and ginger cakes that she Of
fered from the hindgate of her little wag-
on, and some were sampling the corn
whisky that was kept in jug in the
little log courthouse hard by. We soon
perceived the central and most attractive
spot to be small tree with limb forking
about ten feet from its base. A long,
slender, springy pole was resting In the
fork with the large end pressed to the
ground and fastened with stobs crossed
on either side and driven firmly in the
clay. This incline raised the long end of
the pole quiet high in the air, and to that
end was looped plow line, and to the
lower end of the line another loop was
slipped over the crimson feet Of a venera-
BILE gander and left him swinging, head
downwards, just high enough for horse
man to reach it easily as he rode under
meath. The doomed bird gave an occa-
sional squawK, and with wings half
open and neck half bent, looked on with
unquestioned alarm upon the people.
The feathers had been stripped from its
neck and a thick coat of grease put on.
The underground had been removed and
a running path for the horsemen cleared
| of all distractions. The tournament be-
gan at IL o'clock. Twenty sovereigns,
mounted on their plow nags, ranged
themselves at one end Of the path and
awaited the call of their names by the old
squire, who had them written on a fly
leaf i'm the back of his docket. No man
was allowed to ride until he had planked
up dollar. The old squire had contrib
uted the gander just out of good feeling
to the boys, he said, and he was nomina-
ted as treasurer and umpire and carried
the bag, and on his decision the whole
sum was to be awarded the victor. He
had adjourned his court for two hours to
see the fun and keep down any distur-
bance of the peace. Eight "whippers"
were mustered in, four on each side Of the
running course. They were all armed
with good long switches or hickorys, and
their willing duty was to see to it that no
mans nag moved toward the gander with
less alacrity than a gallop. snow, boys"
said he," "not lope that would keep q
nag a-lopin' half an hour in the shade Of
tree, but a right lively gallop, and if the
critter slows up any, you must peartin
him up little, especially as he's a-nighin'
toward the gander."
The boys were true sovereigns. They
were not knights. They were arrayed in
their homemade pants and homemade
| shirts and home-knit galluses. Their
shoes were made at the tannery and their
hats at the battery. Coats and vests were
not on their regalia. All the naborhood
were their spectators, including many
women, some with infants at the breast,
and some with sons in the tournament.
The gathering people exchanged salu-
tations and smiles and gave the family
news and gradually drew near the place
wherethe anserian struggle was impend-
ing. W
The old squire had participated in some
old-fashined musters in his day, and so,
when everything was ready, he stood on
log, and, raising his right hand, ex-
claimed: "Tention, company! In the
proceedings we are about to proceed with
it are expected that every man will con-
duct his behavior accordin' to what's fair
and honest-no man are to take any dis
advantage of ary other man nor of the
gander. Thar he are hangin' without a
friend. Tote fair. boys, tote fair; and put
him out of misery as quick as you ken,
in reason. Jack Pullum-three PAGES to
the front-now-ready- dy-aim-charge'
AS Jack stuck his heels in his pony's
flank the crowd shouted: "Charge 'em,
Jack, Charge 'emr' But Jacks critter
wasent used to charging. He rebelled at
the go and the "whippers in" had to come
to his support. He dashed in and out OF
the path wildly, but finally took the bit
| in his teeth and started down the line on
desperate run for freedom amid the