The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-02-08
Ills OWN STORY!
A Sketch Of Peter DeGral's Event
fal Career.
HE LED A RECKLESS LIFE,
Thinks That HG Was Born at Elizabeth
fjtV, n r

a sketch of Peter DeGraff's eventful
life.
He told the story to Mr.. NJ. M.
Vickers, his night Waterman, and
speaks for itself.
WHERE HE WAS BORN.
I don't know just exactly where or
when | was born. but guess | was
born in Elizabeth City, n. c., about
1870. Ny parents told me we came to
Winston in 1876 and came direct from
Elizabeth City. L can't remember
even living there. l visited there
some years ago and found people who
remembered my parents and remem-
bered me as very little boy when L
left there.
LED A RECKLESS LIFE.
dou't know just how old I was
when | began to attend Sunday School,
but / was quite small boy. L at
tended Sunday School first in Salem;
had kind and good teachers; could call
their names. They doubtless remenu-
Der me; they gave me the best OF ad-
vice. Later, L became secretary Of
little Sunday School out in the coun-
try. If | had yielded to the precious
influences that were tried to be
brought to bear upon me, would to-
day be good citizen, but when quite
young | b,:gan to lead a reckless life,
and falling in with other boys who
were also of reckless disposition, L
gradually grew worse and worse,
though would go to Sunday School,
but in spite of all the training, l be-
gan to drink whiSkey, finally carrying
some to school with me. A little
later | acquired the habit of carrying
a pistol to Sunday School, and with
other BOYS would go from Sunday
School to the woods and practice
shooting on Sunday afternoons.
ARRESTED FOR CARRYING A PISTOL.
Finally [ was arrested for carrying
a pistol and bound over to court. The
witness not appearing, was dcqult-
ted but upon leaving the COURTROOM
the Judge called me back, asking me,
did you carry that pistol :" L told
him l did. SO he gave ME | think
sixty days in Jail. After twenty days
/ broke jail aud left the country and
went to Virginia. | worked at New
port News, guarded on the wharf at
Norfolk some time and was doing well,
but not satisfied at dOing,Well, | re-
turned to Winston. Ere long | was
in trouble with a young girl, used foul
means upon her, gotadVantage Of her,
ruined her character and by the ad-
vice of others, paid her a few dollars,
secured a receipt and then cussed her
out.
WORKED IN VIRGINIA.
I then left this State again and
went to Richmond and worked there
some time. l fell in love with girl
there and ruined, but promised to
marry her and would have done SO.
had it not been for friend who pre-
vailed with me until | backed out, and
the girl. seeing my careleSSneSS, had
me arrested, and [ certainly liked to
have gotten into the box, but set my
wits to work, and being little
shrewd, | gave the officer the slip and
made good my escape and returned to
Winston again.
GOT LEFT-MARRIED ANOTHER MAN.
went to work for Mr.. Pitts two
miles west of the city and fell N love
with girl out there and we were
promised to be married. ] bought
her wedding outfit. l called on her
on Saturday evening, left, promising
to call early the next afternoon, and
did call, and when | walked in
found all seated at the table partak-
ing of the dainties with which il was
ladened. She had just married an
other fellow. Of course | felt very
small at that marriage feast, but put
on the best face possible, and tried to
show | didn't care. | left after
awhile and felt | could not bear it, SO
[ procured some laudanum and tried
to put an end to MY life, but failed.
IN TROUBLE WITH ANOTHER GIRL.
My trouble soon began to wear off,
and it was not long before L was my
self again, and selling liquor for Pitts.
Well, before long | was in trouble
with another girl / studied every
conceivable way to get around girls.
| studied books treating upon such.
| left the country to get rid OF this girl;
| left afoot and went west. The wealth
er was very cold, and several nights /
| had to camp out by myself in the
mountains of Western North Caro-
| lima. Away up in the Balsam noun
tains, after walking all day through
| the snow, not seeing house for miles,
l came to a CABIN in which there were
| some bedclothes. L took up camp. ]
was tired, cold and hungry, and not a
| family in miles of me. l kindled me
up fire and went out in the field ia
| another little cabin where | found
| some nice fat shoatS. | shot one
| down, skinned it and had some bar
| becue.
RETURNED TO HIS OLD JOB.
Next morning the snow was very
| deep, so | remained there eleven days
| killing me another pig before L left
After eleven days / resumed my jour
ney into Tennessee and was there
sometime. AS soon as l could, l re
turned and secured my same old plact
with Pitts, selling whiskey.
ENGAGED TO MARRY.
Well, / got to going around some
finding another girl with whom / fel
in love, and we too became betrothed
and | would have carried my promise
with her into effect, but a friend eau
toned me, and finding things just a:
he told me, l placed myself to know
positively; securing her gloves anc
handkerchief, ! called the next day
and produced both gloves and hand
kerchief before her parents, which
amounted to square out exposure,
played quit and she went to the dogs
SHE LOVED BUT HE DIDN'T.
branched out still farther west O.
the city and found myself courtin,
another young lady. ] know she wa
lady and christian. She loved IN
doubtless well enough to have becom
mine, but did not love her SO well
/, as usual, was after seeing where
could carry her, but on every occasion
she would buffet me. Yes, she was
good girl without a doubt and chris
tian, therefore | was the more deter
mined to blight her good name. l dc
serve death on her account IL nOthin
else. Nothing l could do or say woul
enable me to carry my point.
LEFT THE STATE AGAIN.
/ left the State again and neve
stopped until / reached point in Ir
, diana. My sister would write ~
! and In her letters this girl woul
.. plead with me to return, ! treate
all letters carelessly and was gon
a hi La nd ruhnrl u thnIlOb