The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-10-27
TOLD OF BUCK KILGORE.
Ills Jumping Match With n Texas WON.
an in War Times.


the Union who will regret to hear Of
the death of Judge Constantine B.
Kilgore, at Ardmore, I. T. For eight
gears "Buck" Kilgore was notable
man in Washington. In person he
vas the typical Texan. Above six feet
call, above sixteen stone in weight,
above the average Congressman in
lbility, above the average man in sin
serity, straight as an Indian, and
strong as an OK, "Buck" Kilgore was
marked man wherever he ap-
peared. It was the kicking down of
The door leading from the legislative
chamber to the House lobby that gave
him notoriety. 1t was characteristic
of the man. He wanted to 60 into the
lobby; the messenger shut the door in
his face. He raised his foot, clothed
in an enormous cowhide boot, and
kicked the door down and went his
way. The notoriety that attached to
him on account of the act was always
d1stasteful to him.
Except Dick Bland and Amos Cum.
mings there was. no moredemocratic.
looking man in Congress. The boys
on the avenue called him "Buck, and
after he kicked the door down every
gamin in Washington was ambitious
to shine his boots. Many of them
boasted of the honor who drew on
their imaginations, as George the ~.
did when he claimed to have borne
conspicuous part in the battle OF
Waterloo. Kilgore did not have his
boots shined every day. When he
first landed he toook rooms on O
street, not far from the Capitol. AT.
ter breakfast he went out for stroll.
A colored boy proposed to shine.
''What's your name?" asked Buck"
"George Washington" replied the
boy. "It's an honor T did not ex-
pect," rejoined Kilgore; ''you can
pitch right in" During the whole
session "Buck" would walk half
dozen spares to give that boy the job
,f shining his boots.
During the war he was ordered
nome to assist in gathering up some
leserters. One evening about dusk
he was out in the country in quest OF
deserter who had been off the clay
out" for year. He was very hungry
and very weary. He called at house
by the roadside and there he found
woman just taking from the spit
nicely broiled chicken. The savor OF
the fowl made him ravenous. He had
a Mexican dollar in his pocket which
he had carried for years and to which
he had become much attached, but he
was bound to have that chicken, and
he pulled out the dollar and proposed
q trade-the coin for the fowl. The
lady said the chicken was for sick
friend and that she could not sell it.
"But," she continued, "Ill Jump
you for it,"
"What do you mean?" said
"Buck."
"I mean that we will see which can
jump furthest from this doorsill out
into the yard, and the one of us that
beats shall have both chicken and
dollar"
call right; that suits me exactly" I"
said "Buck." The dollar was placed
on the dish beside the chicken and
his gun was leaned against the wall
by the door, and "Buck" slung his
arms and made tremendous leap of
over twelve feet. He recovered with
difficulty, and when he turned to the
door there was the lady with his cooked
gun in her hands, with the butt
against her shoulder and finger on the
trigger.
"Now, you just firt the gravel down
chat road. young man, Oh I'll make
buzzard's food of you," she ordered.
There was shoot in her eyes and
"buck and balr' in the gun. So
"Buck" "firted the gravel" his
bosom swollen with impotent rage.
By this time it was dark. Over in
a field "Buck" spied ginhouse. He
went to it and climbed into the loft,
laid down on the floor and soon was
fast asleep. After a time he was
awakened by voices down below. He
listened and made the discovery
that one was a female voice, and a
moment later he realized that she was
relating the Jumping" episode to her
companion, who gave vent to peal af-
ter peal of laughter. There were the
chicken and his dollar which he could
see by the light Of the tallow dip.
Peering about he saw his gun also.
There was big hole in the floor of the
loft, and just as the man took hold of
the dish to eat the chicken "Buck"
plunged through that hole and seized
bis gun. Before they recovered from
their astonishment "Buck" roared
out: MADAM, you just firt the
gravel back home, and as for this
gentleman he and I will firt the
gravel to the office of the Provost
Marshal. He is the deserter have
been after for a week"
There was shoot in "Buck's" eye
low. The woman left. "Buck" re-
covered his dollar, ate the chicken,
md before midnight surrendered his
prisoner to the Provost Marshal. 1t
was worth journey across the CONT
nent to hear "Buck" tell the story
Louisville Courier-Jou Journal.