The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-02-23

Rufus Runa.ett is another instance
20 prove that ''the boy is father to the
man" When Is years Of age he helped
to invent an armor-clad coasting sled,
ttthe Rantum-Scooter," and he alone
steered it down Wilkins hill to victory
over the ''Number Seven boys; and
now he Is commander Of sn armor-clad
ship, quite as capable, T doubt not, OF
routing an enemy.
The schoolhouse in Number Six"
where we underwent a mild form Of
education together, stood at the forks
Of the county road, with the cross
town road, which led down Wilkins
hill, on one side and Mill hill on the
other. The county road extended
north and south, along the crest of a
fine, broad ridge Of land divided into
ten fertile farms, owned by as many
well-to-do farmers whose families
made up our school district.
We young people of Number Six
had always been q little inclined to
look down on the boys and girls OF
Number Seven at the Corners, near
the foot Of Wilkins hill, for the deni-
zens of Number Seven were some
what poor and shiftless lot. The
larger boys were pugnacious and i'll
disposed, and unless a schoolmaster
were strong enough to thrash four or
Ave of them, he must suffer the hu-
initiation of being carried out OF the
schoolhouse.
At Number SiG, ION the contrary, the
pupils were well-advanced, self-re-
specting and orderly. An able teacher
was required, but less to govern than
to instruct. Still, I now think that
the contempt in which we held the
Number Seven boys was rather phar-
isaical, and I do not wonder they re-
scented it. We nicknamed them s'bog-
trotters," and they retorted by calling
Us Chill dogs The two districts
slso belonged to two rival political
parties, fact which sharpened the
animosity between them.
Wilkins hill was the best coasting
place in the county. It consisted OF
Eve steep pitches, with intervals of
less abrupt descent between them,
which made altogether run Of mere
asa sosaasss q ssil6 6rsase asshe I'D ongaisaaow
brook. It had always been, and is to
this day, the favorite coast Of the
Number Six boys. Indeed, We boasted
that few, save Number Six boys, dared
efear e1ad down that hill
When the road was smooth and icy
terrific speed was attained on the low
est pitch, and any error in steering
might easily cost the coaster his life.
Boys from other places were usually
afraid to try the hill, but if a Number
Six boy had not made the 'trun" at
13 or IA years Of age We deemed him
q backward lad.
The coasting sleds most in favor
with Us we're small and narrow. They
we're shod with half-round steel shoes,
which we're slightly bowed to make
''spring" space Of an inch at the mid
de Of the runner. Our favorite pos.
ture for coasting on this hill was face
downward, with toes extended behind
TO aid in steering. Usually in start
ing at the top of the hill we ran for
ward, one after another, flung our
selves down on our sleds and thus set
of at speed.
On moonlit evenings, when there
were girls in the party, trains were
often made up Of ten OF twelve sleds
some of them large hand-sleds, on
which four or Eve could sit at ease.
The forward or leading sled was called
3he ''engine" and was steered by one
Of the oldest, strongest boys. Such a
brain, humming down that long hill by
moonlight, gaining speed at every pitch
I'LL it shot past the Corners at Num-
ber Seven, going so miles an hcur,af-
$orded an exhi|arating spectacle.
Thsre was an almost uninterrupted
view from top to bottom Of the long
descent; and besides the steerer on
She engine there was 'hornman,
whose business it was to blow tin
horn if We saw team or pedestrian
coming mp. All the others, too, Joined
In Tremendous shout Of s'Road1 road!
goadr'
The hill was so long that not more
than three or four coasts could be
made in an evening and generally not
more than one during the noon inter-
mission, when school was in session.
A hired man from one Of the farms,
with span of horses and long pung
sleigh, saved Us the drudgery Of pull
ing our sleds up the hill.
then very strict in Maine. and we sup.
posed We had right to coast down
the road at so miles an hour. Nobody
had ever made any objection. The
only drawback to the sport was that
We had to run past the sohoolhouse in
Number Seven, and the bog-trotters
were accustomed to rush out and pelt
Us with snowballs. The place was
locally known as Wilkins Corners.
There had been good coasting for
%hree or four weeks before Rufus
Rucdlett devised the Rantum-Scooter;
the entire hill was smooth as glass.
Nearly every morning, noon and night
come Of as Number Six boys we're
soasting, and often there we're parties
Of 20 or so.
Tho loafers and bog-trotters had
ieered at us as We few past and snow.
balled Us as in former years, but be-
fore long the Number Seven boys
actually undertook to stop all Number
Fix coasters. They rolled great snow.
bals intc tho road in front Of the