The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-30
iE SAW THE FAILING SrASS
Tic Was fox Hunting at the Timc-
Kan For Shelter in Great Fear.

nc was FOX Hunting Mt the limo
Kan For Shelter in Great Fear.
a correspondent OF the Richmond
Dispatch says that ex-mayor John w.
ilaughawoutt, o! Lexington, Va, who
celebrated his 95th annversary on
Thursday, November 2, 1899, was wit
ness of tho great meteoric shower
which took place in 1888. He is tho
oldest native born inhabitant OF LON
ington, and is vigorous man yet, and
Is to be seen daily on tho streets en-
gagged In conversation or greeting his
numerous friends. He has q vivid rp-
collection Of the falling Of the stars"
Is tho old people called tho mcteorc
storm OF that time, which happened on
the morning Of Nov. II, 1888. He takes
great delight in telling his great
fright" on that occasion, and says he
certainly wanted to sec tho display
which is predicted to tnke place either
| today or within the next few days. On
the day preceding the "falling OF the
stars" "Old Huck" bad madc arrange
mcnts with boon companion OF his by
the name OF Tidd, an old field school
mato for fox hunt and chase the next
morning. "Old Huck" is even now
known as the mighty hunter Of Rock
bridge County, and possibly with tho
exception OF the past two years has
never failed to take his annual deer
hunt.
In order TO get an early start, which
was a. 3 O'clock in the morning, "Old
Huck spent tho night with Tidd, but
on arising found that Tidd could not
go, as he was sick. He would not miss
the sport Of running tho fox, and went
alone, but first woke tho echoes with
his horn, which brought forth his pack
OF fourteen wcll-trained hounds. With
the hounds he struck for tho Brushy
Hills, about two milcs away. The o0ds
then extended to within o short dis
tanco Of Lexington. Near whore the
present reservoir stands he looscd his
hounds, and their music soon rang out
In the morning air as they struck the
trail He followed, crossing hill and
dale, until the summit WAS reached,
where he sat down TO rest and listen
to the hounds as they ran around first
one hill and then another, back and
forth.
Tho night was perfectly clear, and
the heavens wore bedccked with stars,
which twinkled and spnrklcd. "Old
Huck' mueed and finally looked up at
the heavens, when suddenly star ap-
poarod to leave it's position and tly
across the heavens, leaving q streak
like q rocket, then disappear in the
west. This did not discomfort him In
the least Another star, much moro
brilliant than its predecessor, shot
eastward. Then several chased across
Matters were now getting interesting,
but not exactly pleasant. several more
took "a Shoot" and this brought "Old
Huck " to his feet with great sudden
moss. He no longer heard his hounds
he WAS all eyes. Could thcre be any
thing wrong? He had mover seen sc
many falling stars" at once. The
stars now began to move in droves, and
those ch!lls which many ono has OK
perienced whom frightened began tC
run races up and down his spinal col
|, umn. The stars now began to fall tC
tho treetOps, and the chills increased
In proportion, pcrspiration beaded his
forehead. The stars next began to fall
at his foot, and now his hat rested not
on his head but upon his hair, which
stood straight up. The trees stood forth
like gigantlc devils, and everything
was stars, stars, stars, stars. B Is past
life moved before him like rapidly
moving panorama. The reason for tho
leaves not taking fire was that they
wero yet damp with dew. Thus he rea
sonod until star struck him on his
arm. Ho smelled to see II he could dc
tect the sulphur. There WAS nothing
to Indicate it. BY now tho stars were
falling like the fakes OF u terrific snow
storm. Then he thought that judg.
J mont day had como. Down the noun.
, tain-side he rushed headlohg, over
logs, rocks, and brush. Through briert
ho dashed nothing stopped him in his
mad flight. Thus for mile or more
| he rappl Q1opD nptj1 fho Il II
was reached, and thcn he turned anG
expected to ece the everlasting hillt
In full blaze. Hc saw their outlines
but no fire, lcaping with Its all-devour
ing tongues. Nothing but tho "rair
Of stars " not abated in the least. liz
again turned his face towards Licking
ton and pressed on with greater vlgO
thinking that to bo with his fricnd
was better than to be alone. Lexing
tons outlines appeared, and again NJ
conaagration was going on-nothinl
, but the storm Of failing stars" ant
the brilliant glare. On he pressed, q
!; strcaks of dawn, heralds of approach
Ing day, appeared In the cast. Through
WOODS creek he dashed and up tn
. hill he pressed. Lexington was roach
ed, and the houscs stood intact, On,
, tho storm was abating. AS he rcachc
i tho main street the stars had disau
peared, and the day was breaking. A
, old resident hailed him from acros
! tho street and asked him whore he ha
y beon at such an early hour. He re
piled that he had been to neig hbor'
> to get his gun. This was passingl
!. strange, for from the distant hills cam
y the music Of the hounds, and tho ol
!, man remarked upon 1t, an dsaid that h
q feared that old Huck" had been {
u hunting, and that the falling stars
had chased him homo in his frigh'
This ovcntful chase scrvcG as o jok
-, Tor years to como with tho old pcopl
. . nevertheless, tho " stars fcll."
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