Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-03-30
Sfraps uf Yueat Historu.
"REMINISCENCES Of YORK.

REMlNlSCENCES UF YORk.
Valuable Bits Of Local History Pre-
served by Septuagenarian.
DR.. Maurice Moore in The Enquirer Of 1870.
| Thomas Williams, Esq, was Of
Virginia family, but was himself born
In Williamsburg district, South Carroll
ma. He first located in Lancaster and
there married Miss Crawford, cousin
Of General Jackson. Some years after,
with family Of several children, he
moved to Yorkville. He was a very
popular man, and being endowed with
fine mind, soon had a large practice
and the reputation Of being the finest
jury lawyer in the up-country.
One evening there was knot of us
gathered in McNeel's hotel piazza.
Colonel Williams was among the num-
ber and also a ventriloquist named
Charles, at that time visiting York.
Conversation turned on idiosyncracies
and dislikes. Williams remarked that
he hated hogs worse, and was more
afraid Of them than anything else. He
accounted for it by having been bitten
by one once when child. It was
fact, he said, that his hair fairly stood
on end, If hog bristled up at him in
the streets.
That night there were services held
by the Methodists in Crenshaw's "long
room," which stood on the present site
Of Roses hotel-the congregation not
then having a church building. Colo
mel Williams was member of this de-
nomination, and being one Of the most
jealous he was, Of course, In attend
ance. The sermon was frequently in
terrupted near its close, by the cries Of
child. The mother being much inter-
ested in the preaching, at the first
scream Of the child, pressed 1t up to
her bosom, rocked it back and forth by
swaying her body, trying to quiet it
without diverting her attention from
the speaker. Another sharp, quick yell
caused her to cease her motion and
look down on it's face. It appeared to
be In deep, placid sleep. BY the
time she was fully absorbed in the
minister's remarks, the child suddenly
screamed out again. On looking at it,
1t still seemingly serenely slept. This
required several times, and the mother
began to feel alarmed, but not being
able to imagine what was the matter
with her child.
| Services being ended, the congrega-
tion dispersed, and Col. Williams took
a candle from the interior Of the build
ing to the outside and held it, at the
foot Of the step, to light the crowd
down, for 1t was very dark and driz-
zling rain had commenced falling.
About all had gotten out, when al
most at Williams feet sounded ugh!
ugh!" like the grunt Of an old SOW dis
turbed in her bed. Down went the
candle to the ground. "Shew! shew!"
cried Williams, and he involuntarily
ran. After little he checked himself
into a walk. In few moments he
heard the ill-natured grunt ugh!
ughI" just a little behind. "Shew!
shew" said Williams. The cultural
note drew nearer. ugh, ugh"
"Shew! shew! the beast is going to bite
me, I do believe. Shew! shew!" Again
the ominous ugh! UGH" Of the SOW.
Unable longer to contain himself, he
incontinently took the undignified pace
he had just abandoned. Once or twice
he slackened 1t. Each time the disa-
greeable familiar grunt admonished him
Of the proximity of his pachyderma-
tous foe, and believing himself pursued
by the angry animal, he ran nearly all
the way home. However, he did not
hear the swinish tones after he passed
McNeel's, and next morning met on
the street his grunting, now grinning.
pursuer, in the person Of Charles, the
ventriloquist. Colonel Williams would
hardly believe he was his quondam en-
emy, but his assertions were corrobo-
rated by McNeel who was with him.
The strange crying Of the baby was al
so accounted for, much to the anxious
mothers relief.
Judge, and on one ballot elected; but
there being some informality discov-
cred, another balloting was ordered
and he was beaten by one vote. Judge
| O'Neal, I believe, was the successful
opponent. Colonel Williams was fire.
quent member Of the legislature from
our district.
In 1888 he removed to Montgomery,
Alabama. Alas! how many ornaments
of our society has South Carolina lost
by the restless spirits Of her sons. In
Montgomery he was for many years at
the head Of his profession. During our
late Civil war he passed away from
among the living. To his generous
soul and high spirit, the chains of our
present state would have been gall
ing indeed, as they are to his few COM
peers who live. How many feel like
the tabled man Of the classics-chained
to a rock, with vultures ever and anon
feeding on his liver.
| ITO BE CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY.
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