Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-23
seraps of goeal 9istorg.
"REMINISCENCES Of YORK.
Valuable Bits Of Local History Pre-
served by a Septuagenarian.
DR.. Maurice Moore in The Enquirer Of 1870.

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DR.. Maurice Moore in The Enquirer Of 1870.
One Of the towns earliest settlers
was Mr.. Samuel Wright, an Irishman
by birth and a carpenter by trade.
The property he accumulated, shows
encouragingly, how much honest indus
try may achieve, lesson worthy to be
and especially in these changed ones on
which we have fallen. He did not con-
tinue long at his trade. Whatever he
found to do he did, and there were
other avenues, less laborious and more
profitable, in which he persevered. A
bill Oh his. however for carpenters
work. which amused the village good
deal, Is worth relating. Itemized out
in due form. were, for drying plank" "
so much; making window frames," so
much and so on through long list of
work, concluding with "f1xings and
things-six dollars" Like the contin-
gent fee Of boarding school, "flxings
and things" were sure to cover the ex-
tras not enumerated.
He opened hotel and keeping it was
one Of his avocations. One night I
was awakened Il lived just across the
street) by hearing the hotel bell ring
ing. 1t was a cold, drizzling midnight;
what could it mean-fire? No; the
weather precluded the idea. Ding
dong. ding dong, went the bell with
measured tone. I got up and opened
the window to try to satisfy my curios-
ity. Soon Mr.. Wright's tones greeted
me, in despairing accents, addressing
one Of his boarders, who had arisen
with him, also an Emerald Islander
Patrick Patrick Carlin, do you see
anything the matter?" The old man
was strong believer in the supernatu-
raj. mo, Misther Wright, I can see
nothing I can tell" AS my eyes grew
accustomed to the cleaning darkness
could discern the figure Of the old
man in his shirt, just as he had arisen
at the first alarm, shivering with cold
and fright. The bell suddenly ceased
and as nothing could be discovered, the
old gentleman and Patrick Carlin went
back to bed from their fruitless search
and I, too, subsided to my warm nest
In about Is minutes, just as all were
getting warm and comfortable, and
Somnus Stealing our sense deliciously
away, through the window I had left
standing open, in waited clearly the
sound Of the bell. Ding dong, ding
dong, and I heard one Of my tormented
neighbor's girls cry out, Daddy, it's
at it again." Up rose old Mr.. Wright
and Carlin, in quest Of the cause, and
7, too, took up my station at my win
dow. No one was near and the thing
looked mysterious, as the bell rang or
uninterrupted in it's solemn tones. "Get
me a long pole" cried Carlin; there's
ldevilment in it, and I'll find 1t out.
The pole secured, feeling around neal
the bell with it's end, at last it struck
a foreign line, stretched tightly. Tri-
umphantly Carlin, with his pole, fol.
lowed the course, and was soon out OF
slight. After a while he returned. He
said he had followed 1t across the
back building and other street to the
red house, and the fellow seeing him
coming, had jumped down and ran off
"But sure I have got fine bundle OF
twine to pay me for my palms." He
had gathered up and rolled 1t as he
came along, and showed a big ball as
his trophy. It came out next day that
John Chambers had climbed the bel
pole, tied on the twine, and then es-
tablished himself in the red house to
play on old Mr.. Wright's well known
superstition. Carlin's pertinacity had
turned the tables.
Oh! me, those merry days when
was young! Calling up among the
memories Of my prime in York, comes
a frolic Of my own. I may as well re-
late it. now as at another time, as 1t
serves to show the fellowship, mirth
and merriment we than enjoyed. Old
Mr. Bob Cooper, Of Turkey Creek
thought he would make some malt
beer for sale, and take 1t to York dur
ing court week. 1t was pretty much
a philanthropic effort; for he hoped
some thirsty soul would be induced to
quaff his beverage instead Of corn
whisky. He put the barrel on the
fore wheels Of a wagon, hired some
man to carry it up and sell it for him,
furnishing him with a measure cup,
etc. The old gentleman treated me to
some-he was generously inclined with
Iit-and I am forced to confess it was
a most villainous compound, neither
meal nor malt. When night came, his
agent got permission to store the bar
rel till next day in Squire Davidsons
office.
There was then in Yorkville, young
physician named Gather, and erratic
genius, very fond Of liquor, and always
in love. Passing near Squire Davidson S
shop with me, Gather proposed that
we should steal some Of old Mr.. Coop
er's beer for a frolic. I said 1t was
mean stuff; but he insisted it was
good. "All right" quoth I, "the cups
are on the barrel; we can draw a meas
ure and pay old Mr.. Cooper tomorrow.
The light from Squire Davidson's dwell
ling enabled us to grope our way to
the barrel and find the measure. We
turned the spile and let the liquor flow
until 1t was about full. I then turned
back the spile; but still it flowed. Cal
ther tried. Truth was we had broken
lit. Here was a dilemma. "Stick your
finger in the cock, Gather; it won't
do to let the beer waste" He did sc
and we quaffed some of the liquid, not
improved in flavor by our predicament
II tell you, Gather" I suggested
keep your finger in, and I will run
down street, and get cork and stop it;
tomorrow I can get new spile for the