The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-12-04
LIFE OF MUCH ADVENTURE
Postmaster Ensor Was In Federal
Army Experiences as a Revenue
Officer,

Army my-Experiences as Revenue
Officer.
DIR. j. f.. Ensor has received his
| commission as postmaster at Columbia.
His appointment was announced some
time ago, bu. there was a lot of red
tape to be complied with. A few tlays
ago he filed his bond for S54 900,
secured by personal collateral. He
says that his rcappolntment is due to
The endorsements given him by the
commercial interests of Columbia, adj
dcd to the support of the Republican
party.
DIR. Ensor i'm his early days led life
OF adventure. lIe was born South
crn man, but served in the Mon
army. HIS father resided i'm Baltimore
County, Mary land, and was lover OF
fine horses. He was also an ardent
supporter of the cause of States rights,
and partisan feeling was so intense in
the border States that DR. Ensor says
he was really glad when the Yankees
TOOK all of his iather's fine saddle
horses. His father never forgave him
for entering the Federal army. He
went into service as lieutenant and
assistant surgeon of the First Mary
land cavaliy, and was afterwards pro,
NOTED to major and surgeon. He
went home with his majors epaulettcs
and duubl:-breasted coat, but his faith.
er did not receive him cordially. He
never saw his father again, for the cid
gentleman was so cart-broken over
Lees surrender that he died TWO
months later.
DIR. Ensor, was detailed for military
dity in Columbia Immediately after the
war. He gave up his army duties to
become superintendent of the State
hospital for the insane, and he left
that institution when the Democrats
got control of the State government.
DIR. EnsOr is about the only one of
old Republican regime who has kept
his head above water. After leaving
the insane hospital he was appointed
to the revenue service. He made a
daring and relentless raider and the
mOonshiners hated him. His narrow
escapes were numerous. He tells one
incident which is characteristic of the
life of n revenue officer.
One day he received message tell.
ing him that an illicit still was being
operated near Tryon, N. q. With a
deputy he set out for that place. They
had travelled several miles over coun-
try roads when they were suddenly
halted. " Oh, DOCTOR" camo a voice
from the dark. "Don't go any fur
Tier or you will be killed. That message
was sent to dccoy you up here. There
are six men up beyond lying in wait
for you with double-barreled shotguns.
There were seven there, and was the
seventh but as lay there in the bushes
happened TO remember that had
sat IN the same Masonic lodge with
you, and slipped away from the others
TO warn YOU"
The doctor didn't 60 any further,
aud he is now moro devOlcd Mason
than ever.
In speaking of DIR. Ensor's reap,
pointmcnt as postmaster, gentleman
whose name is symbol of good judg.
ment, remarked that "GlIc is one of the
old line Republicans who kept his head
above water. He showed wha,
was in HIM when he was superintofi
dent of the asylum. The credit of tn,
State was at ~ low ebb then. The asy.
lum could not get credit any where on
Main street, and Charleston ,on shuI
down in the State institutions. There
were several hundred inmates III tn,
asylum. What would become of them?
DIR. EnsOr went to the Governor, II
X. Scott, who agreed to AID DIR. Ensol
TO borrow The money on their own re-
sponsibility. Later Scott backed out
DIR. Ensor IN desperation boarded the
train, went to Pennsylvania and on his
own note borrowed $40, 600, which he
advanced TO the institution. When
tho Hampton government came into
power soon afterwards, this is one obli-
CATION of the Republican administra-
Lion which was paid without quibbling
columbia State.
- 1ED~---