Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-09-25

YSI event. 1t was helQ In the
kSks2s courthouse in the center OF
the few struggling houses which made
up the hamlet. The entire Bishop fam
lily, including the servants, attended.
Pole Baker brought his wife and all
the children in a new spring wagon.
Darley society was represented. as
the Springtown Gazette afterward put
it, by the fairest of the fair, Miss Dolly
Barclay. accompanied by her mother
and father.
The courthouse yard wcs alive with
groups of men, eagerly talking over the
situation. Every individual whose
land was to be touched by the proposed
road was on hand to protect his rights.
Pole Baker was ubiquitous. trying to
ascertain the drift Of matters. He
was, however, rather unsuccessful. he
discovered that many Of the groups
ceased to talk when he entered them.
"Some'n's up" he told Alan and Mil
Ter in the big. bare looking courtroom.
81 don't know what it is, but l smell
q rat, an it amt no little one nuther."
Opposition" said Miller gloomily.
'T saw that as soon as came. If they
really were in favor Of the road, they'd
be here talking it over with u.s."
"I'm afraid that's it." said Alan.
"Joe Bartell is the most interested, and
he seems to be sort Of ringleader.
don't like the way he looks. I saw him
sneer at Wilson when he drove up just
now. l wish Wilson hadn't put on so
much style-kid gloves. plug hat and
negro driver"
"No, that won't go down with this
crowd" agreed Miller. 1T might in the
slums of Boston, but not with these
lords Of the mountains. AS for Bartell,
think know what ails him. He's go
ing to run for the legislature and
thinks he can make votes by opposing
us-convincing his constituency that
we represent moneyed oppression. Well.
he may down US, but It's tough on hr-
man progress"
At the hour appointed for the meet
ing to open young man who held the
office of bailiff in the county and
seemed proud Of his stentorian voice
opened one of the windows and shout
ed:
Come in to court! Come in to court"
and the motley loiterers below began
to clatter up the broad stairs and fall
into the seats. Joe Bartell, a short,
thickset man in the neighborhood OF
fifty. with forid face and shock of
reddish hair, led about twenty men up
the aisle to the jury benches at the
right of the stand. They were the
landowners whose consent to grant
the right Of way was asked. Stern op-
position was clearly written on the
leaders brow and more OF less distinct
ly reflected on the varying faces Of his
followers.
EFF we needed it, it I'D be a different
matter" Miller overheard him say in
sudden lull as the big room settled
down into sudden quiet. 'but we kin do
without it. We've got along so fur an
we kin furder. All Of us has got good
teams"
Wilson in his crisp, brusque way
made the opening speech. He and his
capital were going to dispel darkness
where it had reigned since the dawn OF
civilization. All that was needed. he
finished. was the consent Of the proper
ty owners appealed to. who, he felt
confident, would. not stand in their own
light.
He had hardly taken his seat when
Joe Bartell stood up. Alan and Miller
exchanged ominous glanccs. They had
at once recognized the inappropriate
ness Of Wilson's speech aud did not
like the white, twitching sneer OH Bar
tells smooth shaven face. 1t was as
If Bartell had been for long time
seeking just such an opportunity to
make himself felt in the community,
and there was no doubt that Wilson's
almost d.ctatorial speech had made
fine opening for him.
"Fellow citizens an ladies an gen.
tlemen," he began, 1--WE are glad to
welcome amongst us sort Of second
savior in our Sodom an Gomorry Of
crackerdom. What the gentleman with
the plug hat an spike toe shoes amt
a-goin' to do fer US the Lord couldn't.
He looks nice an talks nice. an, to use
his words. | don't believe he deceives
appearances III bet one thing. an
that is at he won't deceive us. Accord
in to him we need i'm every hour, as
the Sunday school song puts it. Yes.
he's a-goin' to hep us powerful an
right off. An. fellow citizens, I'm heer
to propose a vote O thanks. He's from
away up in Boston. whar. they tell me,
q nigger sets an eats at the same table
with the whites When his sort come
this away durin' the war, with all Their
I'D to date impliments Of slaughter,
they laid waste to everything they
struck. shot us like rabbits in holes an
then went back an said they'd had a
good hunt. But they've been livin' high
I'D thar sence the war. an Their tim
ber is a-playin' out. an they want some
more now. an they want it bad. So
they send Their representatives out to
find it an lay hold Of it. How does he
happen to come heer? AS we'll as kin
make out, old Alf Bishop, a good man
an southern soldier-a man that l
hain't got nothin' agin, except maybe
he holds his head too high-made up his
mind awhile back that lumber would
be in demand some day, an he set to
work buyin' all the timber land ne
could lay his hands on. Then. when he
had more'n he could tote an was about