The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-02-09
THE SAGE OF POSSUM FGRK.
DISCOURSES ON BLIND TIGERS AND
\ BLUE DEVILS
Strange and Thrilling Night Adventure
Of a Young Man with "Guyascu-
fis -
Editor County Record:

have Oetu IL ylIlS W uouSS lht sui~il
pox and run some land. One man
died some time ago down about Long
wood, said to be from smallpox, and
Ephraim jenkins said it was as thick
aronnd Mingo bridge as the hairs on
COWS back; so | left around there
and went down near Bloomingvale
where the smallpox exhausted itself
year or two ago. None around
there now, so | could survey without
being frightened.
But | took the night At Mr Pipkin's
and met Mr. War, who told me Of =
trouble down there. A young man,
riding u mule, returning at night
from, perhaps, his sweetheart's house
down next to Big Dam swamp, was
startled by big black timing, like
dog Or tiger, which jumped in his
lap and commenced biting the mule
until he could hear its teeth crunch
into the gristle of the mules
neck, causing the mule to throw him;
but he got on the mule and got out
his long knife for defense, when the
thing came again and sprang into
his lap, biting the mule again-and
the yoang man cut and Slashed it
with his knife until he was frantic,
but could hot feel the knife hit it.
Then he followed for help and
dashed up to Mr. Wars house, call
ing for gun; jumped off the mule
and ran into the house, in a fearful
rage, for the gun; another young man
ran out and Was holding the mule,
when all at once it lit on the mule
sgainwhich tore loose from theholder. |
But the thing disappeared when all
ran out in the yard to shoot it.
The young man, after calming off |
a little, got on his mule again and
rode off with his knife drawn-but |
the thing seemed not to follow him
amy further
The strange part, however, is that
no sign could be found on the mule |
where tfe thing bit it, moi could |
any scratches be found OH the young
mans thighs, although it tore holes
in his pants.
But another mystery is, why d.d
1t not bite the man: So it must !
fhave been blind and went by smell
ing.
had thought, however. all the
tigers had gone from this part of
the country. The people, however,
keep the woods rough so long, no
telling what may be hiding around.
l have heard of tigers that were blind,
but did not know that they would
jump or and bite hosse while you
were on it. This one seemed to be
a curious one, too; for the other young
man said it seemed to light on the
mule; perhaps it had sort of
spiritual nature; for the knife would
go right through it without lesist-
ance, Strange!- strange! Some
say it was the devil; but don't think
the devil Is blind; and | don't think |
the devil eats mules. The devil is
said to he black, however, and that
agrees with the color. | have heard,
too, of "blue devils, and reckon
Il blue devil would look in the dark |
like a black devil, and be hard to
distinguish.
But how blue devils and blind
tigers get along together, | am not
able to say.
Mr. War says another young man
was coming along behind and heard
the warfare, but thought it was peo-
pie fighting, and was afraid to go on
up to see. But Mr. War says he locks
his door now when night comes. So
l left those diggings before night,
for that is a long way off and feel
safer now for there are no blue devils
I. c,~,,1I IN