Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-18

ueT- pulling SEOuhu Oi tiiC coASSS Seas
able unappropriated spot to the cen
tire point between Springfield and Har
risburg. This was between Harrisburg
and Hawks Gully, to the south Of th'
road, and embraced part Of the road
but within 100 yards of Harrisburg.
When "Satterday Of thes present:
munth" rolled round. determined tt
go to the gander-pulling. When
reached the spot, considerable num-
Der Of persons. Of different ages, sexes
sizes, and compilations, had collected
from the rival towns and the country
around. But few females were there
however, and those few were from the
lowest walks Of life.
A circular path Of about forty yards
diameter had already been laid out;
over which, from two posts about ter
feet apart, stretched rope, the middle
of which was directly over the path
The rope hung loosely, so as to allow
il, with the weight Of gander at
tached to 1t, to vibrate In an arc OF
four or five feet span, and so as tc
bring the breast Of the gander within
barely easy reach Of a man Of middle
stature upon horse Of common size.
A hat was now handed to such. as
wished to enter the list; and they
threw into 1t twenty-five cents each
This sum was the victor's prize.
The devoted gander was now pro-
duced; and Mr.. Prator, having first
tied his feet together with a strong
cord, proceeded to the neck-greasing
Abhorrent as 1t may be to all who res
pect the tender relations Of life, Mrs
Prator had actually prepared gourd
of goose grease for this very purpose
For myself, when saw Ned dip his
hands into the grease, and commence
stroking down the feathers from breast
to head, my thoughts took a melan-
choly turn. They dwelt in sadness
upon the many conjugal felicities
which had probably been shared be-
tween the greasess and the greasee.
could see him as he stood by her side,
many a chilly day and cheer
less night, when she was warming
into life the offspring Of their mutual
loves, and repelled, with chivalrous
spirit, every invasion of the consecra-
ted spot which she had selected for
her incubation. / could see him NOV
ing with patriarchal dignity by the
side Of his loved one, at the head OF
a smiling. prattling group-the rich
reward of their mutual care--to the
Injuries of the meadow or to the rec
reations Of the pool. And now, alas!
an extract from the smoking sacrifice
of his bosom friend was desecrated to
the unholy purpose Of making his neck
"a fit object" for cruelty to reach "her
quick, unerring fingers at" Ye friends
Of the sacred tie! Judge what were my
feelings when, in the midst Of these
the voice Of James Prator
thundered on mine ear, Darn his old
lodging soul! Brother Ned, grease
his neck till a fly can't light on it,"
Ned, having fulfilled his brother
Jim's request as we'll as he could, at
tached the victim of his cruelty to the
rope, directly over the path. On each
SIDE Of the gander was stationed a
man, whose Office 1t was to lash for
ward any horse which might linger
60 hxy tho r1llao
of the ring, all pulling was to be done
at brisk canter.
The word was now given for the
to mount and take their
places in the ring. Eight appeared;
tall Zubley Zin. mounted upon Sally
Spitfire; Arch Odum, mounted on Bull
and Ingons (onions); Nathan Perdew
on Hellcat; James Dickson, on Niger;
David Williams, on Gridiron; fat John
Fulger, on SLOUGH; Gorham Bostwick
on Gimlet; and Turner Hammond, or
'Possum.
Come, gentlemen" said Comman-
dant Prator, fall in. All Of you gil
behind one another, sort O. in a row.
All came into the track very kindly
but Sally Spitfire and Gridiron. The
former. as soon as she saw genera
movement of horses, took 1t for grant
ed there was mischief brewing, and
because she could not tell where 1t lay
she concluded it lay everywhere, ant
therefore took fright at everything.
Gridiron was a grave horse; but
suspicious eye which he cast to th'
right and left, wherever he moved
showed that "he was wide awake
and that nobody better not go fool
ing with him." as his owner sometimes
used to say. He took sober but rath
Ier intense view of things; insomuci
that, in his contemplations, he passed
over the track three times before n
could be prevailed upon to stop in 1t
He stopped at last, however; AM
when he was made to understand tina
this was all that was required OF hin
for the present, he surrendered his sus
picions at once, with a countenanc
which seemed plainly to say, "Oh,
this is all you want. I've no objection
to it,"
1t was long before Miss Spithr
could be prevailed upon to do the like
Get another horse, Zube." said one
SAL will never do for a gander-pul
lin"
"I won't" said Zube. IF she won
do, I'll make her do. l want ma
that goes off with a spring; so tha
when l get hold, she'll cut the nee
in two like a steel-trap."
At length Sally was rather fun
than coaxed into the track, directl
ahead of Gridiron.
Now, gentlemen" said the maste
of the ceremonies, mo mans to max
a grab till all's been once round; an
when the first man are got round, the
the whole twist and tucking OF yo
grab away as you come under-(Loo
here, Jim Fulger! you better nc
, stand too close 70 that gander, l tie
youD-one after another. Now blaz
away!" (the command for an onset
every kind with people Of this order
Off they went, Miss Sally delighted
for she now thought the whole parad