Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-11-13
SHERIFF JOHN NICHOLS.
Man Who RiSked His Life at Call
OF Duty.
TENDER AS WOMAN, BRAVE As LION.

TENDER As WOMAN, BRAVE As LION.
A Beautiful True Story That Throws
a Flood of Light on the Motives Of
a Heroic Servant of the Law.
Spartanburg Herald.
J The trouble at Spartanburg, S. c.,
on October 10th, when a bowling mob
attempted to assault the Jail and lynch
John Irby, a negro accused Of assault
with intent to rape upon the person of
Miss Leila Dempsey, has served to
bring to public notice again the brav-
cry and tenderness of John Nichols of
Spartanburg. Nichols is now sheriff
Of Spartanburg county.
The negro was arrested b. the po-
lice and put in his custody. Miss
Dempsey, lady bookkeeper at Saxon
mills, was assaulted and brutally treat
ed as she passed through a clump Of
woods on her way home, and left ap-
parently lifeless and found short
while later in a deplorable condition.
The news Of the assault spread like
wildfire, in a short while crowd Of
several thousand Of the mill operatives
gathered and made for the Jail and de-
manded the prisoner Sheriff Nichols
being advised of the coming of the mob,
locked the doors Of the prison and the
wall surrounding it. Wired the govern
or for help, armed the most trusted Of
his prisoners and his deputies and
awaited the mob. They came, assault
ed the Jail, fell back. carrying with
them their four wounded, in the nick
of time the militia marched up to awe
the mob and save further bloodshed.
Sheriff Nichols was condemned by the
mob and it's friends, but South Car
olina was saved the disgrace Of anoth-
er lynching and the law will be vim
dicated when Irby Is tried by a jury
at a special term Of court that meets
tomorrow.
John Nichols, the sheriff, was a
Confederate soldier. He enlisted as q
15-year- old boy in company H., First
South Carolina volunteers. Those who
know him attest to the fact that his
army career was one of brave, self
sacrificing devotion to the Confederate
cause, he hungered with the older ones,
and was always found in the forefront
in time of danger. An incident at
Spottsylvania court house on May
18th, 1864, however brought him to
the notice Of both armies, and doubt
less some northern soldier now living
will recall the present sheriff of Spar
tanburg.
have the story from a Confederate
soldier now living, who was in the
same rifle pit with Nichols when it
happened.
"The Federals had charged our po-
sition, and had been driven back with
frightful loss. When morning broke the
field was covered with dead and dying
between our lines and the woods that
f1anked the enemies. Nichols and my
self were in a rifle pit and l took my
hat, put it on a ramrod and stuck 1t
up above the edge Of the pit, 1t was
pierced by three or four balls. The
groans of the wounded in the field be-
fore us told the story of the unsuccess-
full charge of the Yankees. Some forty
or fifty feet in front Of us lay Yam
kee officer shot through and through,
and as the morning waned. above the
noise of shot could be heard his pray
ers and pleading for help" and wa
ter" 1t grated on my nerves and saw
tears in the eyes Of Nichols. Between
the shots he would remark on the mans
condition and express the wish that he
could relieve the fellows distress. And
finally said that he could stand the
cries no longer, but intended to give
the man water at any cost With his
canteen and ramrod in hand he was
out Of the pit in a jiffy. The dust from
shots flew all about him, as he fell on
his belly and wormed his way across
the open to the wounded man. He was
a target for an army. He got to the
soldier, or close enough to fasten the
ranteen TO the ramrod and hand 1t to
him. The man wanted to fasten his
watch to the ramrod, but Nichols re-
fused, and wormed his way back to
the pit and fell over In my arms. YES
his clothing was pierced by numerous
shots but his skin was not broken. l
will always believe that nothing snort
# God in heaven kept and protected
him."
The story has been we'll told in verse
ny John Jerome Rooney in Seventh On.
" Regiment Gazette.
John Nichols Of spartanburs.
You've told your tale how our brave
boys fought
In the days of sixty three:
How they cried "Old Glory" through
field and flood,
From the mountains to the sea.
And as long as heart shall beat with
pride
When our country's song is sung,
The deeds of our lads IN the oolliiS
blue
Shall ring from the minstrers tongue.
But I'll tell you a tale that'll make you
think
As sure as gospel facts
That the Northland hadn't the only
call
OF clean white manly acts.
You know how Grant had massed our
men
In the spring of sixty-four,
And how, near Spottsylvania town,
He pushed us to the fore.
We tried that day, in wild, fierce
charge,
To carry the rebels works.
Eiut they held their ground with the
stubborn grip
OF the death inviting Turks.
The deadly hail came tearing out
OF their forward rifle pits,
And the "Yank' who'd tried 10 get
fresh air
Would take it in cut-up bits.
Well. | needn't tell you we pumped II
back
T., - ,.on1,, ctraorn of lead