The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-09-01
OLAR BUREAU
JOKE WAS NEAR-SERIOUS.
Much Excitement Prevailed in Olal
Result of Fun Making.
r. Fair Goodwin, Manager.

Olar, Aug. 30.-Some laugh at the
Jokes they pull" on the other fel-
low; others laugh at the fellow who
tried to pull one, but on whom the
Joke rebounded, etc-but never did
I come in contact with an excellent
Joke until last Thursday evening, at
which there was none to laugh.
Several young men in these parts
thought on last Thursday night they
would 'pull" one on another young
man, also of Olar. After minute
planning, several being we'll armed,
placed themselves in hiding along the
public road about a mile from town,
and one certain party accompanied
the party on whom the laugh was to
have been, for a car ride along this
road. All worked fine, so far, and
there was a make-believe break down
that seemed real to the innocent one.
As soon as the autoists were out or
the car, the ambushers ran out with
murderous threats Of robbery on their
lips, and turned loose regular fusl-
lade into the air. The guilty autolst
fell, feigning imminent death. The
innocent one fed precipitately toward
home, of course. And to speed him
on his way, there we're other plotters
hidden along his path, who used their
firearms rather indiscriminately.
When this young man reached town
and told his tale, it took but a short
time to have more than hundred
men on the scene of the supposed ira
gedy, trying to locate the body of
the murdered man, and follow up the
trail of the murderous automobile
thieves. The sheriff of Bamberg
county was notified, and he in turn
notified all the surrounding towns.
In a short time there were parties
here from Ehrhardt, Barnwell and
surrounding communities, prepared
for action. Since, we keep hearing
how the streets and roads for twenty
vent the escape of the evil doers.
When we learned that there was
nothing real about it, except the ap-
pearance, everybody was afraid to
laugh for fear he would be numbered
among those who had gone quite a
bit too far in trying to "pull' joke.
Next day there was still none to
laugh, and especially those who had
planned such immense Vaccinations.
These parties, I understand, found
consolation only in the earnest apollo
gies to the one on whom they had
planned the laugh. They planned to
laugh. but were glad to apologize.
And let me say, Mr.. Editor, that
I wish, just as humbly to apologize
to all our friends in the surrounding
towns and communities, who so nobly
offered their services when we
thought we needed them. 1t is es-
peciaIly regreta Bile that this should
happen when the whole country was
expecting something just like what
this appeared to be, and as result
was keyed up to the point that every
one, practically speaking, was ready
at a moments notice to come to the
rescue.
Speaking for our town and COM
munity, I can say that we do not up
hold carrying a joke to this extent
at any time, much less at a time
when we might need help at any mo-
ment to chase murderers or thieves.
We trust that this will not be remem-
bered against us as community. l
also feel that 1 can say for those who
did the stunt that they never intend
ed to allow it to take the turn it did.
It was more of bad judgment on
their part than evil intentions. In
conclusion allow me to say, to whom
it may concern, that a joke is not a
joke when it goes beyond certain
point. I saw a man sentenced to two
years hard labor whose only charge
was carelessness in the methods he
used in pulling Joke. Let us be-
ware.
SECURES OS-NLASTERSHIP.