Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-04-04
"REMINISCENCES
9 Of-OLD Times

BY JAMES HENRY RICE, Jr.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS S@'SSS'ss"sSsssvv||
The Dark Corner of old Edsefeld
seemed to have fallen from its high
estate. Even the most hopeful had be-
gun to doubt If the spirit Of former
times, even a trace Of it, existed in
those parts. The piping times of
peace" have laid like a wet blanket on
the fire and enthusiasm, the haruni-
scarum, devil -may-care spirit which
won for the Dark Corner enyiabie re-
nown Of yore.
However, recent newspaper des-
patch shows that life stirs get: all is
not gone. There was a. chicken fight
ing bout, sale of hash and perhaps of
other refreshments. and the outbreak
broke forth, much as in former times.
One man dead, negro knocked down,
and fleeing participant struck by q
stray bullet in the heel; the negro who
did the shooting taking to the swafnps
and the bloodhounds on his trail;
something doing evidently" 50
Had all this happened forty years
ago, it would not have been news"
but times have changed. ~ q.
During the early days of Governor
Tillrhan's dispensary. two whisky con-
stables ("spies" as they were called
then) seized a gentleman's liquor in the
Dark Corner. This was a plain and
unmistakable. invitation for q lynching;
but the honor OF the countryside was
at stake; so wise heads got together
and agreed that the thing be pulled Off
in a proper and befitting manner, in a
way that would reflect credit on the
community, 1t was agreed that when
the case was called next day and all
parties were up before the trial justice
as the magistrate was: then termed,
there would be a simultaneous rush,
the constables would be seized and
swung to the limb Sof a nearby tree,
even the limb being selected and
stripped OF extra foliage. -
| Next day, however when the plan
was just ready to be executed, the trial
justice being deaf and not appraised OF
what was intended, got in the way OF
the crowd and the officers escaped with
their lives, barely making the train
ahead. of their pursuers.
The week after was on the Cam
bridge road, near the famous Monkey
bridge, named from the fact Of q stray
Italian having once stopped there with
his monkey s. y..
Up, the road, between the classic
hedges of Cherokee rose, an old man
came along, driving a white mule. His
head was sunk; he was in deep reverie,
and in trouble beyond question. As he
came opposite, he looked UP and saw
me. There was quick and frantic
gesture. / Joined him by the wagon.
.Whereupon he poured forth his woes.
1t was all about the aynching that
never came off. ~,
"You. know I'm deef,' he said, $50
deef 1 CANT ear thunder; and you
know eff the boys had 'er let me on to
what they wuz after, I'd thrown her
wide open and told 'em to go ahead. l
never had thing to bother me so in
all my life, ,I
He pleaded and protested until /
agreed that he had no part in stopping
the slaughter of the officers, and that
he would have contributed his mite
thereto with a full heart.
well" he said after while. II must
be goin'. I'm powerful glad you don't
think hard o. me for that thing. I'd 'er
never done, If Id 'er knowed." y,
With that he drove on. / watched
him until a turn in the road hid him
from view. The rolling hills basked In
sunshine; the pines far away over the
creek were. blue in the distance; and
one historic clump marked light spot
in the centre Of the Dark Corner, whose
pent-up wrath still smouldered. +.
Times have changed and men have
changed with them; but it would not
be safe to take chances on the Dark
Corner even yet. 1t might go off in
your hands any time.