Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-12-15
COOPER.CARMACK FEUD
MuFdGFOuS Bullet UpbulldS PFOhibl'
tlOl Amendment.
STORY OF NOTABLE POLITICAL TRAGEDY


Fall Out Over Whisky Question and
Become Deadly Enemiss-killing oi
carmack Leads to National Prohi-
btion.
Chas. B. Farmer, in the New York
World.
THE nose of Cleopatra-if it had
been shorter, the history OF the world
would have been changed. Pascal.
If angel Dune" Cooper's head had
been covered with thick, waving locks,
one might be able today to buy drink
on Broadway and Main Street. But
"Angel Dunes" head was bald. And
because the late Senator Edward Ward
Carmack .ridiculed that poll we enjoy
the manifold blessings Of prohibition.
Col. Duncan Brown Cooper, "a spark
from the smouldering ashes of the old
South" died recently in Nashville,
Tenn. His death forever closed the
Cooper Carmack tragedy that split the
South n decade and a half ago. But
the Nationwide prohibition that
sprang from the ashes Of the tragedy,
we have with us.
When the South issued its call to the
colors in '61, Duncan Brown Cooper,
seventeen years old, Of one Of Tenn
essee's most aristocratic families, en-
tered the Confederate army.
The stacking Of arms in '65 found
Cooper battalion commander in Hell
Roaring" Forests cavalry. Only the
bravest of the brave wore epaulets in
that outfit, commanded by one Of the
most intrepid cavalry leaders America
has ever produced.
Dune" Cooper had lived up to the
traditions Of his race and caste. He
had fought the good fight. But the
spirit of .wanderlust, which seeps into
many an ex-soldier's veins, entered his.
In the early 70's he mined in Mexico.
He built railroads in Honduras. He
made and lost fortunes in the true
cavalier spirit.
Back to the States. He began con-
tracing in Washington. The founda-
ton of the Washington Monument, left
unfinished in 1876, was turned over to
him TO complete. Under the supervis-
ion of army engineers he twisted the
structure around to square with the
compass.
While the gay young cavalier was
becoming intimate with Washington
politicians and learning ways that are
useful to men who would control the
destiny of states, little tow-headed
chap named Ned Carmack was strug-
Cling through Caesars Wars at
"Sawney" Webb's famous preparatory
school in Tennessee.
Supported His Mother.
Ned Carmack was the son of poor
Primitive Christian preacher who
spreac the Gospel near Castillan
Springs in Sumner county, Ned's
father died when the lad was three
years old When he could hold the
reins Ned ploughed for neighbors at
% cents a day and supported his
mother through bitter years Of poverty.
Carmack was one of Sawney's most
brilliant pupils. The schoolmaster pre-
dicted great career for him. Sawney
was not disappointed. Carmack soon
was reading law, and then practising
| it in a small town.
One night in the SOS, Cooper, to
whom poker was the elixir Of life,
Joined q group of friends in Moneys
saloon in Nashville. Moneys was
"Mooney's"-and no ordinary saloon.
it was the hangout of the gentry
where gentlemen gamblers (there was
such a breed once) consorted with
plain gentlemen.
The stakes ran high that night. Old
Lady Luck began to hover over
Cooper's shoulder. Once she smiled
quickly, and Cooper raked in jack
pot that would have bought Man o
War as a two-ycar- old. Cooper smil-
ed easily, and asked if the gentlemen
wished a chance to get some of it back?
Play Through Night.
They did. Throughout the night they
played, with varying luck. Lawyers,
doctors, judges, merchants, the cop on
the beat, and a few journalists dropped
in from time to time to see how
matters were going.
Dunes raked in another pot" would
be the word carried out to the front
of the house, where the brass rail was
being paved by the night birds.
Dune lost the last one" would be
the next message, as another whisky
straight was h'isted. The bartender
would smile ingratiatingly.
Dawn approached. A group Of
bleary- eyed men shuffied their cards.
The gaslight was Pickering in the thick
tobacco smoke. Duncan Cooper looked
at his cards. There was not the slight
est change of expression on his face.
But old Lady Luck, still lowering over
his shoulder, smiled broadly. Every
one anted-up. 1t was the last pot of
the night. When that hand was played
Duncan Brown Cooper would be either
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