The Lancaster ledger. (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, March 21, 1866, Image 1
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the jtancaste CcDocr.'
L- -i-.jj - J L_J 1 .. . ? *** TOLIMB
XV. LANCASTER C. H., S. C., MARCH 21, 1866. NUMEIt 6.
tr i t \ u * la -' . j . . '
Crimea atorg.
EXTRAPPIXG* A MUIIDERGR
:o: ????
A SPECULATOR'S STORY.
to: -?
Th tli* year 1833, I went to the Red
River country with the view of speculation
hi korsee. lands, or acylbing that niigbt
give promise to a profitable return for a
cash investment. Of enurse I carried a
good deal of money with me, but know
iflg I was going among | wild, lawless
olass, of every grade and color?among
uncivilized Indians, negroes, gamblers,
tUieves, robbers, murderers and ??ih?iiiih,
with perhaps a faw settlers of soma claim
to honor and honesty, if lliajr <could be
iifled out from the mata?I thought it
wbuld be the safest plan not tJ setm well
off in the world's goods. AccordingI y I
aecuied my money in a belt about my
body, put or a vary course, rough g
which by intehlionat carelessness, soon
had a very mean, slovenly appearance,
and allowed my hair and beard to manage
natters their own way, without any
troublesome interference of razor or comb.
Thus prapared, and armed with two re
velvera and a bowie knife, I had passed
over some dangerous territory in com
parative safety, and Haltered myeelt that
no one guessed my riches through my
apparent poverty.
In fact, on two occasions, I began to
think it might have bean to my advantage,
to have looked a little more respectable
'Hi* ftrst of theaa v?ms when, in trave'ing
through til* Choctaw nation, I foun<] a
drove of .hor*es that pleased m? very
much and ?m to'.d by theowaer, in rep'v
to my question as to what he would lake
a hand.for l|ie entire lot, that ha waa not
iu tli# habit.of making hit pricaa to every
waodaring beggerthat choaa to eatiafv an
id I a curioaity. I waa d aposed at first to
put on some dignity and gat indignant,
but concluded, after a careful survey of
my paraon, that the man had good caul*
for ip?ak d ' a* he did, and ao merely ha
aured bim that I knew an individual who
wished to buy boraea, if he could get the in
at a fair price. The borae owner, how
ever waa not di?posed to behave my stale
ment, and so I peered him by, with the
resolve that, it .nothing better turned up,
I would give hljri another call under more j
advantageous atmearancea.
^s l|i? **cond instance nl!u<)*<l to wa?
similar to th* first, it may b* passed our
without further notice. .
but out of ibis sain* eauts g.ew a rery
remarkable adventure, which it is u?y
preeeot purpose to r*lat*.
; While pasaiug between two settlements,
over * loaelw, gloomy hurts path, leading
through a dark hemlock wood, and while i
in the most solitary part, there came sud |
denly before me, leaping from a thicket!
on the right, a human figure of a inoel ]
Meriting appearance.' It was a man of
medium height, but of a stout, p)wertul
I
limine, All covered with dirty Uttera, llmt
bo appeared'to have worn and wallnwej
in for yeara. llo had no covering for Ira
Load nor fan), and bia akin am ao coaled
with crime that it waa difficult to tall
whether he belonged to the white race or
out. Ilia face, high up on hie cheek*,
waa covered with a dirty brown heard,
and bia matted hair hung in wild profu
ion all over bia head, eicept a little apace
before bia blood atiol aye a, and altogether
be looked like e madmen or human
devil, ilia heoda bald and awung e fortnidable
dub, end bia altitude, aa he
leaped into the rued before me, waa one
6f fierce menace and defiance.
' I atoppcd in alarm, -n.i wait* fixing mjr
oya* thnrply upon hi*, qulatly tlid my
band into a roLvaniant pockat and gra?p*d
ih* butt of on* of my rarolvara, firmly
determined lo k??p bim at lh? abort di*i
tanca that dividad u* or kilt him if ha
attempted to ad race*.
For parbap* half a minula are atood
ailantly regarding and aurraying aach
otbar, and than ratting oaa and of liia club
oa tha ground, and partly laaning forward
on tha otbar, ha aaid, in a court*, gruff
ton*, wi0 a chuckling laugh :
**Wal^ . ma! !' in hopaa I'd got
a prixa at laat; but if you'ra much battar
off our ma, you don't tbow It, by ?- !
uiiauicvr, who art tou, auu wiiiri are you
from T'
"Well," replied I. feeling highly com.
pliraenieJ, of course, that I resembled
such a villainous looking object at him.
-if, "Some people call me a beggar, and
I know I don't pas* for gentleman."
"I'll sw'ar to that haw, haw, haw,"
wa? hie chuckling response. "The world
hain't made much of you, more'o has of
me. I ftee steal in your face an plain aa
daylight. What jail or penitentiary wae
you in last
"Never mind that, probalrly neither cf
us got our deserts."
"Wall, if you had been decent dra?*ed,
and looked like you had (ire dollars
about vou. I'd have knocked your braina
out," pursued the villian, with a broad
grin. "As it is, you can pats, for I aw'ar
you han't got a red."
Much obliged for your cnndor," I re
jointd.
lie till stood before me, looking
straight into iny eve*, and now seemed
I to be pondering some new idea. Present
I ly he muttered, at if to liituael':
'I think he might do." Then a moment
afterward* he said to me :
'I say, old fellow, bow'd you like to
make a raise ?"
"How would I like to eat when hun
urr I" ? uiiikiuI : ? - ?
, . *-.v?va, it IJUW lin
likely that (lie scoundrel had coma dark
project 'n view, which, l?y neeming lo
chime in wiili liirn, ! might discover.
"Wall, I've got a plan," he a*id, llirow
ing down hi* cluh, as if to assure ma of
liia pacific attention* toward* invaelf, "I've
got a plan that will give us hotli Iota of
money, and it'll lakejnal two to carry it
out. I've lieau waiting a pal tliia long
time, and il you'll join in, I'll go your
Lalres."
"If thera'a a chance to turn a penny,
I'm your man !" said I.
'"Good 1 ' returned he; "you look like!
a trump, and I'll het on you. I don't ex
actly know," lie a<ld?d, eyeing me sharp
ly, "hut I tnay he deceived?an f how I
J think I'll risk it. If vou go to n'av ?nv
' I
game on tne, tou had haller look out for
yourself, that it all."
"Do I look like Mich a scamp at thai ?"
returneii I, assuming an indignant tone.
"Well now let's take a aeat and talk it
all over."
' We found an old log and net down ;
and after tome pre'inoary conversation,
mt new and interesting acquaintance un
folded to me a most damnable ache me,
the subject of which was at follows :
. -
na anew :ne country wall, for miles I
around, am] the exact poailiou and con
dilinn of every aett'er.
Ona man, living in a miliar lonely
quarter, about five milaa diatant, waa a
speculator in horses and cattla, which he
aomatimaa bought up and drove to a dia*
tant market, lie had a food deal of!
money, which it was supposed he kept |
aeqrel in his dwelling, and .to get pnsaeai ;
i aion of thia money waa. of course, the'
object he had in view.
The trouble was, that the man hiiii*alf'
waa a brave determined fellow, who al
ways went wall aimed, and who had ha |
j eidea liia wife, two grown up tone and a
daughter ? a force loo great for any one
: individual to encounter. About e mile
from biin lived a poor widow, who had
nothing worth stealing except her clothe*,
which would he valuable in carrying out
our plana.
Tiiia plan waa first to rob the widow
of her clothing drass me up in them, and
have me terk lodging at the speculator's
house. Then, in the night, when all the
| family should ! ? asleep, I was to unbolt
I the door, lot in mv confederate, and <*
were to attempt the murdar of the in
males?and lbs rot.bary and burning of
tbo liouso oars to follow and b# lbs eon
eluding acana.
1 ascratly ahuddarad at tba atrocity of
: tba contemplated crima, but appearad to
! receive tba diacloaura ?nh tba bustnsaa
air of tba moat bardaned wretch, inquie.
ing as to tba amount of monsy at should
thus probaoly obtain, and objecting to
nothing but tba groat risk as should
baas run, both bsfora and aftsr tba accomplish
msnt of oar purpose. I permit*
tad my eager companion to quiat my
fears and at last consented to act.
Wben everything bad tbua become
aattlad, we struck off into tba fields to
avoid being seen, and jest bsfora dark
Cain* in sigtit of the widow'* bout*.
A* my companion km acquainted
wilb the premises, I insisted that be
should procure lb* female garment*?
but solemnly warned him that if he hurt
tb* poor widow in the least, I would
hare no'.bing further to do with the
aff ?ir.
As good lurk would hare it, the widow
waagpot at lioine, and iny murderous
friend managed to break in and gat lha
necessary clothing without doiogany fun |
ther damage. J
Tli? widow being a large woman, 1 I
had no t'Oiihla in arranging 111 dress so j
as to pitas in a dim light as a tolerably
respectable female ; and then, bating
agreed upon the atorv I waa to lull, how
I would manage mailers, and the signal
that would assure my accomplice of all
being right, we went forward together
till we cam? i t? sight of the bouse to he
robbed, when f msde rnv nearest war to
the ma I, and continued on alone, reaclr*
ing the dwelling just as the family were
about concluding their evening meal.
Had nit design been really what I
had led mv villainous companion to he
lieve, I certainly could never have gone
forward with such confident boldness;
hut feeling mv consciencw all right, and
knowing I was acting froin a good mo
live, I kept up wonderful assurance, feel
ing curious to see how well I could plav
rav pan aiifj to wtiatexietit 1 could curry
the deception.
I asked for lodging fur the night, and .
something to eat, and wan kindly and
hospitably received The fiist thing that
bent the l>!u?.li of shame to my chsyks,
ws* the coining forward of h young ladv,
about eighteen, httUliful as an lio'iri, and
in a sweet, gentle tone, ask'ng me if I had
walked far, if I was much fat'gued, offering
to lake my hood, telling me I should
soon lie refreshed with a hot cup of tea.
This was a little loo much for mv eqna<
dimity. I cou'd have got along with ail
the rest, without heing espscial'y disturbed
; but I ivas llun a young, unmarried
man, and though not particularly tuieup
lible to female attractions in general, I
thought I lia<i never g>iznJ upon eo love
!y and interesting a creature before. 1
atanunered out some unintelligible replies
lepl in) hooJ well drawn over my face,
and asked to be permitted to have a few
minutes private conversation with the
master of the house. ?
Of course tins request caused cor.sid
arable surprise ?but it was granted?and
as soon as we ware alone together, I told
bun in a few wor Is, who and w'uat I W as,
and disclosed in full, the plot of my road
acquaintance, to murder and rob hin.
lie turned pale at the recital, and
seemed much astonished, but begged me
not to mention the design to his wife and
dauolner. lie than rolled his l?n <>..?
?strong, determined felloes?and re?
counted the plot to them, and arranged
to have everything go furward at if the
jcheme was being carried out at in vile
author designed.
It took aouie shrewd management to
keep ine to my part aithoul letting the
famaltft into the secret ; hut it was etl'ec*
ted ; and before midnight I very can*
l:o?uljr opened the door and looked out.
There Mas my man, ready waiting.
"It all r ght f" be whispered.
"Yes, come in."
As lie crossed the threshold, the fath*
er and tons sprang upon hiin. l>ul the
fellow wae strong and .desperate, and
perhaps had some alight suspicion of the
truth. Wnb a wild yeil he cleared the r
uui'ed grasps at a bound, leaving a large
portion of his rags in their hands. The
next moment the whole four of us were
in cha?e alter tha villain, a* he ran acrota
the road to ({tin the cover of a wood
about twenty rod* diatanl.
"Fire!" shouted the father; "ahoot
down the aeoundrel 1''
We were all armed and prepared, and
at the word, four revolver* began to crack
behind him. ltut he teemed to have a
charmed life, and he atiil ran on,keeping
a abort diatance ahead of ua. Once 1
fancied I aaw him atagger; but he gained
the wood* and ditappeaied, and we re>
luctantly and with deep chagrin gave up
the chaae. ?
When we returned to the honae, the
wife and daughter were bulb terribly
alarmed. Of course an explanation fob
lowed?the hoet being dieappoioted in
ranking the capture as he intended, without
exciting their fears. There was no
more sleep in that house that night.
The next morning we went out to the
wood and discovered a trail of blood.
We ful owed on lor half a mile, and
found the ruflisn lying dead, face dowm
ward, hit hand firmly clenched upon some
bushes. One of the scots tecogn z*d him
as a suspected murderer, who had a
couple of vears before left that part ol
the country. He was buried with little
ceremony.
I was wariolv thanked for the part I
itf?<i pihv 11 lo save ilia fHiirlv ; l?'tt from
no o'lier cli?l 'he words sound so sweat lo
ma m from the lip* of the beautiful
daughter.
The family pressed ma to stav with
them for awhile, and I slaved long enough
10 lose mv heart and win another.
Strange as it appears. in looking back to
it, the e?ent of that villain leaping into
the road before nie changed mv who!#
fortune; sometimes, when I gaze fontllv
upon mv wife, I am tempted to bless the
<|<ik and wicked design that providentially
led me to so much happiness.
A Romantic I-ove Story.
The Count d? St. Croix, belonging to
one of the noblest ?nd wealthiest families
of Francs, became engaged, after a
long and assiduous courtship, to a ladv,
his equal in position ami fortune, and fa
mous for her he.tuty. Shortly aber the
hsppr <lav ? ss appointed which was to
render two loving he-irta one, the Count
WHS ordered itnmedialu v to the siege of
Svhaslnool ; so he girded on Ins sthre".
anil *1 tli* head cf his regiment marched
o tlis bait I* field. iKiri.iir ihe Count's
absence. it happened lint*. his beautiful
fancr had the small pux ; aft*r hovering
between life and death fur nnnv days,
sh* recover# I her health, but fuutul her
bfalltV hopelessly lost.
Thedise.se had assumed in bar case
tha mutt virulent character, mii<! left her
liot on I v <t is tl I'll rati bit seamed and muir
?(1 to sucli a frightful extent that she be
came hideous to herself. an<l resolved to
pass the remainder of her daye in the
stricte-l seclusion. A year passed away
sln)D,ot iUy, the Count, immediately
upoii liis return from France, accompanied
by his valet, presented himself at (be
residence of his be r)th?d and solicited
ail inter % i* wr. Thil was refused. He.
however, with the persistence of h tovrr,
presented In* suit, and finally th* U<!\
inxde her appear ime closely m til <1 in
a double veil. At the sound of her voice,
the Count rushed forward to embrace her
but stepping aside, she tremblingly told
Itiin the story of her sorrows and burst
itito tears.
A heavenly anr'e broke over the
Count's handsome features, us raising bis
bunds above l.e exc'ainted, "It is (rod's
work ; I am blind." It was even so.?
When gallantly leading his regiment to
the attack, a cannon ball pasnad so close
Ir to liis eves '.hat, while it left their ex
pressiona unchanged, and hia countenance
unmarked, It robbed him forever of sight.
It is k in oil unnecessary to adl 11.at their
marriage was shortly after solemnized.?
It is said tliat at tins dav may otlen be
seen at tlta emperor's receptions *t officer
leaning upon the arm of a lady closely
veiled ; nn<J they seem to be attracted to
the epol by their |.>ve of m-is'c.
IIiohwat IC o b n k its?The fo'lowing
extract (<sv? tlie Charleston Courier) from
a private latter received in this city, dated
A<ken, March 8, has been handed us for
publication. 'I he state of afftirs which
it represents as existing in the vicinity of
A keti demands immediate attention from
the authorities, who, wa trust, will not be
backward in applying the prop-r correc
live, in as summary a manner as the out
retiKft 'I'lise )?(t?ar r ** m A m oa /'..tl/vu,*
"lis vsrv careful. when yon com^ up,
to he urmel The country it infested
wifli mounted robbers. The express wag
on wu robbed near Williatnn, last night,
end three hor?et And ell the money wee
taken. Just's driver w n robbed of hit
horse, and murdered, eight milet from
litre. We were stopped coming, hat on
drawing our pistols the robber* left. A
man celled Morris, without any cause,
.knocked a Mr. (Juthman in the head to*
day. All is excitement about here.**
Punch says turn lied water is a good
name for grog.
IIaril of Hearing.
A young J nnathnn once courted llie
daughter of en old man that lived down
east,who professed to he deficient in hear
in if, hut, forsooth, wis m >re capricious
than limited in hearing, as the sequel will
tend to show.
It was a stormy night in the ides of
, March, if I mistake not, when lightning
met lightning, and loud peels of thunder
.n.?..u.i ?. ? ? .1-. i ? *? ?
nii.^Tri ru tmjmifr, IM'U jnilHi/lilU R-41 D?
the o'il man's fireside, discussing with the
old lady, la in inten<led mnhenin law, the
expediency of asking the old man's per.
J m'ssion to marry Sallv. Jonathan resolj
ved to pop it to the old main on the next
day?"l>ii?," sara he, "as I think of the
task, my heart shrinks, and inv resolution
weakens ? he's so danced hard to bear a
body."
Tn the meantime, the old man, who
was hypocritical so fir as hearing was
concerned, fnignel total indiifarencfl to
the converse! ion between Jonathan and
liia wile, hut contrary to the anticipate n?
of both, he distinct'? heard everv word
thai passed. By the dawn of another
day, the old man was to he found in h's
j barn lot feeding his pigs. Jonathan also
i arose early trom bed in ihe mornm ?, am)
I
j spied 'Iih oil hi ?ii, and at once resolved
to a^k for Sail v.
Scarcely a minute had alaised after
J xiHiiiHii had made liie last resolution,
i ere he Ind the o'i< in tn good morning.?
| Now Jonathan's lirsrl beat? now he
I scratched h s head and gave hir'h to a
| pensive vhwii Jonathan declared thai
l.e'J as soon take thiriv nine "str pes" as
in ask the old man. "lint,*' said h",
aloud to himself, "here goes? faint heart
n?-ver won * fair g:rl," an J addressed the
old ma'i thus :
I say. old tran, I want to marry your
daughter.'
Old man?"You want *o borrow my
ha'ter ? I would lend it to yon Jonathan,
but my s >n bat taken it otl to the
I mill"
Jonathan put his month close to the old
insn's ear and speaking in a deafening
! : l
I ?UICH, PHl'l ;
' I have got forty pounds of mon?v !"
I The old man stepped hack, as if greatI
ly alarmed, ami exclaimed in a voice of
j eurpriee.
"Von have got five hundred pounds of
; honey ! What ir. the mischief can I do
with so much honey ? Why, it* more
than all tins neighborhood has any use
j for "
J Jonathan, who wasn't yet (he victim
of despair,put his mouth to the old tr an'*
! ear, and bawled out,
"I ha*a got gold."
To litis the old man replied, "So have
!. Jonathan, and Us the worst cold 1 ever
i * '
had in my hfe."
So saying tlie old man sneezed "wash*
UP"
! l>v this lime the old woman came out
| and having observed bis unfortunate luck
she put her mouth to the ?cl I man's ear
j and screamed like a wounded Zeno,
i 'Daddy! I say, daddy, you dou't understand
him. lio wants to marry oui
' daughter."
O d man?"I told hitn our calf halter
j was g'?ne."
) O il lady?"Whv, daJdy, you can't
understand, he's got gold, lie's rich !''
Old man ? He's got a cold and the itch
eli ? \\ hat's the rascal doing here will
itch, eh !'
So saying, the old man aimed a blow
At Jonathan's head wnh hi.-, walking staff
happily for Jonathan he dodged it. Noi
did the rags of our hero stop at this, but
with an angry countenance, be made after
Jonalnan, who took to bis bee's ; not
I zli.l i?-t- ? *
< !< "uiiuimia nil* bU>[) IiCTS. lit ll Hi,
not gone from the barn yard, not far fron
the old roan who run a clone recs, t-re la
tubbed bis toe and fell to the groum
and before the old man could take up hi
tumbled over him. Jonathan sprang
to his heeU, and with the speed of a Join
Gilpin, he cleared himself. And pool
Sally! she die 1 a nun. Neier had i
husband.
?W Digln,lhe otbei day, found ?om<
money in the street, "All," said he, will
a knowing look, 'the papers have l?e<M
ay in g money's tight, hull wouldn't hav
believed it if I hadn't found it in the gut
ter.'
Destitution in Alabama.
The Alabama journals represent lli9
sutf-rin^ in all purl# of that State as pitiable
u> the extreme.
The waste of farms, the destruction of
agricultural implements, stock and sup*
plies, kfi the people without resources, t
whi'e the lateness of the season, when the
Confederate soldiers laid down their arms
and returned to their homes, rendered
futile all efforts to ward off the tniserv
consequent upon these ravag-s, by the
produce of jhe next harvest. In view of
these fact-., Governor Parsons directed
statistics! information to be prepared, that
proper measures might be taken by the
authorities to relieve, as far as practicable
the distress of the people. The report of
the Committee, "Destitution an l Sup- ?
plies,'' which haa been presented to the
Legislature of the State, reveals a condition
of affairs startlir g and alarming ?
t KeporU have heen received from all the
| counties except nins. In the counties
heard from, Ihe*~e are twelve thousand
live hundred and thirtv destitute families,
| numbering fifty-two thousand nine hunt
[ -Irel and twenty-one persons. The comj
mit'ea estimate I ho amount required por
i month for the support of these latnilies
I at one hundred and eighty-one thousand
j nine liuti Ire I and ninety seven dollars?
I being at the rate of two millions one bun'
dred and eight vfour thousand dollars per
| annum. Tnese figures do not refer to
the hlaoks. Upwards of fifty thousand
white persona, without tread or*meat,
without the means of obtaining it, or of
removing to localities where labor could
I lie exchanged for food. The supplies furnished
by the Federal Government
through the Freed men's Bureau, amount*
ed in January to thirteen thousand ra?
lions per dav, given alike to blacks and
whiles Assuming that one half of this
is drawn hy the black*, but six thousand
five kundren rations rsmain to be divided
among the fiuy two thousand whiles reported
by the committee as without subsistence.
The following dialogue took place on
! the Ohio railroad, between a "native" and
! a "down Fester"?
I m.n ir ??.. -?
i'wn i lituLi u IMU anaiJ^oi, ^uu
pear to be traveling ?
Native?I aiwaya travel when I am
on a journey.
I think I've seen you somewhere ?
Verv like ! I've ofien been there.
Mightn't your name be Smith !
Well, it might?if it wasn't something
eUe !
Have you been long in these parts ?
Never longer than at present?five feet
nine 1
Do you calculate to remain here some,
time ?
Well, I guess III stay till I'm ready to
j leave ?
i I reckon vou were born in these narta?
Well tny native place is here or some*
where else.
You travel as if money were plenty
with you ?
Well, I might have more, and be richer.
Have you anything new ?
Yes, I bought a whetstone this morning.
I thought so; you're the sharpest blade
| I've met with in runny a day.
? ^*1
ft-fT" 'Kitty, where's the frying pan ?'
'Johnny's got it carting mud and clam
' shells up the ally,with the cat for a horse.'
'The dear little fel'ow, what a genius
' he will make; hut go and get it. We're
1 going to have company, and must fry
some fish for dinner.'
I To discover how many loafers
' there are in town, all that's necessary ie
9 to set two dogs a fighting. Put up ft
' ball ally, or institute a marb!e>yard.
t Pk Las' linicK.? Sambo?Wbo frew
t <1 Ht Iks' brick t
r Pompev.?What las'brick!
i Sambo? Da brick what amaah de cob
ored burta i.
Pompoy?Why, Andy Johnaon frew
9 dal brick.
9 Sambo?Golly ! but he trow atrong.
"Caught in her own net," the man
aaid when he eaw one of (he fair ?e*
' hitched id her crieolioe.