|
We often read of the many thrilling wild west encounters, but the now
peaceful old town of Woodville Alabama had an occurrence fifty-six years
ago which as never been excelled for excitement by any western tale.
At that time there lived on the side of the mountain two miles northeast
of Woodville, Jim Whitecotton who had five grown sons. This place is now
known as the Ike Wills place. In almost every village liquor was sold in
the same way as groceries and drinking was quite common and fighting not
infrequent. The Whitecottons were addicted to drinking and were a terror
to anyone who might incur their displeasure. No braver men ever lived in
this or any other country.
Now there lived in Madison Country near Butler's Mill, old man Pleas
Woodall, and some other Woodalls' lived in Woodville and in Kennamer Cove.
The Woodall's' have been favorably known around here for a hundred years-
they are cool, calm, fearless- quick to resent an insult and can always be
counted on to defend themselves at all hazards when attacked.
Once Jim Whitecotton Sr. got into a fight with Pleas Woodall in Woodville.
After knocking Woodall down he threw a keg of nails on him, using the old
man quite roughly, which aroused all the latent fighting instincts of the
whole Woodall clan.
During the great civil war, when white men were dethroned, passions ran
high, animosities were bitter, but at this time these characteristics
began to give way to the better and more holy feelings, and the common
brotherhood of man, which were manifesting themselves in the organization
of a Masonic lodge. Many citizens of Woodville and adjacent communities
who had joined this organization decided to have a great picnic and
barbeque.
Just midway between Woodville and Paint Rock lies the beautiful Paint Rock
River, as it meanders southward from the Tennessee state line and bathes
the very feet of the Cumberland Plateau, passes by a large and very pretty
spring which is surrounded by an open bottom of native oak with a
luzuriant of grass all around. This spring was chosen as the place for the
barbeque. It is today a popular resort for all outings, being owned by Mr.
R.P. Kennamore of Paint Rock who has generously preserved its original
beauty.
June 24th, 1869, the day appointed, found a large crowd present from
Jackson, Madison and Marshall counties. In one respect, this gathering
resembled a pioneer religious meeting among hostile Indians, in that many
guns and pistols were in evidence.
It is said that Jim Whitecotton, Jr. on the morning of the barbeque,
oiled, rubbed, and tested his pistol, and told his wife that he would kill
Dave Woodall that day or "Eat his supper in Hell" He came from
his home in Gurley on a handcar with Arch Boman, and on the way to the
barbecue shot his pistol and reloaded it to see that it was all right.
As dinner was now almost ready, Jim walked within the ropes and helped
himself to whatever he wanted to eat. No one made any protest. Rollings
Whitaker was in charge of the dinner, with J.B. Parkhill and others as
assistants. James Nelson had a lemonade stand, though there was plenty of
good water nearby.
As the Masons were preparing to march, a great fight began as suddenly as
a mine explosion.
No tongue can tell or pen describe as Hy Whitecotton and Dave Woodall, Jim
Whitecotton, Jr. and Pleas Woodall, father of Dave, fought like mountain
lions suddenly aroused from their lair. By some inscrutable providence the
Whitecottons pistols failed to fire and Hy and Dave used their Pistols as
clubs, which soon caused blood to flow freely, when suddenly shots rang
out. Hy Whitecotton fell mortally wounded and died in a few moments.
While this was going on, Jim Whitecotton and Pleas Woodall were in a life
and death struggle. Pleas Woodall got his shoulder knocked out of place
and his double barreled shotgun broken. Jim, seeing his brother Hy killed
and himself mortally wounded, turned to get away and tried to get on Dr.
L. Derrick's mule which was hitched nearby, but was unable to do so, being
shot many times by members of the crowd. It is claimed Henry Dillard,
Thomp Houston, George Hulett, Frank Cotton, and possibly others did the
shooting.
When the fight began the large crowd scattered like a covey of quail when
flushed by some keen-scented and over-anxious setter. Man, women and
children ran in every direction, screaming, hiding behind stumps, trees,
and under the river bank and many ran right into the river, never stopping
until they reached home. Among whom were some lads, Tom Dean, Daniel I.
Dudley, Dan Butler, John and Marsh Bowers. There was an Indian there who
waded the river and ran off.
After the fight, "Judge" William (Bill) Isom, in a stentorian
voice called out, "Let everyone come and eat supper," as though
nothing had happened. In response to this, the crowd began to come out
from hiding places like half-grown turkeys when unexpectedly scattered by
a hunter, is called by the mother bird.
Dr. L. Derrick soon set the shoulder of Pleas Woodall, and the large crowd
ate their dinner as though nothing had occurred, while Jim and Hy
Whitecotton lay dead on the ground nearby. Their sister ate a hearty
dinner -Am I dreaming?- Ask fifty old people now who saw it, one of whom
is J.B. Parkhill, who waited on her at the table.
The dead men were finally put on a handcar and brought to Woodville and
put into a boxcar which was on the side track' here they remained all
night without anyone to watch. They were hauled the next day in an ox
wagon belonging to the widow of Dr. Solomon Stephens three miles east of
Woodville to the head of the Thomas Cove and there buried in an unmarked
grave.
The Woodall's were taken up and given a superficial hearing and turned
loose promptly; thus ending the greatest fight in Jackson County, Alabama.
|
|
