The Breeeze Janruary 2020

How a Mule Kick Killed Eight People
By Tom Poland
Y
ou can drive by a place 1,000 times and be
unaware of its history. Such was the case for a small
country store on Highway 378 in Edgefield County.
Over the years I’ve passed the little store 1,000 times
and not once did I stop. That changed Sunday,
October 13. I passed it but turned around, curious to
see what the price of gas was on the old rusty pump,
leaning like an old man with a cane.
“Maybe I’ll file off the nail heads,” he said and then
he paused. “My granddad got killed in that store.”
“Robbed and shot?”
“No, a woman had him killed for $500.”
22
I got out with my camera and a classic RC Cola
sign immediately distracted me. Behind it was
another vintage sign advertising Camel Cigarettes.
American Pickers would like this place I thought.
I moved closer to get a shot. That’s when a man
slipped up behind me.
“If you think I’m selling those signs you’re wrong.”
Startled, I said, “No, I just wanted to photograph
the old gas pump and the signs caught my attention.”
“People try to buy them all the time,” he said.
“It’s a wonder someone hasn’t stolen them,” I
replied.