The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-10-29
From the Western Continent.
RU' BELL THE STRIKER.
A WESTERN SKETCH
BY WILL wuIppLE.


prisoned there previous TO his trial for muir
dering poor laboring man. The victim OF
this ierocious murder had called at Stewards
about sunset and begged lodging for the
night, which was granted; but after the man
had sought the resting place pointed OUT to
him. Stewart in spirit OF brutal sport SET bis
dogs upon him, and urged them on until the
poor fellow, after vainIy attempting to defend
himself from their attacks, was literally torn
TO pieces and then flung oul of doors to de-
The circumstances of this horrid murder
may still be fresh in the memory of many;
but the details of the capture of the murder
er have never, we believe, been made pub
lie; and as The personages concerned in the
arrest, together with the mode in which it
was performed, afford fine opportunity for
exempfying some of the peculiarities of
Southwestern character, we shall give the
relation as we heard ii from the mouth Of
one of the actors-indeed the principal in
the atfair.
About two weeks after leaving Columbia,
we were standing at The door of a small
house in Jonesboro', on the Washita, con-
sisting OF FIVE or six log dwellings and cot
Ton shed of the same primitive architecture.
Near were we stood were two ArkansawYers
las they call themseves-in earnest con-
yersation; In the course of which one of them
used a phrase which, though common al The
South, was at least new 10 US. 1t was
All! he's a striker.
Now-although curiosity is said TO be the
peculiar prerogalive of woman-we must
confess that man has no small share of the
same ticklish propensity; at least we felt ii
on that occasion, and stepping forward said
My friend, what do you mean by slri-
kerf
The man eyed US for a moment, and then
replied.
why you see, stranger-but stop bit,
till take Virginny ieasl'
"A Virginia feasl,' thought we-'what is
that.
We soon knew; for, after diving into the
recess Of his capacious pockets, he drew forf
large piece of chewing bacco, and after
offering it 10 US with,
Have chawg he biz of sufficient 10 poi
son horse, and rolling it 10 the side of HI:
cheek commenced his explanation afresh-
why you see slranger-Moses aud Aaron
war strikers. George Washington war
slriker-General Jackson war striker; ant
that man thar (pointng 20 an individual al a
short distance off) he's striker, and n,
mistake. He arnt ielt his oats for noihin,'
tell ye.'
The definition puzzled Us line, but W,
made out enough of II 10 understand that al
persons who perform deeds of prowess art
strikers.
The imam ihar'--indicaled as a striker -
was short, lean, muscular man, dressed il
the white blanket coat, with black stripe.
round the skirts and over the sholders, s.
common TO the south. lie bore in The benz
of his arm a long rife, and al side greas
leather pouch for bullets, from which alst
depended long hunting knife in It's sheath
Alter taking this survey, we turned TO GU
new acquaintance and said
sWLat has he done TO have that title give
himr kaaLa Gt
Done!-what Ru' Bell? DIDN'T he cap
tivate Dick Slewar?
This then was The man who perlorme,
that exploit, thought we, looking al him viii
still more Interests for lac fame of the dee
spread far and wide through these prlmiii v
regions; and we inwardly wished we coul
hear him relate the manner in which ii wa
achieved. A few days afterwards we wer
graiifed.
You see-(said be TO knot Of auditor
on board steamboat going TO Ecore Fabre
YOU see, thar was reward offered TO an
body who would take Dick Stewart, and 5
thought | moughi as we'll have il as not
But were you moi anxious as 10 the result
This Stewart was by all accounts despe
ale character; and heard a man say,
Dick Stewart told him TO swim the Mississ
p, he would have 10 do it!'
Il know stranger; but that was the best {
it, said TO myself: Ru' Bell, you Amt ha
tearin down fight for a mighty long linn
and here's a smart chance to wake you u
But I'll git somebody TO go along jest TO Sc
fair play like. So called on Gineral Plum
rner, and SEES he-As amt got nothn' TO d
jest now, don't care If | jine you--an
then knocked up Rafe Morgan; and be sa.
ed as how, though he had the agur Iayth'
tall, Ire reckoned he could see the fun 'iwi!
the shakins.' So we got our plumber an
put il in a dug out, and started for the B
Berlholemee, as hen tell Stewart was
The swmp up that way. When we got TO Ii
swamp, we bruck through the cane, maki
bee line for the niger hut whar Imore
suspected Dick Stewart 'arthed. know
all them diggins' wel-and thar warn't
trail | hadn't travelled from the Mississippi
10 the Washitaw for many time I'D hunte
bar and SIGH like varmn fiom Bio Mason rigl
across 10 the Bio Berlholemee, campn' OF
o. nights and slartin' fresh next mornin''
But were you not afraid of the wolves
well, | warn't hossl Wolves can't skei