The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-10-31
RU' BELL THE STRIKER
A SOUTHWESTERN SKETCH.
BY WILL WHlPPLE

i Two years ago we were at the little towf
OF Columbia, on the banks of The Mississp
pi, al that time place Of some local inter
est, from the fact Of ruflian being impris-
oned there previous TO his trial for murder,
ing man. The victim OF this ferooious
murder had called at Stewards house after
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 spirl, of brutal sport, set his
dogs upor him and urged them on until the
poor fellow, after vainIy attempting to de.
lend himself from their attacks, was iIera.
y torn TO pieces and lhen flung out OF doors
10 die.
The circumstances Of this horrible muir
der may still be fresh in the memory OF
many buy the details Of the capture Of the
murderer have never, we believe, been
made public. And as he personages con-
cerncd in the arrest, together with the mode
N which 1t was performed, afford fine op-
poriuni'y for exemplifying some Of The pc,
cullariIies of South. w esein character, VIC
shall give The relation as we heard it from
The mouth Of one of the actors, indeed ,he
principal in The affair. But TO begin at the
beginning.
Aoout two weeks after leaving Columbia
we were s'anLing at the door of a small
house In the little town of Jonesboro,' on
the Washila, and consisting of FIVE or six
iog dwellings and cotton shed of The same
primitive architecture. Near where we
stood were Two Arkansawyers, as they call
themselves in earnest conversation, 10 the
course Of which one Of Them used phrase
which, though common at the South, was
At least new 'o US. /. was-.4M he's a
striker.
Now, although curiosity is said to be lie
peculiar prerogaIive OF woman, we must
clnfess that man likewise has no small
share of the same tickIish propensity; az
east we felt it on that occasion, and step,
ping forward said:
My friend, what do you mean by
sIriker!'
The man eyed US for a moment, and then
replied
why you see sranger-but stop BIZ,
Hl take Virginny feast
"A Virginia feast, though, we; 'wha, is
thalH
No soon knew, for a(ter diving into the
recesses OF his capacious pockets, he DIRE "
forth large piece of che wing tobacco, andl
after offering il to US with Have chawNl
he biI of sufficient TO poison horse, andI
rolling ii TO The eide Of his cheek, commec.
ed his explanation afresh-
why, yon see, slrapger--Moses and
Aaron war strikers. George Washington
war striker, Gineral Jackson wa, a slrik
En- and that man thar, pointing 10 an ind.
VduaI at short distance off, hes a striker
and no mistake HI ain, felt his oas for
lothiu, | tell ye'
The definition puzzled us a little, but
We made out enough of i. TO undersllnd
hat all persons who perform deeds OF
'Iowess are strikers
The man thar indicated as a striker
was short, lean, muscular man, dressed 10
he white blanket coat With black slrpes
ound the skil and over The shoulders, so
common TO the South. He bore in Ne
'end OF his arm long rife, and al his side
stained and greasy leather pouch Tor buI.
cts, from which also depended long hunt
ng-knife in It's sheath
After taking 'his survey, we turned 10
'ur new acquaintance and said
what has he done, 10 have that lille Civ
IN himf'
'Done--whaI, Ru' BeIl7 Didn't he cap
iyate Dick SleweaTu'
'l'hls thea was the man who performed
hat exploit thought we looking Of him
with still more interest, for the fame of the
Iced spread lar and wide through those
primitive regions, and we inwsrdly wished
we could hear him relate The manner in
which it was achieved. A few days arIer.
wards We were grslGed.