Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-02-11
The Shot in the Eye:
True Story of Texas BOrdcr Life.
(C0nanued)|
BY c.. WILKINS EiMI.


These proceedings Jhck by n
means comprehended, or felt dispose'
to be moved by; but ga9e them on
dnd all to understand, tn at he mean
tp remain where he was, until it en-
tfrely suited his convent tnce to 90
a nd that if his time and their IS die
n not happen to agree, they might
make the most of it. And Jack
v Was such an unpromising snaggist
looking somebody, and his reputa.
ton which had now spread every
whereof possessing such consum-
mate skill with the riflb, that he
thought it a condescensidn to shoot
ghme anywhere else but in the eyes
-rwas so formidable, that Ino individ-
ual felt disposed to push the matter
I'd personal collision. He might
still, therefore, have been left in
qpiet, but Hinch had unf fortunately
tt ken up the impression, from Jack S
conduct in the shooting match affair
Il lat he must be a coward, and if this
VT ere true, then all his skill am ounted
I'd but little; and like any other bloody
wplfsh brute, be followed him up the
m ore eagerly for this very reason,
which would have disarmeh b gener-
ols foe. Besides, Jack had given
fresh and weightier matter of offence,
In that he had refused to obey, and
d@fed his authority as Regulation
The very being of that authority
seemed to require now that a whole
some example should be m hde Of him
for the awing Of all refractory per-
SONS hereafter. The VIZ etch, who
VI IS cunning as ferocious, and had
sYornin his inmost heart TO ruin and
disgrace Long, from the Inoment of
til at triumph, now availed himself re-
III brselessly Of all his inhue ence, and
kl lowledge Of the society an dound him,
to accomplish it. Seven rfll horses
nc w disappe;l red, and robberf rfes Of 9TH j
er kinds, perpetrated with singular
de exterity, fdllowed in quick success
sion. All these things he managed,
through the clamors of his sboundrely
troops, to have laid, directly or
to Jacks door.
But in the popular estim4 alton they
counted as nothing, in fl king the
ohh urge of dangerous malice upon
oopr Long, IN comparison with one
)ther incident. About this time not
,nly Hinch himself but every other
had made himself conspic-
10 US, by insisting upon Jadk's guilt,
md the necessity of r unisAing him
began to Id dse every
lay or two, u valuable t5ck, Which was
va ntonly shot down some times in
sight of their houses; and soon began
o be remark ed that every a himal lost
n this way tad been shot IN the eye!I
This was instantly associated off
course with Jacks well known and
curious prediction for that mark>5n
lunting, and a perfect storm Of in
lignation followed. A Meeting was
It once convened at the store of
which the Planter was the chairman;
md at it by q unanimous vPte, res
olution was passed condemn hing Jack
Long to be whipped and driven out
If the country-and Hincl with his
appointed to carry it into
,ffectl He could hardly contain
himself for joy; for now, ,whA Atever ex-
rene his pitiless malignity might
choose to indulge itself in, Ae had no
ear of after -claps or questioning--I
rhe meeting had been mere form
It any rate. But these I'D drmaIties'
ire all powerful every where and I'M
settled and elementary a4 was the
condition of society here, this ruff
ian leader of ruffians felt Il be neeessi-
y of acting und er their sanction,
5hough he himself had dict tated it.
he would and could have q bnsumma-
ed his purposes without i t; but the
he faint life Of conseien ice within
a species Of logiP peculiar
o itself-felt relieved of the grievous
Of such crlm lme, in the
ense Of participating with so many
,thers. Many a man has gone to the
Ievil in a crowd, who VI ould have
,een Mortified at underth liking the
Quincy alone.
It was the thi I'd day after this
Meeting. Jack, d pring all| these perl