The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-12-07

fixed fresh caps on the tubes O.
the pistols, and laid bowie.knife ant
hatchet in places to be handy 70,
sudden use. All this was proven or
the subsequent trial. And yet still
there was no appearance of unusua
emotion perceptible on her countcn
ance, which was mild, calm and
sweet as ever.
Near noon column of horsemer
became visible in the South, NOV
ing rapidly forward over the ev
en- prairie. The vision of ominous
peril affected the inmates of the
log cabin in different ways. The
features of the counterfeiter grew
pale as marble. The mother and
Eliza uttered suppressed cries, and
cntreated him to seek in figh,
across the river
"Never!" exclaimed the lovely
Mary. "Never run from such q
band of murderers. No, dear faith,
er, defend your own house or die! l
will help, you defend it, and die
with you"
In few moments their foes were
at the gate. They alightcd, hitcbcd
their horses to the palings, and we're
in the act of entering. The gate was
fifty PAGES from the house.
SHOW, father, is the time to
fire. Let us shoot sure and quick
said Mary, in a low and calm voice.
But Silmore was in no state Of
mind to heed such excellent ad.
vice. His courage had vanished in
the exact ratio of the encmy's ap.
proach, until he stood pale, trem.
bling, and powerless as an infant.
"Why do you not shoot, faith.
er?' asked Mary, with flashing
eyes as the lynchers rushed through
the gate and hurried OH towards
the cabin, and the mother and eldest
daughter screamed outright with ter
ror.
The father could not even an.
swer, but sunk down, quaking on
the floor.
"Then let me Shoot" cried the
young heroine, springing to gun, as
the savage men advanced half way
from the gate to the door.
"No! no." anticulated Silmore in
tremulous tones, so faint as to be
scarcely an audible whisper; and at
the same instant the mother and
Eliza caught Mary, and by main
strength, with considerable Difficult.
ty, prevented her fron frins-an
act that, under the circumstances
would have loo kcd like madness; for
what might the dcspairing bravery of
a girl avail against two hundred of
the most desperate lynchcrs in
all the backwoods:2
Little time, however, was allowed
for action.
In moment the door was beat.
en- from its hinges. The avengers en-.
tered and dragged the quivering
counterfciter forth, his wife and
Eliza following after, and calling
out in the most pitcous tones for
mercy. The prayer was offered
in vain-ofercd 10 cars as deaf to
entreaty as the addcrs to the charms
of music.
''Lct us hang the wretch to the
first limb"' shouted Captain Mays.
Hang him to the first limb" G.
choed two hundred voices.
"lIere is rope" said the cap.
tain, drawing q strong cord from
his pocket
"Mercy! mercy!'
"Climb up into that magnolia, and
tie one end Of this to yonder swing.
ing limb, while | fastcn the other in
moose round the villains neck; and
then when give the word, pull
him up six feet. Let him 20 of
high and dry ordered the chief lyn.
cher.
Boy Mays, brother of the cap
tain and another man ascendcd
the old tree in the yard, as directed.
one of them holding the rope between
his teeth. while their leader proceed
cd to adjust the moose on the faint.
ing victims throat.
"Mercy! mercy" Still arose that
wailing cry, in shrieks drcadfully
loud and shrill.
"Take away these yelling womcnn'
said the captain, as the two females
fell on their faces before him, and
clasped their arms closely about
his knees.
The command was executed, and
as the rude murderers bore them off,
they both still screamed "mcrcy."
and Eliza added, "Come, come, sis.
ter Mary, and beg the captain for
mercy. He onccd loved you SC
well, perhaps he will hear you"
Mays turned pale, and glanced