The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-06

nt the swamp. "A rope had already
been thrown over one Of its branches,
and the moose hung to within a few feet
Of the ground, ready to be fastened
around the neck of the prisoner, while
the other end rested upon tho ground
ut the base of tho tree, near which
stood savage looking man, to whom
had been allotted the task Of drawing
him up.
Oh! how lovely and beautiful
seemed the glorious night to the vic.
tim led to slaughter. Brightly above
him shone tho unclouded moon, shed.
ding halo oflight upon the beautiful
world beneath. where nature held her
Sabbath. Never had earth seemed
more dear, or the smile of creation
more lovely.
The prisoner seemed not 70 hear or
to heed the dcriding voices that mock
cd him i'll the fearful hour, when the
rage of man should have been still,
and LETT iqm to communion with his
Maker. Yet his thoughts seemed not
to grasp at eternity. His bright and
watchtul eye told that he still clung
to his hope and fondncss for life.
lie gazed coolly and contcmptuous.
~ upon Harrison, as that unttcling
wretch turned to harranguc the noisy
aud brawling crowd. He offered no
resistance when the callous execution
cr fastened the fatal moose aronnd his
neck, for his pinioncd arms deprived
HIM OF the power to struggle; but
turned in his tracks, and followed with
his eye the movement Of that i'll favor.
cd Individual, us he retired and stood
with his hands outstretchcd, and graS.
pi the opposite extremely of the
rope, ready at the given signal to
launch the prisoner into eternity
Coolly Michael Sazcd upon him, with
perhaps ncarl y rs much Indifference rs
though mcausuring the proportions of
Il brawny OK. He was tall, bony,
square faced and re !.whiskcrcd giant,
standing some six feet in his socks,
and with the proportions Of a Hercules.
No doubt he had often taken part in
such scenes, for he stood with a calm,
stoiid and unrulllcd coumtcnancc his
brawny arms resting upon the rop,
some six inches above his head.
Having finished his harranguc, Har
rison turned, and drawing his sabre.
called out t. the hangman-
Tighten away now, my boy, and
give the dcyi' ! is due !"
Then came moment ofintcnsc 81.
lcnce. Even that drunken and Draw.
ing mob, SO loud in their cries but a
moment before, stood hushcd and
mute. The hangman advanced his
iuot-his huge hand:~ were clcnchcl
around the rope, Which already began
t" tighten under his grasp. and already
he began to feel the weight Of his vic.
tim, when his arm fell to his side
and his knees gave way under him,
and he dropped 4 litc!ess corpse upon
the ground, as the report Of well
aimed rifle rang upon the ear from the
margin OF the swamp in their front.
Then was heard us,ling as of the
wind among the tree tops-thcn the
trampinS Of icct-then the clan king oi
sabrcs rattling against their steel
scabbards-and with the command to
: charge - uttered in tones that fell
upon the ear like thunder, fcarfully
there loomcd out from the shadows o.
the swamp long dusky line Of horse
men, with gathering hoois and glcam-
ing sabrcs, rushing in swift, and
noisy, and deadly army upon the ter
ror-strickcn and palc.chcckcd tories,
who screamed for mercy, and fled
wildly and bIindIy for some place of
refuge. But the avenger Of blood was
upon their track, and the destroying
angel hovcred aboyc their camp, and
pointed the swords OF Marion's men.
The war.cry OF "Carolina and Inde.
pcndcnce!' coupled with cries of" no
quarters to the tories!" runy terribly
on their guilty ears. In vain they
He'd for saccor to their camp fires,
where many Of their comrades stood
with their weapons by their side
The rifles OF Marion's men, levclled
rom the shadows around, were aimed
with fatal accuracy upon the jewellers
around the fire, aud had already begun
the work Of death in this quarter OF
the field. Unconscious Of the burst.
ling storm, they fell, some in the midst
OF their drunken orgies, with oaths
and imp' ccatious on their lips, others
where thoy safe playing at cards cx-
ultIng over their success, or in the
midst o! unfinished games with the
upliilcd cards in their hands.
While the rifles thinncd them out
by scores, the Dragons with cleaning
sabrcs pursued them over the moonlit
field, and hcwed them down in their
tracks as they fled and screamed for
mercy. An hour of terrible retribu-
ton had fallen upon them, and re.
morseless!y was the penalty of their
many crimes cXactcd in this hour oi
unexpected security. The carnage
Was over in brief space, and the vic.
tors were tho masters of field which
was covered with tho dead and the