Squatter sovereign., 1856-03-18
Harris walked TO the table, and looking


savagely at Bill said:
ssLook here, sir, you cheated me-you
must give back my money"
"You cannot touch one cent of that mon
ey replied Bill.
We'll see about that, . said Harris, and
as he spoke he seized hold ofthe bag which
contained the dust.
..Stand back he's going to shoot p cri-
ed several voices. There was hurried
rush of the crowd, the sharp report of a pis-
tol and old Harris fell to the foor-a
corpse!
So quick and unexpected had been the
deed, that the by-standers stood horror
struck. and made no effort TO arrest Bill,
who, as soon as he discharged his pistol,
leaped over the PROSTATE body of Harris
and fled.
A few seconds the terrified crowd gaz-
ed at one another then there was wild
shot, and twenty men rushed out after the
muredrer, who was dartlng along the road
with speed towards the river.
Then came fearful racce between the
pursued and pursuers. Bill, being tall
and powerful man, ran with great rapidly
and would evidently, from all appearance,
outstrip them and escape He noticed
not the loud cry for vengeance which rang
from the crowd behind him. His object
was to cross the river, reach thick woods
opposite, and then aided by the darkness
of night. which was fast approaching, to
elude them. He was fast gaining on
his pursuers, the distance between them
growing wider and wider, and he already
imagined his escape certain, when noise
snote upon his ears more terrible than the
cries of those following him.
1t was the roar of water. The heavy
rains had swollen the river to tremen-
dous height, and as he turned bend in the
road, the boiling torrent rushed furiously
along few yards in front of him.
The bridge had been swept away -
Then for the first time cry of anguish
broke from the lips of the murderer, as
he saw his only chance to escape cut off.
On both sides ofhim was high perpen-
dicular bank, impossible for human be-
ing to ascend before him a roaring
flood, over which there was no egress be-
hind him, twenty merciless men, who were
now fast gaining upon him. Madly he
rushed from one side of the road to the
other, endeavoring to find some place in
which to escape. 1t was in vain!
He rushed to the very edge of the riv-
er, as if to throw himself into the boiling
current but his courage failed-,hat was
certain death! Widely he stretched out
his arms towards the opposite shore as if
seeking the aid Of some invisible power to
assist him! Vain hopes
On came his pursuers, their shouts grow
ing nearer and nearer; soon they would
be upon him, and then what could he hope
for2 Nothing but horrible and disgrace
full death-to be hung from the nearest
tree.
Newthev turn to the nearest road, and
foremost among them he recognises the
tall, rough man who first informed him he
had been cheating.-They discovered his
position-the bridge his only means to es-
cape gone-and sent forth loud shout Of
exultation. He turned, give one fearful
look behind him, then, with cry of defiance
threw himself into the river. His pursuers
stopped and gazed with awe at the strong
man, as he struggled with almost superhu-
man efforts against the swift current. He
did not gain an inch. and already he began
to be born down by the waters when a
voice cried out
"Shoot him shoot him -
Instantly dozen revolvers were disc
charged at the struggling man.
There was loud shrek, wild toss up
wards of the arms, and the body of the
murderer sank beneath the muddy waters.
A few seconds after it arose to the surface,
with its face upward, and was washed
ashore a few miles below the bar. Some
humane miners inclosed it in a rough eof-
fin, buried short distance from the bank
of the river. and placed rude slab at the
head, with the simple words "Alabama
bill.-.'.4 Gamblers Fafe.
sE In the days Of old, shoemaker
was condemned to be hung for some CRIME
but on the day of execution, it was discoy-