The true Democrat., 1857-04-07
PAUL DENTON. UT the Texas Camp Meeting.


 apparently rendered all efforts of a like kind perfectly hopeless Indeed this meridian. at that period, was most uncongenial to relgious and moral enterprise. The country borderino on the Sabine has been occupied, rather than settled, by class of adventures almost as wild as the savages whom they had scarcely expel- led, and the beasts of prey which still disputed thelr domaln of the prmeva forests. Profes- slonal ambers, refugees from the iail, abscond- ed debtors, outlaws from every land, forgers of false com, thieves, robbers, murderers, inter- spersed among race of uneducated hunters and herdsmen, made up the strange social miscella- ny; without courts, or prlsonS or churches, or even the shadow of civil authority or subordi- hatlon--a sort ot unprnciped pandemonium, where the herce passions sat enthroned waving US bloody sceptre the naked bowie knife Let ho one accuse me oi exaggeration for the sake oi dramatic effect; l am speaking now of Shel oy county-that home of the Lvnchers- terrible locate where, ten years later, forty per sons were poisoned to death at marriage sup. per!
 It will be obvious that, in such community. very lew would be disposed to patronize camp meetings, and accordingly dozen different trials, at various times, had never collected a hundred hearers on one occasion. But even these were not permitted to worship in peace: uniformly, the first day or night, a band of armed desperadoes, headed by a notorious Watt Foeman chief judge and executioner of the Shelby Lynchers, broke into the altar and scat tered the mourners, or ascended the pulpit and treated the prea hers to gratuitous robe of tar and feathers. Hence all prudent evaneclists soon learned to shun the left bank of the Sa- oihe, as II It had been infested by cohort of demons; and two whole years elapsed without any new attempt to erect the cross in so peri lous field.
 At length, however, an advertisement ap- peared promising another effort in behalf of the gospel. The notice was unque-a perfect oack Wood'S curlosty-both as to its tenor and mode of publication. Let me give it verbatiua ct liter atim:
 BARBECUE CAMP MEETING.
 here will be a camp meeting. to con- mence on the last Monday of this month. at the Double Spring Grove, near Peter Brinson,s. Ill the county of Shelby.
 The exercises will open with a splendid borbecue. Preparations are being made to suit all tastes; there will be a good barbecue. better llquor and the best of gospel
 "PAUL DENTON,
 Missionary M. k. Church."
 September l. '36'
 This singular document was nailed to inc door of every public house and grocery: it was attached to the largest trees at the nter,ections ot all cross roads and principal trails: and even the wandering hunters themselves found it in remote delIs of the mountain, miles away from the smoke ot a human habtation.
 At hrst many regarded the matter as a hoax played oil by some wicked wag in ridicule of popular credullty. But this hypothesis was heSatlVei by the statements of Peter Brinson proprietor oi the "Double Spring Grove;" who ihio med all lhqWrers, "that he had been em- II"yeo ana pali stranger, calling himself me'hoHlSt misslonarv, to provide an ample bar becue, at the period and place advertised."
 But the hquor-thc better liquor-are you to furnish the liquor too?o was the inyariable question of each visitor.
 " The missionary said he would attend to that hmseIt,' replied Crimson.
 lie must be a precious original" was the general rejoinder A proposition which most of them afterwards had an opportunity to verify Xpermentaly.
 need hardly add that an intense excite ment resulted. The rumor took wing; flew on the wlnd; turned to stnrm-of exaggeration- every echo increased it's sound till nothing else could be heard but the Barbecue Camp Meet '5' ""ec"lle tile IocuS of thought, the staple ol dreams. And thus the unknown preacher had Insured ole thing in advance, congrega- uoh emOracIns the entire population of the country which was, 1t is likely, the sole pur- pose of his stratagem.
 l was travelling in that part of Texas of tho time, and my imagination being nflamed by the common curiosity, I took some trouble and attended. But although my eyes witnessed the extraordinary scene may well despair of the undertaking to pantit-thc pen of Homer, or the pencil of Ilogarth, were alone adequate to the subllmity and burleslue of the compli- cated task l may only sketch the angular outlines.
 space had been cleared away immediately around the magnificent Double Spring." which boiled up with force sufficient to turn a mill "heeI, Tn the very centre of the ever green grove. Here pulpit had been raised, and be- lore It was the lnseparable altar for mourners. beyond these at distance of fifty paces sue cesslon of plane tables extended in the form of great clrcIe, or the permeter of povgon, completely enclosing the area about the spring. An oderlerons steam, of most delicious savor, dlitused itself through the air; this was from the pits m the adjacent prairie, where the fifty slaves ot Peter Brinson were engaged in cook ing the promsci barbecue.
 he grove itself was literally alive, teeminn sWarmng running over with strange figures in human shape, men, women and children in every variety of outlandish costumes All Shelby county was there. The hunters had come, rifle in hand, and dogs barking at their heel,; the rogues, refugees, and gamblers with pistols in their belts, and big knives peepnc rom thelr shirt bosoms; while here and there might be seen a sprinkling of well dressed tHair rJ
 The tumult was deafening, tornado of bab- ling tongues, talking, shouting, quarrelling, betting and cursng for amusement Suddenly cry arose "Colonel Watt Foeman. Hurrah for Colonel Watt Foenan," and the crowd part ed to the right and left, to let the lion lyncher pass.
 turned to the advancing loadstar of all eyes, and shuddered nvoluntarly at the devil ish countenance which met my glance; and yet the features were not only youthful, but emi- nenty handsome; the hideousness lay in the look, tull Of savage fre-ferocous, murderous It was Tn the reddish yellow eye balls, with narrow pupils that seemed to flash jets of lurd flame; Tn thin sneerln5 lips with their everlast- Ing icy smile. As to the rest, he was tall. ath- letc, very powerful man. His train, dozen armed desperadocs, followed him.
 Foeman spoke in a voice, sharp and piercing. as the point of dagger. Eh, Crimson, where Is the new missionary: We want to give him plumed coat?
 He has not arrived yet" replied the plan ter.
 Well, suppose we must wait for him; put the barbecue on the boards; I am as hungry as a starved wolfe"
 "l cannot till the missionary comes; the bar becue is his property"
 fearful light blazed in Foeman's eyes as he took three steps towards Brinson, and fairly shouted
 Fetch the meat instantly or I'll fill your own stomach with dinner of lead and steel!,'
 Ths was the ultimatum of one whose au. thorlty was the only law, and the planter obey ed without a murmur. The smoking viands were arranged on the tables by scores of slaves and the throng prepared to commence the Sumptuous meal when A yoice healed from tbo