The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-08-19
OKOLONA, MISS, AUGUST 10, 1858

"Oh! you are the rascal that cheated
me in horse swOp, and see that you
still have my splendid Selim -
alt is false I" answered the other, in
tones stern and singularly calm, under
the circumstances. =" l did not cheat you
in any sort of swop, and this animal is
not yours, but mine"
"Did you not trade me a spawned
horse 7" shouted the landlord, trembling
in every limb with rage.
"The trade was of your own seeking"
replied the other, without change of voice
or manner; "and I certainly did not en-
ter into any stipulation or warranty as to
soundness."
The GOODNESS and intrcpidity of the
stranger aroused his foe into a state OF
ungovernabe fury and seizing the horse
by the bride, he cried out, in savage ac-
cents: Dismount, this instant, or will
blow you to the devil! p and suiting the
action to the threat, he drew pocket
pistol and cooked it at the others head
"I will not dismount, so blaze away
as soon as you please - was the fearless
response.
The landlord fired, and his bullet strik-
ing against the handle of q large knife
in his cnemy's bosom, shivered it into
small pieces, but glanced off without do
ing any other injury.
The old mans eyes instantaneously
cleaned like some wild beast, and the
murderous ferocity of his countenance
was absolutely appalling, as he exclaim-
ed: "It is my turn now Die like a
dog, as you are /" and with the last
word, he snatched pistol from his hols-
ters and quick as thought, before spec
tator could cry "Hold - had any one
been so disposed, a ball Of cold lead pass
ed through the landlords brain
The entire alteration from first to last
occupied but few moments, so that the
deed was done ere many on the ground
knew that quarrel was brewing. But
when the news spread around and through
the courthouse, the excitement became
dreadful The landlord had been ex.
tremely popular, and had besides num-
Der of relatives present, who, of course
ardently wished to avenge his death
while the old man that had committed
the iustifable homicide was an utter
stranger and without friend so that
when some one in the dense circle of hui
man faces darkening about him, exclaim
ed in loud voice: Let us lynch him
Let us seize and hang him without judge
or jury !" There appeared to be nt
chance whatever for him to escape will
his life; for the throng Immediately made
a rush and dragged him from his horse
They then procured a rope, and were pre-
pairing to suspend him on tree before
| The tavern door, when an unexpected
phenomenon occurred to interrupt The
execution of their barbarous purpose.
The sound of galloping hoofs was
heard, and a horseman came flying at tul
speed towards the place where the mur
der was about to be perpetrated. Ihl
was the most remarkable person, both il
physical appearance and in externa
equipment, that | ever beheld, either be
fore or since. He was tall, but exceed
ingy we'll proportioned-not oppressed
with superabundance of muscle, agile a
the airy antelope and yet powerful as tn
lion. One half his face was concealed
by enormous masses of red beard, tina
trailed down at least eighteen inches OIL
his breast, while the remainder of his Wis
age showed that sun-burnt, sallow hue s.
common to certain class in the South
and which is not so much a sign of il
health as of the bilious, irritable TEN
. permanent, which spurns at all control an
delights in everlasting excitement-th
wild, eagle-nature that loves to soar aboy
, the terrors of the storm, and to live j
+ the beams of the brightest day. iii
eyes, however, had the strangest pecul
arity. They were not mates. One wa
azure as the cloudless sky of summer
! and mild and merciful in its expression
while the other was fiery yellow, CLEAN
! ing with flashes of intermittent light, a
if from the pulses of passional volcan
4 within the brain, and which actually cauS
ed every beholder that met bis gaze {
, shrink with sort of unearthly awe.
'. is only necessary, so far as the purpose
! of this narrative are concerned, that "
! should add one more characteristic, !
! order to complete the singular portral
j His arms possessed unnatural length, an
d terminated in huge, heavy hands, such a
! Sampson might be supposed to have use
when he bowed himself beneath the grea
/ pillars and shook down the temple {
Dagon. Such was Jack Mills, the--bt
v we must not anticipate what will NOR
\ properly present itself in another an
h subsequent connection.
Z He was dressed in the ordinary clotl
# ing which was worn by the most respe'
r table class, at that period, in Texas, VII
\ the exception of bis outer garments
i This was long buckskin coat--or, as
i is there called, hunting shirt--profusel
II