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

Indeed, the cost of the entire article could
not be less than one thousand dollars
He bore on his shoulder an immense
shotgun, with double barrels, and a cou-
pie of Colts deadly repeating rifles hung
in vast holsters before him, while pair
of pistols of the same murderons manu-
facture were fastened to the hind part of
his saddle, and two duelling pistols and
two derringers, with the most gorgeous
embellishments, were supported by his
belt Thus he carried thirty rounds rea-
dy for any passage of arms. | am con-
scious that this statement looks like fic-
ton, but all who are personally familiar
with social life in the Lone Star repub-
lie, at that period, will bear me out in
the assertion that the foregoing descrip-
tion is not even exaggerated. There
were numbers, among them the famous
ranger Captain Hays, who, with the aid
of surplus cylinders, all charged, could
fire eighty times without re-loading.
AS this man so terribly weaponed, rode
at full speed towards the point where the
lynching was about to take place, he ap-
peared determined to charge through the
mighty mass of human beings gathered
around the gallows. So thought the
crowd, and parted in sudden consterna-
ton to let him pass. Onward he came,
like the wind, and halted within a few
PAGES of the tree which had been chosen
to bear the accursed fruit of assassina-
ton.
On discovering who was the destined
victim, he seemed instantly to recognize
him, and exclaimed in merry voice
Hey Bill Diamoud what are you
doing here, with rope around your
neck You are the very last man in the
world that | should have expected td
commit suicide p ,
:" | assure you that to me at least it Il
no Joking natter" answered the old mar
under the rope, with the rueful imitation
of smile, which resembled much more
however, the grin of an enraged bulldog,
showing his teeth before he bites.
81 see" said the other without chang.
ing his joval tones of careless Indifference
"they are going to lynch you; but the
question is, for what cause q
+" For shooting a scoundrel who fired
at me first" replied Bill Diamond; ane
he proceeded to relate the circumstances
in few words.
I" AS to the fact of his firing at you first
| am satisfied said the other, 81 for
heard both shots and / could swear to the
crack of your pistol among ten thousand
and that is what brought me here in sucl
hurry" Then turning tothe ringleadel
of the mob, who had hitherto remained il
a sort of stupefaction at this unaccount
able interference he asked, in the same
good humored accents that he had al
along employed "Gentlemen as mer'
matter of curiosity, | would like to know
if, in this country, you are in the habit Q
hanging men for defending their owl
lives"
"What is that your business q ex
claimed Tom Owen, the captain and th'
arch h-lyncher of the throng, now thor
oughly recovered from his momentr.
astonishment. ..
| al stated that / wished to be informed
as a mere matter of curiosity, " said Jacl
Mills; "but | have personal interest
also because you may possibly take ]
into your heads to swing me up before W
part" .s.
ave shall surely do so," replie'
!. Owen, "if you meddle any more in,
thing which does not at all concern you.
You had better not try it, responde
Mills; and the blue eye beamed like
star, while the yellow one blazed a
J lightning. "You had better not try it, 70
YOU will find it dangerous sport, prom
J Use YOU"
"Who are you," calculated the lynch
er, bewildered, if not intimidated, b.
such an unaccountable stretch Of daring
"Jack Mills, of Arkansas" was tn
answer in naughty voice, - .
"Itis false" cried Tom Owen; :" tn
man that you have just named, as ! hav
| always heard, is an orator, scholar, an
SeHtlcllidH put wv oi~ o"'y -
, fian."
The yellow eye turned red as Mills n
. sponded to the insult by deliberately spl
ting in Owens face. h4a
] The latter snatehed pistol out of h
pocket, and fired at the Others head, bu
singular to say, altogether missed h
f aim. y.
t Not SO did Jack Mills. With tt
. swiftness Of ray of light, he let fall I'll
double-barreled gun from his shonlde
and presenting, discharged twenty bne
: shot into Owens breast, literally blowin
: out his heart, and qnenching the lamp
b life ere the powder smoke had ceased
: curl in the surrounding air. A terrib
{ shout arose from the frieeds of the ia
: len lyncher, and anumber of weapon
# we're drawn to avepge him, va