, 1859-03-11

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Nor is it any wonder If such spirits such tan
gular heads" with organs like enormous promon-
tories. should so often be driven to excess, and
carry their liberty into license, their daring to
desperationi In the morals Of towns they have
seen so much imposture, that many Of them
learn to doubt the reality Of one-half the virtues
and they are SO thoroughly disguised with the
hollow hypocrisy Of urban social life that they
almost or altogether, cease to value the bitter
boon Of existence itself!
Let me endeavor to paint one Of these origin
ais, and some scenes Of a strange character in
which he acted prominently.
On the 9th day Of October, 1889, was sitting
on the portico in front of the Lone Star" tavern
in the town Of Nacogdoches, Eastern Texas, sur
yeying with much interest q spectacle that, to
me, was not only new, but entirely unique, and
l may say, before that time, also unimagined.
had only arrived as q stranger in the village
on the previous evcning-and indeed it was my
first visit to the young republic, which had
determined to perambulate and thoroughly map
out in my mind The hotel where had taken
up my transient lodging was situated on one side
Of the public square, in the centre Of which stood
the temple Of justice-a large log house, COM
posed Of unhewn trees, with the bark on, and
the longest that could be found in the neighbor-
| ing forests so as to make tho hall as capacious
as possible. 1t was the first Monday Of the Dis
trict Court the day for the empannelling Of the
grand and petit juries, when it was expected also
that several notorious lynchers would be indicted
and put upon their trial In fact, almost the
whole population Of the country had occasion to
be in attendance as parties, witnesses, officers,
| or in some other character. Consequently, at
nine o'clock in the forenoon, when was seated
near the door of the tavern before mentioned,
the open space Of several acres around the court
house was densely thronged by hundreds, or it
may be thousands Of human beings in q high
state of excitement, both from moral and physi-
cal cause.-the first relating to the agitation on
the subject Of lynching; and the second con.
sisting Of copious fiery streams, Ierpetually
flowing into innumerable thirsty throats from the
dozen groceries with which all sides Of the pub
lie square were so fully provided.
The noise, confusion, and strife were truly in
describable. For the last two hours, there had
been a fistic ight on an average, atleast every
twenty minutes, while loud quarrels and fierce
denunciations had for the same period been in
eessant Oaths might DO heard more awful than
ever fell from the lips Of sailor. Shouts were
uttered wilder than ever painted savage yelled
in the'heat Of battle. Thick crowds Of men
swayed to and fro, as everybody cssaycd to ap-
proach the different focal points Of combat where
the knocks were most numerous In fine, it
was more like tho orgies Of flends in pandemon-
i
tice. Every now and then, the report Of pis-
tol sounded through the tumult, or the flash Of
bowie knife might be seen in the sunlight, but
as vet no one was killed or mOrtally wounded.
Presently l perceived q rustic-looking man,
considerably past the meridian Of life, riding to-
wards the tavern. He was dressed in very
coarse common clothing, and his personal appear
ance indicated poverty; but such an Inference
was contradictcd To certain extent by the noble
l. l.. g.
pistols that showed their costly gold and silver
mounting above the holsters on his saddle-bone
Although his countenance, as well as form,
evinced many effects Of age, and his long white
hair seemed thin and dead, as It waved around
his shoulders in the wind, his face was ruddy
and cheerful, wearing an aspect Of great bold
ness and indomitable courage, and possessing an
Irish cast not to be mistaken.
As this person arrived within few rods Of the
portico, where had my scat, the landlord issued
from the door with hurried steps, and features
inflamed to an expression Of wrath and hatred
the most perfectly internal that ever remember
to have observed, familiar as have been with
scenes Of mortal strife. lIG rushed towards the
elderly stranger, and said, in q hoarse, menacing
voice:
"Ohl you arc the rascal that cheated me in
horse-swop, and sec that you still have my
splendid Selim!"
at is false!' answered the othor, in tones
stern and singularly calm, under the eireum-
stances "I did not cheat you in any sort Of
swop, and this animal is not yours, but mine"
"Did you not trade me spawned horsel ?"
shouted the landlord, trembling In every limb
with rage.
"Thc trade was one of your seeking" replied
the other, without change Of voice or manner;
"and certainly did not enter into any stpula-
ton or warranty as to soundness." -
The coolness and intrepidity Of tho stranger
aroused his foe into state Of ungovcrnable fury,
and sczing the horse by the bride, he cried out,
in savage accents: "Dismount this instant, or
I will blow you to the devil !" and suiting the
action to the threat, he drew pocket-pistol and
cooked Il at the others head.
al will not ismount so blaze away as soon
as you pleaser was tho fearless response.
The landlord fired, and his bullet striking
against the handle Of large knife in his enemy's
bosom, shivered It into small pieces, but glanced
off without doing any other injury.
The old mans eyes instantaneously cleaned
like those Of wild beast and the murdcrous
Ierocity Of his cOuntenance was absolutely ap-
| palling, as he exclaimed: at Is my turn now
Die like dog, as you arel" and with the last
word, he snatched pistol from his holsters, and,
quick as thought, before q spectator could cry
"Hold! !" had any one bcen so disposed, ball Of
cold lead had passed through the landlords
brain!
The entire alteration from first to last Occu.
pied but few moments, SO that the deed was
done ere many persons on the ground knew that
q quarrel was brewing. But when the news
spread around and through the courthouse, the
excitement became dreadful The landlord had
been extremely popular, and had besides num-
ber Of relatives present who, Of course, ardently
wished to avCnge his death; while tho old man
that had committed the justihablc homicide was