Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-02-23

OF primeval happiness, now lit up, with his frs
rays, smodering ruins, blackened walls, tw'
charred and grinning skeletons, sad memorial
OF yesterdays happiness, two flowers breathet
upon by death ere they were faded or soiled BY
the simoons of a hot and pestilcnt world.
Ten years have flown by since that night o
horrors. Ten years Of sorrow, pain, joy; ter
years OF stupendous change. In that time have
been enacted some of the most sublime drama:
of Time; the Lone Star Of Texas still shine;
brightly in the armament but ominous cloud;
seem to threaten it's brillancy. Mexico agair
asserts her right to that beautiful province
wrested from her grasp by the heroes of San
Jacinto. The tocsin of war again resounds over
the rich praries and everywhere the people
arc eager to "whip Mexico" Recruiting Offices
are everywhere opened and into one of these
let US stop for a moment reader, and study the
rich variety of originals which we shall find
there. AS we enter, fine manly voice is troll
ling some fine old ballad, commemorative of
American prowess by sea and land. Here, sit
ting on the bare floor is party of hunters,
looking OH at the strange doings-to theua-oi
their moro civilized companions. Suddenly all
are hushed still as death, for they instinctively
know that some deed Of blood and violence is
about to be perpetrated. "Liarw shouts tall
commanding man to covering and frightened
man at his feet; "you are one of the villains
who burnt my house, murdered my wilo and
child, and would have served me the same way
ii had not got out Of your clutches; you are
the last Of 'eln, but it shall never be said that
Jack West ever took the life of Ills bittercst foe
without n chance; your mustang is good one;
mount him, and if you can get away you can
hoy o1yNI, h,,t ,Iohx
for you internal gang showed me and mine
none. Go, five minutes. start, and the Lord
have mercy on you if the mustang fails you."
The speaker turned, and walking up to the light,
commenced putting fresh caps on his revolver,
had been speaking arose, and casting look of
hatred and fear at West, rushed precipitately
from the room.
"What do you intend to do to him, Colonel ?"
asked pompOus, portly individual coming up,
and laying his hand falniarly on the shoulders
Of West.
"Send him to hell" was the instant reply,
and the large man shrunk back into the crowd,
for all knew the character of West, and none
cared te arou.e him.
Without word to anyone, he left tue room,
and in moment the furious beat of his horses
boots told that the avenger was OH the track OF
his victim. For miles and miles the prairie |
stretched out like an undulatug sea, terminating
its waves Of verdure in all immense cypress |
swamp; and toward this swampthe wretch who
was then strangely afforded chance of his life |
was now fastening with frantic speed. 1t was
/ strange race. The moon, full orbed, rode
high in the heavens shedding food of silvery
'adxa:e on all Objects making i almost as
;eigned around, broken only ny tramp;
ramp Of the pursued and pursuer. Nearer and
nearer does he draw to the doomed wretch, and
with shrek of despair does the hopeless man
zee that it is impossible for him to reach that
place of refuge. Even now the breath OF bis
,ncmy's stced comes like fire Into bis face, and
with one mure bound they are side by side,
"Sparc, mo o, for COTS sake, mercy"
yelled the terror stricken fugitive.
The only answer was sharp, quick flash a
stunning report, and the murderer stood in the
presence uf that God whom he had outraged by
ls crime on eaith. Gone! unaneled, unan-
aointed with his white, ghaStly face unturned
10 the sky and the red blood dabbing the
sweet white flowers, the last Of that murderulS
hand which hal malred forever the happiness
Of the cold stern man sitting on his horse, look
ng impassyely ON the face of tue dead man,
thinking tlrea,uily, perhaps, Of the dear home
and its dearer inmates, lost to him in this world
forever.
Reader, this is no fancy sketch. John West
is not the name of the man, one incident OF
whose varied life we hare endeavored to give
you but his name is inscribed high on the rolls
of fame. Should this ever meet the eye OF
Texan Ranger he will, perhaps, remember the
night before the walls of Monterey, where ne
told this story to his companions, end stripping
who formed one of the group Of listeners.