The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-05-11

horribly mutilatcd and scalped. The
son han died, nobly fighting, as his
wounds attested, and the youngest
daughter was mangled in an equally
horrible manner.
A still FURTHER search resulted in the
discovery of Mr.. Denver. He had
bee scalped, but was still alive, and
had crawled into ditch for conceal
ment But lie was insensible.
All search for Mary was vain-she
was 10 where to be found.
Among those present was young
man who appeared to be deeply affect
ed by this terrible deed, and he even
wept. But drying his tears, he ex-
claimed:
81 must leave tears for women.
Men must think Of revenge. Where is
Edwin Hobart?"
He does not appear to be here"
"Not here! He must be found at
once. He is a yonng man like myself,
and must become one of the leaders in
this matter. 1t shall be followed up to
the bitter end"
Hobart was nowhere to be found
and Charles Barry, the weeping man,
appeared somewhat uneasy. Then he
limited his suspicious; and at last de-
clared openly that if Hobart did not
soon return, he should believe that the
deed was committed under his direc-
ton, by savages whom he had employ
ed. Allnsion was then made to the re-
lection of Hobart by Mary, and he was
understood to have made terrible
threat at the time. -
Mr.. Denver was now able to speak a
few words. Ae told them that savages
had done the work; bHt that lie believ-
ed them to be headed by white man
in disguise. ii3ail
:" Could that white man have been
Edwin Hobart 2" asked Barry.
Mr.. Denver remained silent for a
time. It appeared to be difficult
question to answer. But he finally
said: .t2Gr
off Hobart had any motive for doing
this, and could believe him capable of
committing so terrible a deed, might
fix the guilt upon him; for certain it is
that the white man was about the size
of Hobart, and his movements were
much the same" @ ai3
He is the guilty one," said Barry +;
"and by Heavens, HE shall suffer! III
hnnt him to the very ends of the earth,
but / will bring him back"
The day passed, and the excitement
increased in the little settlement. Ho-
bart was still absent. Scouts had been
sent out, however, in search of him,
and just as night was coming on, he
was brought back. - .tF
BY. this time the excitement had
reached such pitch that the infuria-
ted people could scarsely be restrained
from rushing upon him and tearing him
to pieces. But Barry assumed the
command and declared that everything
must be done in order.
| The trial was brief one. Hobart
could explain his absence no furthei
than to declare that he had merely
been away on hunt. This was unsat
isfactory.
just before the decision was given
an Indian came forward and offered t.
give in his testimony. He was per
fmitted to do SO; and he declared tina
Hobart had tried to hire him sons
days before, to engage in that work
but that he had declined. =
This was enough. The Indian was {
drunken, worthless fellow; but hi
words were believed-more especial,
as the accused had been recently seel
in earnest conversation with him. HO
bart was condemned to be hanged a
midnight.
n .
Two hours were to elapse before th
Execution was to take place. Durin
this time preparation for it must b
made. ~ s
Barry had resolved that it should b
a grand affair, An example must b
made of Hobart for the benefit of al
such as should be inclined to do wron
in the future. rs
il The preparations were complete a
/ haf-past eleven. A gallows had bee
r erected upon an open field. Aronn
| this, on every side, was heaped u
1 quantities of brushwood, forming cir
4 Gle. These were to be lighted, and tn
$ prisoner then marched to his doom.
2 There was no place where Hobal
a could be imprisoned with safety, an
4 so he was firmly bound with ropes an
placed PROSTATE upon the ground.
j, addition to this, heavy chains wer
: placcd upon him, and forked limbs Gu
d from trees, the prongs sharpened, an
S driven down into the earth over h
+ limbs. In this most painful positio
r the poor accused was kept for tw
IN cooo. :,