Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-07-06
JUDGE LYNCH IN LAWN.

JUDGE LYNCH IN LAWN.
Possessing the fine imagination you
do, dear reader, conceive yourself, upon
brilliant Sunday morning in the
spring, in the center of the vast cypress
swamp, west of the Mississippi river
You are one of large camp of emi-
grants from east of the Father of Waters,
on your way, with two households com
posing the camp. to a new home upon
the banks of the White river. Be de
liberate in acceding to this imagination,
since, if you do, 1t makes you II member
of church, for the camp is not only a
neighborhood atloat, q future town upon
White river in the air; it is also Il repu-
larly organized church, pastors, officers,
members and all. In that large wagon
with the close covering, off to the right,
is particularly large and new trunk
containing the pulpit cushions, com
munion, service and font, tn huge gilt
Bible, the church records, and all the
lesser volumes for the psalmody and
the Sabbath school Of the building for
worship, which, by the by, will be the
very first structure erected when this
church itinerant shall have reached its
selected resting place.
Look around youl If the woods are
natures churches, these gigantic live
oaks and expresses which environ the
closely clustered tents and wagons of
the camp, with their limbs interlockins
overhead, draped in great banners OF
hanging moss of the peculiar gray of an
old mans beard, make up to-day Il
cathedral. Nor is the dim religious
light wanting, SO dense is the hanging
moss and the foliage above and around.
Nor is actual worship lacking. The
men and women, in their Sunday de
meanor and clothing, are seated in a
semi-circle, of which a rude pulpit i
the center, upon the hide 'bottomel
chairs, brought along largely for this
very purpose. A baby being carefully
hushed upon its mothers bosom there,
an aged woman here, 4 white headed
patriarch supporting his chin, as he sits
upon the horn handled top Of his cane,
his right hand followed behind his ear,
that he may lose none of the sermon
these, with others of every age, make
up the congregation; one more solemn
and deeply serious meets nowhere else
in the world this Sunday morning.
Breathless solemnity, even, for the
venerable pastor is Just closing Il sermon
upon the divine command from crt;l-
ton to sIay the murdc,cr; and imme,l-
ately before him. beside some long oh
ject supported 10y Il horse-trough under
each end, and covered with u quilt Of
white Marseilles, sits the murderer,
already condemned to die, and to hc
hung rs soon us the bencdicton is pro
nounced The facts being simply these:
John Armstrong, q sandy. haired, nuge-
Hmbed resoiutc Scotch irLshman. pillar
OF this church, and born leader among
men, was the getIerup Of this move of
the church from its worn-out lands in
North Carolina to the new and fertile
location selected by himself after years
OF careful examination cut West, sent
out by the church for that purpose. As
the leader of the party, he always rides
few hours in advance of the camp,
along the military road upon which th,y
are .loumcying through the swamp. to
select camping spot for each night.
Now, only last Monday, they stayed in
Memphis day or so, making the last
purchases before leaving all civilization
behind and piunging into II world al
most az new as il created the year be,
re. Al that date Memphis swarmcd
with desperadoes, flying from the older
States, unwilling to 20 on to Texas if
they could avoid it. One of these.
Beauty Harmon by name. chances in
Memphis upon John Armstrong while
making his purchases, for Armstrong
Is treasurer OF the colony as well as
everything else; sees him in possession
OF large SUMS follows him upon his
lonely ride in advance; shoots him
from behind 1pon this spot; rides on
with his plunder only to be ridden
down and captured by the young men
OF the colony, for escape is impossible in
such swamp; no turning off to the
right or the lett from the embankment
for the military road through the same
and the horses of the pursuers were
freshest and tleetest. And so, there the
murderer sits But far from silent.
Now it is impossible for the camp to
halt while the criminal is guarded back
to civilization. A long trial tarried for,
almost certain escape from the log Jail
there while awaiting trial! Besides, the
whole colony are wholly satisfied that
no jury can be found Just now III Mem
pins which will not be Il hung jury"
whatever the evidence, even if it does
not acquit the murderer, leaving him
iree to wreak after vengeance upon
them associated, as they have every
reason to believe he is, with the "Mui'-
rell gang" then the terror of that
region. No! The matter has been
thoroughly discussed all the Saturday
night by the men of the colony, the
pastor presiding, and with frequent
prayer for Divine guidance. Are they
not IN town? The having not Yet
reached, and actually turned their tent.
into log cabins upon their town site