Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-12-26
NO. so.
Death In the Eye.

early history OF that State. He veil
deserved the title which he had won
by many a desperate deed. He pos
sessed such Incredible skill in the use
o: all sorts OF murderous weapons,
that it might bs pronounced virtual
suicide TO even think OF encountering
him, so rapid was his motion, SO uner-
ring his mortal aim. The terrible
oog,sor,ef1 Death in the Eye" told
truly the mark at which he always
fred-s mark hehadnever once missed
while such was his astonishing
quiokness that his antagonists usually
fell without pulling q trigger. An
enemy stood no better chance by re-
sorting to the sword or the bowie
knife, against one in whose hands the
fssh OF steel vas like lghtning-as
swift. as mighty 10 slay-ons who ap-
psared TO surpsse all other men as
much IN strength as IN activity
giant IN stature, Gend in courage.
His biography in itself was more thrill
ling than g novel, wilder than the wild
est romance and ths very first act of
his dreadful daring revealed, in all
their force and fullnsss, tae two essen
tial elements Of his character-the
ferocious ardor of his appetite for re-
venge, and the iron pertinacity of his
irdomitable will. At the age of twen-
ty he pursued tho assassin of his
brother all the way from Carolina to
Canada, and shot him dead at the din
nsr table of q tavern in Quebec yet
such had been the cunning Of his pre-
vious arrangements fer the event, that
aided by numerous relays Of swift
horses, he effected his escape safely to
the South. The achievement cost b m
ten thousand dollars.
From this time forward his life was
one long war. Almost every month in
the year saw him engaged in some IA
hurtfHl to him-while each week Wit
often as bloody as his more regular
eombate. He was the Napoleon of the
knife and pistol. But the truth of i'm
partial history compels me to record
that this man, SO fearful in his deeds,
whose right arm reeked with gore to
the elbow, was not commonly the ag-
sressor in his countless Quarrels. -
Often the friends of those be had van
auished in fair fight assaulted him,
from motives Of revenge. The fame
Of his prowess provoked tho vain ieal-
ousy Of others. He had acquired the
rerilous reputation Of a matchless
hero-the ardent. the desperate, the
ambitious would win, if possible. his
lsurels. Every young Hercules longed
20 kill the lion. so as to clothe himself
ia his akin, and lus was Borlin forced
TO maintain an interninable war. 1t
IS SO in all professions. There ca1 be
20 peace in high eces-storm, hail
and thunder must break around the
mountains brow.
This duelist was oaa OF the earliest
in Eastern Texas. where he became
the chief Of tt Lvrching party. In
his own coun Y q Harrison he DOS
sesssd boundiess influence indeed,
be would not suffer 8 foe to reside
within its limits. Hence, he might
have openly defed the officers OF the
law, had such been hie pleasure but
his shrewd and fsr.seeing sagacity
adopted wiser and safer oours 9
After perpetrating any homicide be
invariably submitted his OVID case to
the grand jury, sure OF triumphant
soquitsal by his friends On tliai and
thus, should public se,tinent ever
turn against him in the futur,, he
would be enabled to plead effettual
verdicts il bar Of al. past offences.
At length the time arrived which the
Colonel had so long anticipated. A
wealthy and intelligent class OF citizens
bsgs to SO change the current OF cpin-
ion in Hsrrison, that in the county
election the frienda OF order, by q
slight naiority, gained their candidate
for sheriff This was a terrible blow
20 the Lyrchers, as it deprived them
OK their secure vantage ground in
packing juries: and 10 increase theil
danger, at this unpropitious crisis, g
neg Judge was also appointed. The
! old faction, however, did not de pair
! They were stiii numerous, thoroughly
! armed, and dezperadoes 10 man, anC
| de.sreined, at the frs: court, to mus
/ ter all their strength, SO as to contro
F: ard overswo the proceedings.
, At nine O'Clock in the morning o
: the seoond Monday IN September
! 1919. the nev judge took his seat OF
| tie bench. He vas a stranger from
! sae West, whose name alone had trans
! pi:sd, and whose appearaucs, at first
inspired tho desperadoes with hope
. and the friends o5 order With ooub
and painful apprehension, Char e
Evans wss -cuug man OF thirty y-tw
tall, slender. extremely handsome
and dressed with the most dnica
Hs.e- his fingers flashing with rings
and his person adorned IN the mos
gaudy manner. His long hair cf
bright golden color wa ing i'll curl
sround his shoulders, and the Ewee
smile of compisoent vanity beaming o
l., L., a
most ludiorously feminine.
! Colonel Bill Borlin gazed on thi
appari.ion with insffable contempt
and whispered to his comrades-''W
will have it all our own way. es Hous
ton has kindly sent rs lH,ss Nancy!
If the Colonel had paid more after
ton to the man, and less to the cloti
ing, he would. perhaps, have been lie
70 different conclusion; for there WE
a strange light in the vivid blue eye
| Of the stranger light that went an
came &; irregular intervals, like tl
play Of lightning in q summer clout
while the corners OF his mouth wore
wild. resolute, sneeriug expression
be.okening the opposite of plane
and fear.
The grand jnry being called an
sworn. the Judge commenced b
charge. and at the sound of his vol.
} everybody started. for the tones We
shril as n trumpet-stern, ringing
imrerious, like the accents of a cor
lrnander on parade. Having glsnc,
rapidly over the legal definitions al
penalties OF crime, he proceeded
deseent ON the responsibility of juri
To- aid in IFS suppression. His 80
appeared to catch electric ire at &
fhene-his voice borrowed the Ri
roll Of thunder-his vivid blue ey
literally blazed with that strange hg
tho wild expression grew terrible
his writhiDg .ips-and his words flt
like volleys OF burning arrows. !
painted the horrars of )aw!ezs ansrcl
till the very heart steksned; he descr
ed the beauty OF regular governnne
AZ vision Of heaven realized on cart
and he finally closed with the be
aanouneement-"I will do my dut
will put down lynohing wherever
have the honor Of prssiding, or
nSss!: I've put in the grsve!
Then, Mics Nancy, take care
your eyes!" cried a hoarse Yolt