The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-24

Neady
The horses were under the line. Jack
steadying himself as he shouted his IA
milar say:
Watch the mare, boys she jumps
like a rabbit and runs like deer.
"Gow
Came from the judges stand, and the
animals sprang away
The horse upon which Jack was mount
ed obeyed the touch of his spur and liter
ally leaped from the stand Three quick,
big Jumps carried the mare full length
in front of the Flyer, and then like a
streak she tore down the track But the
Flyer was no sardine, as miner eXpr, ss-
ed it, and hung like leech upon that
length. keeping the distance as they
passed the stand the first time around,
gradually closing the gap on the last half
mile, and almost tapping Fans girth on
the home stretch.
The second start was even better than
the first and as the horses ran around
the track, throwing the dirt right and
left, the excited and almost crazy crowd
outside the fence saw that Martel's mare
would win-and she did. coming in three
lengths ahead of the Flyer, who almost
sank to the ground under her heavy ex-
ertons.
Wild and fierce were the plaudits that
greeted the close Of the race, and wilder
still the ellis that went up from that
crowd of rough miners and desperadoes
as Fanny Darling sprang from her ex-
hausted steed and bowed low and grace
fully to Jack, the Marquis, at the same
time saying:
lack, you've beat me, but ran you
hard
And Jack, the Marquis, bowing in re-
turn, replied:
Darling Fanny, you ran me hard,
but your namesake can't be beat, for
she jumps like rabbit and runs like
deer"
"You are liar She could have been
beat !" said Martel, bursting through the
crowd, and stood scowling at Jack, the
Marquis.
Quick as thought Jack sprung upon
Frenchman, and closing his fingers
tight around his throat, hurled him to
the ground.
A pistol shot rang out sharp and dead
ly on the air, and the Kentuckian who
had acted as one of the judges, fell to the
earth swrithing in his death agony. The
next moment Jack, the Marquis, stood
erect, with a long bowie-knfe dripping
with blood in his right hand, while Mar,
tel lay dying upon the bloody track
three gaping wounds in his breast, ind-
eating the cause of his horrible convul-
sions and strugglings.
The crowd, hardened as they were to
such sights, stood aghast at the doub-
lie murder which had been enacted so
rapidly before them, and they hesitated
to act.
Fan was the first to arouse, and start
ing forward, picked up the pistol lying
beside Martel, and looked around upon
the crowd ,sh outing in thri ling accents,
This man Martel killed Kentuck, and
has jumped the game himself. It's the
law Of the border, and there's no one to
blame"
All were not Of Fanny's opinion, how
ever, and Jack, the Marquis was already
in the hands of the law. Constable Bob,
as he was called, had laid his hand upon
the murder shoulder before Fanny had
concluded her lawless speech.
AS Jack, the Marquis was conducted
back to Peruvian. bar, whisperings and
ominous glances were exchanged among
the more respectable portion Of the spec
tators, and when the crowd once more
stood before the counter Of the Mag
nolia" or Long Tom, excited discus
Sions in regard to the murder were in
dulged in both for and against the only
participant, who was at that moment
secure in the cell of a rude Jail that the
country boasted. For some time past a
better class of men had been gathering
in and around Peruvian-bar, discounte-
nanced the lawless and bloody scenes
that were being enacted daily in the
county, and for weeks past rumors OF a
vigilance committee had been floating
about
This last series Of affairs capped the
climax, and the resolution to organize
the vigilance committee was fully deter
mined upon.
Night closed upon the scene of this
Forth OF July in Peruvian-bar, but with
it the excitement unabated. Crowds of
men gathered upon the corners and in
the streets, and it was soon whispered
that a body of men were in session at the
courthouse for the ostensble purpose of
regulating crime at the Bar, and making
few examples of those who had been
ruling with high and lawless hand.
Tho rumors were confirmed when Nick
DaLgerh Id, the owner of the best claim
on the Bar, read an order from the court
house veranda commanding, in the name
of the vigilance committee Of Peruvian
bar, all such char lcters as 'Squatty Dick,
Five Ace Scotty,' Mourning Pete, "
and ost of others of like character, all
dangerous men in the community, to
leave before daybreak, on penalty of be-
ing summarily dealt with by the
aforesaid vigilance com, Iittee, giving as
a reason for the action they had taken
that crime was rampant, and that blood
flowed like water, necessit ting these
prompt and summary measures.
The reader stood upon the veranda,
and the white light of the moon just lift
ing itself above the square ridge Of the
Table mountain shone down upon his
powerful frame. A silent and attentive
crowd stood in the space between the
veranda and the fence that enclosed the
courthouse, listening almost breathless
to the irresistible command Of the peo-
pies court.
"As for Jack, the Marquis Shorty
Wagn r. and 'Fandango Frank they
have this day split the blood oftheir fel-
low men, and must die before the sun
comes over Table mountains" As the
words rang clear yet solemn on the mid
night air from the lips of man who all
knew would never finch in what he con-
sidered duty, the crowd seemed to shrink
imperceptibly away from the vicinity,
| 1aay;nor opI,, n fauv of their number Ia ~,