Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-09
M0LL BENNETT.
A Thrilling "Reminiscences of
Black Gulch.

beneath the only tree that grew in the
vicinity, while an unfortunate wretch
stood on the back of a horse with a
| moose about his neck, ready to be
i launched into eternity. They had
formed a circle around the culprit.
and were about to hang him, when he
raised his eyes in the direction of a
/ cloud of dust, which Just then arose a
couple of miles distant, and requested
a respite long enough to determine
) whether it was his wife who was coming
to bid him farewell.
After a few moments consultation
among themselves, the miners granted
his request, and lie was lifted fromthe
horse TO the ground while all eyes were
curlously bent on the cloud of dust
that approached nearer and nearer.
Jim Bennett turned the tobacco in
his mouth with as much nonchalance
as IT he were not under sentence of
death by the hastil y extemporized court
Of miners that stood around him.
That's Mol, % he exclaimed, scanning
the outlines Of the horse and rider, who
were furiously dashing over the prai-
RE. ''She came cussed nigh missin'
the hangin', but I'm glad she's come,
and | hope you'll give me few private
words with her"
This last request elected grunt of
acquiescence from his executioners.
and then Mary Bennett, mounted on a
fleet mountain pony, which was covered
with foam, rode up to the group with
an air of bravado that rendered her
positively enchanting from the manner
IN which she bore herself.
This is bad business, Mou," said
one Of the miners, throwing his rife
into the hollow of his arm, "but Jim
has nobody to blame but himself. He's
been warned over and over again not
to come about these diggings, yet he
wouldn't heed advice. Last night he
undertook his old trick of stealing
horses, and when Bill Simpson set
| about arresting him, he shot him lust
as he did poor Rufus last spring. 1t
was more on your promises at that
time that he would behave himself than
anything else that we didn't hang him:
but the committee won't take prom
ises any longer, and Jim must swing.
Wen give you a talk of fifteen min. |
utes with him, and the speaker pulled |
out large silver watch, while his CON- !
paDions withdrew to a short distance.
Mol Bennett was certainly singu- |
lar as well as remarkable parsonage.
and II was not a common occurrence to |
find her like ON the prairies. She was
about twenty three years of age, with |
a figure as graceful and 1.-THE as could |
possibly be imagined. Black hair and |
eyes, the latter bewitchingly bright and |
beautiful, regular, white teeth, and a /
complexion tanned TO the brightest hue
by exposure, while a character that |
knew no limit for reckless daring, had |
given her reputation that had extend
ed lar and wide over that section of The
country. She was, beyond dispute. a
very beautiful woman, but here was a
wicked CLEAN in her eyes when she be-
came angry that caused those in her
immediate vicinity to look well to their
safety, for Mol could perpetrate a
bloody deed as well as the best of them.
She was the reputed wife of Jim Ben
nett, a desperate, who lived several /
miles distant from the miners caup. /
None knew from whence she came. for /
she was exceedingly reticent On that |
subject; but the very fair education
which she possessed forbade the belief /
that she had been reared on the front.
Ter
When the miner had ceased speaking
Mol Bennett eyed him with supercil-
lous alr; ana, without deigniug reply
strobe to where her husband stood
bound. Il could cut you loose, Jim,"
she said, but it wouldn't be any use.
I've only one horse, and he's done I'D
with hard riding. We can't escape"
Talnt Of any account, Moll," re-
piled her husband, I'm IN for it this
time and no mistake; / don't mind the
dying, but hate to leave you, Mol.
yet man s got to 60 some time or 9TH
er. Butt want you TO promise me that
you'll bury me near by the cabin, and
that you'll revenge ue, too. Don't for
get, Mol, what I've suffered from those
fellows in the past, and-and-Jim. if
he should hive to be a man, that he's
to hunt the fellows who murdered his
father, if any of them should remain
in the country. If they leave these
parts, he can't track them-I don't
expect 1t. But mind, Moll, If any of
them settle here, don't forget nv last
words. You're too good looking, Mol,
to be long without another man,
and"
Hush" she exclaimed fercely, none
of that"
Don't be offended, Mol. l wasn't
going to So any thing like doubling
you, but you may want a protector, and
l won't blame you if you"
Hush, say" she repeated, 81 can
protect myself. know all you would
say, but my life hereafter will be differ
ent from what it has been. Men will
track me like a wild beast, for nv hand
shall always be red" and she nodded
significantly toward the group of
miners.
Thank you, Moll,'' replied Bennett;
Il shouldn't have expected any other
answer. You know more about the ;
Bible and religion than do, and if it's
true that we'll meet again somewhere ,
else, l reckon you'll have a good ac-
count to give me of what you did in
my memory"
"GOod-by, Moll," cried the miners.
Mol Bennett turned her sharp black {
eyes toward them and stepped some
PAGES apart as she bent her eyes stead
lastly on the green sward. When she
raised them again Jim Bennett was s
swinging by the neck to the pine tree.
Considering the irregular manner in c
which matters of this kind were per- Q
formed in those days, the proceeding c
was conducted with becoming solemni- i
ty. When life was extinct they cut /
the body down, and offered to convey it @
whittier Mary Bennett desired, but the a
woman who could all the while remain t
present at such a dreadful scene and u
never shed a tear or utter a moan was t
not likely to accept any services at t
such hands. She therefore declined the c
9ffer, and, picking up the lifeless re- t
mains of him who had been her mart. a
her, without any assistance she threw a
hem across her pony and rode defiant. f,
y away. Il
That night, when the miners were b
by candle-Hght, discussino
he event of the day, a Mexican how a
FAMED Miguel, who was EMPLOYED as q b