The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-11-13
KU.KLUX REHEARSAL.
Congressman Hays Caught Mnnufae-
turing Outrages in Chickasabogue.

|
One Of the clevercst and most amusing
OF the late Judge Longstreet's tales in hi.
" Georgia Scenes" is that one In which he
gives sample OF Georgia Theatres. '
lie narrates that he happened, while riding
In the " dark corner OF Lincoln" 10 sur.
prise an ingenious youth rehearsing the
characters and all the particulars of Lin.
coin Courthouse fight, from the prelimi.
nary banter, challenge and clinch, 10 the
final gouge and surrender. But truth Il
always stranger than fiction, and what
Judge Longstreet probably only imagined
OF the dark corner of Lincoln, is surpassed
by what clerical gentleman accidentally
happened TO see the other day in the cor
ner q Marengo hard by Wilcox. The
story Is too good 10 be lost, the more es-
pecially as II concerns our scamp of Con-
gresham, Charley Hays, who tells story
of goodly proportions himself upon occa-
sion.
The Rev. John Mckee Breed. Baptist
clergyman, being on a sort of circuit in
company with his wife, had left the rail-
road at Spring Hill, where he had a friend,
from whom he obtained carriage end
horse TO enable him TO get to Clifton. in
Wilcox County. This was last week, so
am informed. Mr.. Breed took Linden and
Shiloh on his way, preaching or lecturing
(he was seeking money in aid of foreign
missions) at both places. He stopped all
night at Shiloh. and left in the morning
for Clifton, where he heard there was 10
be Republican meeting that night. He
did not propose to have anything TO do
with the meeting, but only TO get into
town before the meeting commenced, be-
ing nervous man, afraid of horses and
not caring TO run the risk of the pistol
eli
ments of barbecues. When he reached
Clifton, however, he found that he had
been misinformed-th the meeting was not
till the next night. He filled his appoint
ment at Clifton, spent the night there. and
in the morning started on his return.
Just beyond Shiloh is "A pretty extensive
and very dismal swamp, known as Chick
asabogue swamp. through which the road
to Linden and Demopolis passes.
Driving through the swamp Mr.. Breed
was suddenly startled TO hear shouts. cries
and repeated firings just ahead of him. i'm
the deepest and thickest part OF the swamp.
He stopped his carriage, got down, made
his wife get down, tied his horse securely,
and then. leaving Mrs Breed standing in
the road by the carriage, went forward TO
reconnoiter. The shots and cries grew
louder as he approached the spot, and the
reverend gentleman was firmly persuaded
horrible battle or massacre was going
on. He was just turning to fly the spot
and give the alarm. when he saw three or
four horses and mules saddled and hitched
together by the roadside. and near them a
negro man, looking off toward the firing
and grinning enjoyment from ear to ear.
Rapidly approaching this man, the horri-
fled minister asked in an agiiated voice
= For Gods sake, friend. what is going
on?' The negro quietly laughed, and
said Sho. nothin' 10 be skeered at it's
only some o. dere fun" Fun but
what are they shooting and screaming so
about" 40, massa, dey's only playin'
like as eff de ku-klux was arter dem an
given 'em particler hell. Dey's gwine TO
de meetin' to Clifton TO night. an dey
wants to get de sympaties ob de Republic
cans on count ob dere narrer 'scape, you
see. Look at dem now.'
Mr.. Breed did look. and saw am Alabama
rehearsal of the most original sort. There
were buggy and "A dearborn wagon in
little open space in the swamp. In these
vehicles were banging the hats and coats
of party of eight men. four black and
four white. who, in their shirt-sleeves and
were firing volleys from their
revolyers into their clothes and head-gear
that. Won rebel whelp." I've got you
now, you Radical skunk" etc.. etc.
"Who are those men?" asked Mr.. Breed.
The negro, proud of being so wellin-
formed. said. pointing: "Thar's Charley
IIays-in course you know him. He's
our Congressman. That man with the
calico shirt is Mr.. Anton Nibbling. He's
sort of Dutchman, | spec. Yonder's
Luke Snoddy, and t'other's Simpson
Brcathitt." The minister setal' the names
down in his pocket-book. 1.-The darkies
there Is named Bob Fullerlove. Abe Ezell,
Bill Henson, and Bolgee jack don't
know what his Christen name mout be-"
. What's yoursy'' asked the minister. |
. Mines Nelse Colvin." "Where do you
ive?" up Demopolis way "Well. |
Nelson. | want you 10 get in my carriage |
with me-it's just back here-and 20 TO |
shiloh To testify about this matter. Ii |
may prevent serious trouble" Can't. |
indeed, massa Use one oh de party; Use |
rot de horses to mind. Sides, dey'd kill |
me if | was 10 DO dat" And no persua-
sion could move him.
The minister walked back to his car
-iage, quoted his alarmed wife. and then,
by sense of duty. turned his
lorse's head and drove back toward Shi-
oh, though he greatly Inconvenience
himself by so doing. lie was near the
'dge OF the swamp when he heard the
latter of hoofs behind him, and saw the
gentleman who had been pointed out
Is Hays riding rapidly up. This
ime he had his coat and hat on. and
eemed considerably embarrassed. Draw
NJ rein alongside the carriage. he
ouched his hat to the reverend
gentleman and his wife. and said. "Ex-
use my seeming impertinencc, but Col
i'm tells me you Were witness to our
,leasan; little comedy beyond there a
minute agoy" :" | was. SIR" "a ridicti-
Gus spectacle. wasn't it," 81 was great
Y shocked, sir. | confess said the minis
or. "Well. the fact is. Mr.. -. eXcnsc