River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-11-05


milwaukee journal Of Commerce, Oct 29l
There were forty men. disguised. that
formed The lyhchers. The two old men
were armed TO the teeth with receivers
and knives. waiting f.r the death struggle
which theykn would come some day
before they reached the bar Of the court
which could only slightly punish them
for their great crime. The old men ex.
pected that an attempt would be made TO
lynch them, and they lad, in some mys.
FERROUS Way, be'n provided with arms
with which to resist assailants to the Bit
ter death. The two wretches took in
the situation at glance as they beheld
their execution r.. They made a move
to draw their weapons. but old Isaiah was
Knocked down and kicked almost SENSE
less before he could brgin his fight
which he was afterwards destined t.
wage with all the feroc,ty OF demon, and
the strength of fear and despair.
Amos made no resistance just then, but
begaI to beg and pray. lie was probably
watching his chance, though, with all the
cunning Of a captured fox. Isaiah was
stamped and pounded until it seemed as
though nothing was left of him, yet he
had the wiry frame Of cat and all it,
tenaci.y Of lille. When the outside OF
the Jail was reached suddenly two shots
were fired, it is supposed by Amos. One
Of the bullets cut lock OF hair from
masker's head, while the other passed
through his shrt-collar.
The Courtwrights were evidently de-
tcrmined to forfeit their lives only at the
sacrifice Of more valuable ones. When
Isaiah had revived somewhat from the
awful pounding and kicking he had re-.
ceivtd, he was placed in position behind
one Of the wagons in attendance, and the
procession started south on one of the
two main roads leading to the depot, and
beyond to Ployer. Before the strange
cortcgc had gone forty rods, and nearly
in front Of the residence Of the Hon. Geo
! llungerford, old Isaiah renewed his fight.
With cat.like quickness he had drawn
a knife and hogan cutting right and left
among The men nearest to him. Pioba-
bly, no human being ever made more dcs
perate efforts to fight his way to life and
liberty. To the right, to the left. to the
front. to the rear, struck the thin and
sinewy arm of the crazed wretch. The
maskcrs who were there will never forget
the awful picture Of that night.
IL is an old, old man that is at bay.
Ills form is thin, and why, and bent. and
>hriveled HIS white hairs glistened here
and there from among the patches Of
cIotted blood that had gathered from
the blows and kicks he had received.
His clothes are torn and ragged. Word
II Il 4 Ii -. 81
distorted face. nor the quick breath they
cannot give the look in the sunken eyes ;
are poverlcs> to describe the writhing,
struggling form that is making its last
efforts TO live. The old man is strength
ened by his despair. lie cuts wildly
about him, and one Of the avengers re.
ceives the knifethru>t that may add one
more victim to Isaiah Cartwright S muir
dcrouS list Then the old man is again
Oyerpowcred, knocked down, trampled
upon. hitched by the neck to the wagon.
and his body drags the sandy roadway.
along which he had once walked a re-
~pcctable man. lie never lived TO be
hung. Long before the place whore the
hanging was to be done was reached, the
cid mans life had gone out of its dishon.
OTed body.
Amos adopted a more sensible, but
cowardly course. lie tried to soften the
hearts Of the maskers by the most piteou,
pleadmgs, accompanied by tears and walls
and prayers. But the men who had de.
termined upon doing what they considered
a sacred duty were not to be moved
Amos was gwen q Get tam length of time
to pray, and then the two bodies of the
murderers OF Joseph Baker swung iifeless
in the waning moonlight A terrible but,
according to the general belief, righteous
retribution had overtsken Isaiah and
| Amos Cartwright.
The man who was stabbed by Isaiah in
his desperate fight for life was promi
nent citizen. lie is very badly cut, but
| it could not be ascertaned what the pros.
poets of his recovery we're.
At one time, after old Isaiah was dis
armed, lac shouted: You cowardly -
- -, give me but toothpick, and
| will fight my way clear Of al of you'll