The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-03-29
Jack Bullets Broken Heart.

NnS"i"i h"uho, out tncy were Sill
gular men-brawny, rough, grizzled
and some of them wicked. They
were men from the east, digging, del
wing, in a sort of mad frenzy, for the
golden wealth of California.
On this day all work had ceased.
The men formed in circle Oh the
grass, and in the center was Jack
Bullet. His hands were tied behind
him, there was an old blood stain on
his face, and from his wolfish eyes he
sent murderous glar ces from one face
to another, and at last called out:
81 wish | had knitted some of vel"
None of the men replied. Some
were pale, others nervous, and none
seemed to relish the business on hand,
which was the hanging of Jack Bull
let. BY and bye meek and humble
looking man named Elder Graves by
the boys, entered the circle, and,
standing with one Land on the pris-
oner's shoulder, he began:
"Jack Bullet, this is a solemn
morning for us all ! Here is tho rope
there is the lilnb-and we are
gathered to hang you! You came to
Joe Whites Dream weeks ago, poor,
hungry and i'll. We fed and nursed
you, and when you were well enough
to work a full claim was staked out
for yon. How have you repaid us
Jack Bullet? You have stolen dust
from the men, brought discord and
jealousies among us, melted rows and
riots, and last night you were detec-
ted when about to murder your part
ner and steal his few hundred dollars
We try to be white in this camp, and
to use all men right, but we cannot
turn you loose to prey upon some
other party. Tho men are going to
hang you'll"
"Let 'em hang-I can't die but
once!' sulkily replied the prisoner.
"Jack Bullet" said the elder, 81
am praying man, and 1 want to
pray with you before you swing! l
am sorry for you. You are o strong
man, and you are to die like a dog.
may be you have mother in the East
or you may have wife and children.
God help them!"
The elder sank down on his knees
before the prisoner and prayed such
a prayer as the rocks have never ech.
oed again. Before he had flushed
there were tears in the eyes Of half
the men, and Big Sam bent over to
Cnrly Jim and whispered:
"Now that's what I call roligium-
the real old bang~up reIigum such as
we used to git way back in Now
Hampshire!'
Whom that prayer had ended q now
spirit came to the mon. They scan~
ned Jack Bullets face and saw that it
had softened, and as Elder Graves
stepped aside the president of tho
camp cut Jacks bonds and said:
eve don't want your blood, though
you sought onrs. You arc free to go,
Jack Bulle, but don't you ovor enter
Joe Whites Dream againW
The reprieved man moved away
without q word, nor did he look back
as long as he was in view. Whom he
had disappeared from sight tho min>
ors returned to their work, each one
80 busy with his thoughts that but
few words were spoken. That day
two weeks man came up from
"Cardboard City, and reported that
Jack Bullet had boon eaten up by O.
grizzly. Every man in camp felt glad
then that hisstown had escaped the
disgrace of hanging, and in the af-
ternoon we sawEIder Graves shoulder
a spade and turn down into O little
valley. 1t was a beautiful spot, al
ways full of tho mellOwest sunshine
and the prottiest flowers. When tho
boys had knocked off work for tho
day they all descended into the place,
for what reason no one knew, but by
O. sort of common consent. Tn the