The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-02-06
MoRR1srowN. Tenn. Feb. 4, '78


yond, across the main road leading to
Tazewell, which was reached soon after
noon. Then on to Springdale and Taze-
well, which latter place was reached
Just after dark. About a mile this side
of town experienced what all people
MORALLY dread-a vigorous bite from
venomous dog But for my boot leg
the dogs incissors would have Penetrat-
ed the flesh. As it is, do not apprehcnd
death from hydrophobia.
The people out there complain of hard
| times, but they ought net to, for they
have a good soil, which well and proper
ly titled ought to provide food for all
the people and leave a surplus for lux
uries. The north side of the hills are
| covered with grass, which is the farm
ers' wealth. Robert Patterson informed
me of phenomenon which l cannot ac-
count for namely, that the south side of
a certain portion of Cumberland noun
tain is as rich in verdure as are the north
| sides of the mountains of Tennessee.
| G. G. Smith, of Rutledge, informed me
of another He said that he had found
a lot of Outcropping rocks IN Granger
| county which pitched to the north in
stead Of the south. would like to have
these phenomena accounted for by
| any one who knows the why and where
fore
Getting through with my business at
Tazewell, soon after noon of Tuesday,
started homeward as far as Baylor's
Store, when [ turned east and reached
the residence of Marshall Kincaid, three
miles out on the road to Sneedville. He
seems to have some good and practical
views on farming, and 1 wish there were
many more such in his immediate vicin-
ity.
Wedne sday morning started for Sneed-
Vile, and, after walking nine miles, call
ed upon the most considerable person in
that vicinity, to find that Joshua Davis
had gone to RogersviIle. When arrived
there my outer garments were wet
through, but l dried them and paItook
of good dinner set before me by Mrs.
Davis, after which resumed my jour
ney, soon 20 be overtaken again with a
hail storm. But kept on till l reached
the residence of Joseph Campbell, in the
vicinity of Sneedville, where Remained
over night. Here l found an excellent
family to stay with, and obtained from
his boys, J. G.. and A. c. Campbell, two
items for your paper, viz:
Andrew Rhea, William Puget, John
Southern and John Epperson left Sneed-
vile on the afternoon of January "a,
and went over on Blackwater, about
three miles north of Sneedville, evident
ly to take the life of Floyd Collins. The
party was well armed, and they induced
Mr.. Collins to come away from his house,
when they commenced to fire on him.
He being unable to defend himself, ran
about one hundred yards, when they
shot him twice-Once through the leg |
and once through the hip-cauSing him |
to fall to the ground. The party then
ran to the wounded man, reloaded their
revolvers, laughed at him in his help |
Iessness, drank whiskey over him and |
threatened to drown him in the creek. |
They would not allow his wife to come |
taken home and is now on gaining |
ground. 1t is hoped that he will recOv-
er. The perpetrators of this great |
wrong are still at large"
I learned, on Thursday, that theprob !
able cause for this deadly assault was to /
get Collins out of the way so that he
could not appear as a witness against
one of the party. Collins was an Illicit |
distiller, and they destroyed his still and
what liquor was on hand. VIM. Puget
is desperate character. having many
times been engaged in bloody work of a
similar nature.
Now for the other boys story. A. G.
Campbell says:
GA shooting affair took place ten
miles east of Sneedville, Hancock coun-
ty, Tenn, near the residence of John
Davis. Stephen Nichols came to the
house of Davis in state of intoxication,
and began to abuse the family. Davis
being present at the time stepped out of
his house and went to his work near by.
After bearing the abuse as long as his
patience would allow, he entered the
house and ordered Nichols out. Nichols
not getting out quick enough to suit
him, Mr.. Davis undertook to put him
out by force. Nichols took his revenge
by cutting Davis under the left arm
across the ribs, intiictIng a serious flesh
wound Nichols then ran out of the
house and started up the road, when I
John Davis sons-James and Arthur
pursued him with guns, shooting at him {
as fast as possible. They did not hit :
him, however Nichols ran to the house [
Of his brother, Jesse 2. Nichols, who is /
sheriff of Hancock county, then started {
back and met the Davis boys who con- I
tinued to fire at him till he was within I
reach of their guns, when they struck
him across the head and shoulders with
them and knocked him down and beat I
him seriously. While this was going {
on another and younger brother of I
Nichols was close by and was shot in G
the hips by one of the Davis boys, prob {
ably because he protested against the {
of his brother It is probable |
that all viii recover" i
/ learned that DR.. Horner, a young ]
physician Of Sneedville, was called to t