The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-10-30
cons B.ynching Of "a Brute
Near Franklin, Tenn
Nashville American

Nashville Americana
FRANKLIN, Tenn, Oct. 6.-Really /
have SO often, Of late, written IL have
another one of those horrors to relate,
that it gives me horror to take my pen.
This is how it happened
just as the evening train moved on
and We at the depot were left free of its
noise, we heard in the field opposite the
depot man yelling in a loud, excited
voice, "Help! help! Catch him catch
him !" The few who had fingered down
there ran around the houses to get view,
and there was, on the other side, Mr.
James I. Shanpon, one of our merchants,
running after negro, and the negro
going like racer, leaving his pursuer
further and further every step, in the
rear. We ran toward the railroad bridge,
but before we got there we saw the fugi
tive spring up the embankment, jump on
the track, and dash along it toward
Nashville.
We now called up the river to Shan
non to know "what was the matter"
His wall came quickly back cob, for
Gods sake catch him-he's ruined my
little girl" But few, hitherto, had paid
any particular attention to the race, sup
posing the negro had committed some
minor ohense, but the despairing cry of
the heartbroken father acted like cleo
tricty on all. Many took inconttnently
down the track on foot after the villain
some jumped in buggies and drove
around to the Nashville bridge to flank
him there others ran up in town, call
ing for help as they went. Ia few
moments the town was astir, every horse
from the stables, every private horse that
could be found, was put in requisition,
and in an incredibly short space of time
we were all over the fields north Of Frank
lin. We searched gullies, clumps of
trees, weeds, everything that could CON
ceal man, yet no negro could be seen.
AT this time Shannon came up reel
ing and falling, his face livid. and say
ing, "Oh Lord, boys, Pm ruined my
poor child my poor baby!" and with
such heartrending cries as ran us per-
fecty crazy with excitement. 1t was not
shown, however, in noisy, fussy, boastful
talk that kind Of excitement soon effer
vesces and escapes in gas; but this was
horribly stern frown, marked by set
lips aud clenching Of the hands. No man
said, ''We'll hang him when we catch
him - but every eye spoke, every frown
OH the brow said "By - we'll kill
him." ooh, gentlemen, don't let him
get away" cried the heartbroken fellow,
''he is as guilty as hell +; be has confessed
1 didn't act hastily; | didn't do thing
until knew | was right 90 on, 20 on,
for Gods sake, and catch him" And
with streaming eyes we silently sped
away, leaving the unhappy father gasp
ing on the roadside, unable to 90 further
Just after getting into Maj. Johnson's
field, while looking around everywhere
for the fugitive, we espied him on the
south face of Roper's Knob, running in
an oblique direction across its side. We
called to the crowd ahead Of US, and
they changing their course, took after
him, but, though distinctly seen by us,
he was concealed from those near by the
inequalities of the hill. Soon a horse
man went towards him at furious gait
and we thought the race was over, but,
when within couple of hundred yards,
he, thinking the game was going over
the knob, ran to the left on the northern
out Of sight into thckets on the southern
slope. Now the hillsides were covered
with the pursuers, and they, believing
he was hid in the thickets, spread all
over the hills, but the negro ran straight
on without stopping, into McEwen's
COW pasture, beyond the hills, towards
liberty. He never paused he didn't
look back, but went on and on through
fields and over hills 1t was with him
race for life Liberty was before him
hell was behind, and he fled with the
desperation of dispair. But, alas for
him, away off to the east he came upon
an open clover field, and while crossing
a hill in it, the Pursuers on the top Of
Roper's Knob saw him. The horsemen,
by this time increased to scores, dashed
madly forward, and on DIR. Clifte's, or
rather Mrs. Brownlow's farm, after a
chase of about four miles, the quarry
was brought to bay. The first man who
approached him jumped from his horse
and started to him. The negro drew a
pipe and presenting it as if pistol
warned the pursuer to stand or he would
fire. The auswer was a crash with a
loaded whip over the head, and the 9th
er5 coming up repeater lne DlOWb uuliI
he surrendered. The Sheriff ran up and
seized him and said, Gentlemen, he is
my prisoner, stand back :" but they made
a rush at the Sheriff and ordered him to
stand aside and forcibly took the man
away.
The crowd of footmen was resting,
meantime, on the slope of Roper's Knob,
and away off on an eminenee three or
four horsemen appeared to them, dimly
seen in the twilight. We strained our
attention and family but distinctly came
the ominous word, over mile, "We've
got him" A yell of satisfaction went
up from the assembled hundreds, and
down to the road they went pell NELL to
greet the successful pursuers. Near the
residence of James Hodge they all met,
pursuers and victim. The Nemesis of
destiny had come. Take him to Shan
non and let him kill him," said some.
But no, this poor man had suffered
enough his nervous energies were at
an ebb, and he now lay PROSTATE away
behind the fields. "Don't bother him {;
let's do our do without him." and so it
was tactitly agreed not to let Mr. Shan
non see the awful tragedy now about to