The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-04-25
sTAUNTON. VIRGINIA. APRIL %. 1878.


the men preparing their evening meal.
Among thick grove of cedars in our rear
| were picketed our horses, and the red glare
of the camp fire throwing weird, ghostly
shadows among the trees and rockcliffs
which surrounded us made up scene pic
turesque and of superb grandeur. Several
scouting parties were yet to. be heard from,
and the boys were specializing over the prob
able success Of one party composed OF five OF
the best scouts and bravest men In the COM
mand, who had started out early in the
morning with the expressed determination
Of bringing down the AGREE brothers or OF
adding their names to the long list Of brave
men who had died in attempting their cap
ture. Suddenly the heavy tramp Of horses
was heard coming up the defle at the head
OF which we were encamped, and with the
shout Of s'here they come, " the men dropped
coffee pot and saucepan to welcome the
newcomers. They were greeted with yells
of approval and deafening cheer, which
reused echo upon echo among the craggs
and cliffs behind us. Knowing full
we'll that something unusual had oc-
CURED, rushed from my quarters-a rude
hut of logs and turf built against a solid
wall OF granite-just in time to meet the
leader of the scouting party as he rode into
camp with John Acree strapped fast to the
saddle ia front Of him. Cutting the lariats
| which bound his prisoner the scout ordered
him to dismounr, and then swinging out of
the saddle, made his way to where was
| standing, touching his slouched hat said,
with tremor Of pride running through his
voice:
swell, Kurnel, I've got the dod drafted
skunk at last, arter most desprit fight in
which Bill Davis passed in his chips. and
Gus Simmons got powerful bad wound.''
''rhe other one. What of him? ven
tured inquiringly.
''He's layin' out thar for the buzzards to
pick" was the answer.
During this colloquy the prisoner had been
standing sullenly by with an expression Of
hate and scorn distorting his countenance.
He knew that he could expect no mercy from
the men surrounding him, but he seemed
determined to die game, and with a hoarse
laugh he threw up his head, land, turning to
me, said:
'.Why don't you go on with the circus?
Git out yer rope. P'raps yer 'fraid ov me.
Ye've had good cause ter be-
This speech reflected the thoughts of the
men who surrounded him, and one man
shouted
eyes, the rope. Let's run him up.''
A rope was speedily procured. Willing,
nay eager hands were ready. A moose was
made, running through that cruel, choking
knot used but for one purpose. One endof
the rope was thrown over the limb of
neighboring tree. The fatal necklace was
adjusted, and with no priest present with
consolation for the hereafter, pardon and
remission, the sinful soul of John AGREE was
about TO launch itself into eternity. Although
the prisoner showed no outward sign Of fear,
save slight change in color, who could
| fathom the Utmost workings of his heart,
the solemnity Of his prayer, and farewell to
earth, the greeting to death, the mute soul
appeal to the mercy and clemency of ,in
whose presence he was so soon to appear?
All was ready, and several of the boys
grasped the rope and waited expectantly
for the signal to run their prisoner up. Deep
silence fell upon the group. broken only by
| the crackle OF the fire and the measured
tread of sentry posted in front Of my quar-
| tiers. A crash was heard in the bushes be-
hind US, as of some heavy body forcing its
way through the tangled underground, and
our suspense was in a measure relieved by
the arrival Of another scouting party headed
by s'Mss Tennie." The latter halted for
minute as he stepped into the circle of light
proceeding from the campfire, and then
started forward and glanced fxedly in the
face of John Aree. He was evidently labor
ing under some trouble Or emotional strain
for bis gray eyes dilated and his face became
ashen. The executioners noticing his ag-
tation dropped the rope and with the words
''Thank God, I'm in time" Miss Tennie
bounded forward and tore the moose from
Acree's neck. This act, SO unexpected and
unexplicable, reused the men from their
momentary stupor of surprise. A hundred
pistols flashed in the red glare of the camp
cred cries ofrage, and hundred men start
| ed forward to strike down the man who
thus boldly defied the majesty of our noun
tain law. But Miss Tennie never flinched,
and stepping in front OF AGREE he raised his
arm commandingly and cried ''stop -
The men hesitated and dropped their pis-
tolls. A murmur of appreciation succeeded
| the hoarse cries of rage, and the scout who
had captured AGREE ste pped in front Of his
fellows and, acting as spokesman, said
miss Tennie, what does this all mean !?
What do you interfere for? That there man
is John Acree.''
| s'And John AGREE once saved my life, ;"
continued Miss Tennie. 'sI'll stand by him
as long as there's drop of blood in my
veins. When you hang him you walk over
| my dead body to do it.''
Then turning to me he said: 'Kurnel,
there's an explanation I'd like to make. Al
ter you all have heard my story I'm willing
it should 60 on" and ne jerked his long
forefinger toward the rope still dangling
from the tree.
Although the acknowledged head of this
body Of men, there were times when even
my authority would be Of very little avail,
If went SO far as to oppose their unani-
nous wish. We were held together as an
organization, not through any belief in the
right OF one man to dictate to and govern
the rest, but from mutual dependence one
upon the other, and respect for the opin-
ion of individual members of the band, with
out regard to title. The faces Of my men
expressed their willingness to the explana.
ton vouchsafed by Miss Tennie, and l told
him to tell his story. With many reitera-
ions-spiclng his narrative with that grim,
sage hnmor peculiar to Southern mountain.
GERS, and in the quaint dialect Of ''cracker'
dom''-Miss Tennie related the following
tale of nights adventure, and his miracu