The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-01-17

graceful death at the hands Of mel
who had worked and fought besid
him for months. most of the miner
thought he'd take the moose withou
the quiver of muscle, but there wer'
two or three who said:
He Is a brave man, but when h,
takes his last look around he vii
weaken
Before the day was four hours old
there was strange wager between
two of our men. 1t was rifle agains
rifle that Joe Swan would show I
woman's heart before he swung of.
The doomed man was left to himsel
all day long. A strong guard wa
placed around his tent, but no one en-
tered it to interrupt the work of his
last hours. The corpse of his victim
was buried at the foot of the lone tres
On which Joe was to swing, and a,
the six men carrying the body passed
near the tent the murderer came out
and stood with uncovered head to
show his respect for the dead. lie
wrote five letters, drew up brief will
ate full meal about mid.afternoon
and half an hour before sundown he
was ready. Before starting for the
tree he said: after am. gone you
will find my will. The letters in there
are to be forwarded as soon as con.
yenient. This is shabby old suit OF
clothes to be hung in, but it's all had
aud couldn't go round borrowing
Have you got the rope and the barrel
ready?
'Yee, everything il all ready re.
piled voice. 80
That. right, said Joe. Now,then
form in procession; give me . con.
spicuous place, and we'll march along
The man wasn't smiling. His face
was pale his eyes had an anxious look,
and it was plain enough that he real:
ized the grimness of his last hour on
earth. The procession was formed,
and Joe marched away for the tree as
steadily as soldier on parade. His
hands aud feet were free; but a. he
halted beside the old barrel, with the
moose dangling above his head, he
said:
Boys, tie my arms behind my back.
and after you lift me up tie my feet
together. If you make q bungle OF
this you'll get bad name all through
the diggings.'
When Joe stood on the barrel, the
moose around his neck, the men fell
back a little. He looked from man to
man with steady eye. glanced up at
the limb, and then looked over the
heads of the men out upon the green
prairie. The sinking sun had filed
the grass with millions of sparkling
jewels. A score of antelope were trot.
ting along q mile away; great birds
were sailing toward the Rockies with
lazy wing; the flowers never seemed
- thick and beautiful as then.
For minute we all looked south
ward, and there was something in the
vision that softened every heart.
When we looked up at Joe again we
hardly knew him. All the hard lines
had melted out of his face, his eyes
were full of tears, and there was a sob
in his throat as he turned and whis.
pered: .
Don't blame me boys; 1t is my las,
look on earthl Now do your duty !!
Not man moved-not a man could
move.
Taking a swift glance over the
prairie, and another up the mountain
side, Joe softly said: God forgive
me that was not better man!
He fell forward off the barrel, his
own executioner, and no man dared
look up until the body hung limp and
lifeless.
Joe had weakened, and those who
had bet on his game had lost. Yet
when we talked it over in low voices
at the campfire, we agreed that brave
Joe's bravest act Of a lifetime was
shown when the tenderness was al.
lowed TO creep into his heart and his
eyes to fill with tears-when he prov
ed to us that he had soul.
SUCH A GOOD YOUNG MAN.
An interesting story comes from
Arizona. Kellogg and Carter owned
a mining claim. and foolislily quarrel
ed about it. Kellogg was man OF
few words; Eight aud free was his
touch upon his revolver" With lit
tie ado. he fired at his partner, and
supposed that he had sent bullet in-
to his breast, but, behold f! Carter was
a good young man, aud had bible in
the pocket Of his gray working shirt.
The ball struck upon the sacred book,
it's course was turned, and Carter was
unhurt.
Then the good young man whipped
out his cleaning bOwie-knife, sprang
upon Kellogg, and carved him so ar.
llSllC6IIy l0ut AOl0 OU uIS tCVOtVOI
relaxed and he was like to die. The
good young man stanched his 0ppo-
nent's wound, and rode away for .
returning within twenty
four hours, having made a total dis
tance of over ninety miles. Kellogg is
Garter, to avoid arrest,
sought to cross the river. and this time
the Bible didn't save him. lie was
drowned. The moral of this recital is
very intricate. But it is plain that
Carter wasn't born to be hanged.
DIR. WILKES, in his recent work on
Physiology. remarks that, 1t is est
mated that the bones of every adult
person require to be fed with lime
enough to make a marble mantle ev-
cry eight months" 1t will be per-