Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-10-16
ESCAPED THE ROPE.

In recent case IN the Recorders court,
Attorney j. w. Donovan told the follow
ing story, which is, Public Spirit, believes,
quite new. 1t halls from Texas:
One hot day in July, 1860, a herdsman
was moving his cattle to new rancho further
north, near Helena, Texas, and passing down
the banks of stream, his herd became mixed
with other cattle that were grazing in the
valley, and some of them failed to be. separa'
ted. The next day band ola dozen noun
ted Texan Rangers overlook the herdsman
and demanded their cattle which they said
were stolen
1t was before the days of law and court
houses in Texas, and one had better kill five
men than to steal mule worth five dollars,
and the herdsman knew it. He tried to ex-
plain, but they told him to cut it short. He
offered to turn over all the cattle not his own,
but they laughed at this proposition, and
limited that they usually con6scated the whole
herd, and left the thief hanging on tree as
warning to others in like cases.
The poor fellow was completely overcome:
They consulted apart few moments, and
then told him if he had any explanation to
make or business to do, they would allow
him ten minutes to do SO, and defend himself.
He turned to the rough faces and com,
menced, "How many of you have wives?
Two or three nodded. "How many Of you
have children?" They nodded again.
"Then I know who am talking to, and
you'll hear me-" And he continued: 81 new
er stole any cattle; and I have lived in these
parts over three years. I came from New
Hampshire; I failed there in the fall of '57,
during the panic; I have been saving; l
have lived on hard fare; have slept out on
the ground; have no home here; my family
remain East, for 60 from place to place ;
the clothes wear are rough, and am a
hard looking customer but this is hard
country; days seem like months to me, and
months like years married men, you know
that but for the letters from home"-here he
pulled out handful of well-worn envelopes
and letters from his wife-"I should get dis.
couraged. have paid part of my debts. Here
are the receipts" and he unfolded the letters
of acknowledgment II expected to sell out
and go home in November. Here is the
Testament my good old mother gave me /;
here is my little girls picture" And he
kissed it tenderly, and continued: "Now,
men, if you have decided to kill me for what
l am innocent of, send these home, and send
as much as you can from the cattle when I'm
dead. Can't you send half the value? My
family will need it."
"Hold on, now stop right thar! said a
rough ranger. "Now, I say, boys" he con-
tinued, ii say, let him CO. Give us your hand,
old boy that picture and them letters did the
business You can 60 free; but you're lucky,
mind ye."
"We'll do more than that" said man
with big heart, in Texan garb, and carrying
the customary brace Of pistols in his belt ;
"let's buy his cattle here and let him co.
They did (; and when the money was paid
over, and the man about to start, he was too
weak to stand. The long strain of hopes and
fears, being away from home under such trying
circumstances, the sudden deliverance from
death, had combined.to render him helpless
as child. He sank to the ground, com.
pletely overcome. An hour later, however,
he left on horseback for the nearest stage
route, and, as they shook hands and bade him
good.by, they looked the happiest band of
men ever saw.