The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-10-08
BRIC-A-B R4C.
SOME THINGS HE SAW ON THE
OCCASION OF THE 26TH
To the Editor of the Morristown Gazette:

were sailing through the pure ether that
characterized the sky of Thursday last,
mayhap, as they passed over the coun-
ties of Granger and Claiborne, noticed
persons or groups of persons pilgrimat-
ing the roads that lead toward Morris
town. In some of these groups were
women carrying babes, while aside their
flea bitten horses scrambled children of
all ages and sizes. The predOminance
of colored ladies and gentlemen may
not have been detected by said buzZards,
for experts say ''they are guided by
sight and not by SMELL" but to the dis
interested wayfarer the fact was patent.
Not only did the genuine pilgrim give
tone to travel, but his crusade involved
all others who CHANGED to wend upon
same day and route. Yours truly left
TaZewell with two companions The
one a worthy Baptist preacher, on his
way home to Messy Greek, the other a
relative whose objective point was Rus
sellville. One remark will show the
status we occupied along the entire
route At one point country gentle
man inspected us narrowly, from his
cabin door, then turning to some one
inside said in stage whisper, There
are three more dun fools going to the
hanging" The only truly properly
placed man | saw on the entire journey,
was a Young man we passed at a point
where the State road leaves Clinch river
at right angle. AT that strategic point
some one had erected one of those man
sions of happiness, called groceries. He
was sitting in the shade of the doorway
looking out at the sky, cliffs, and glanc-
ing river, as he slowly picked banjo.
Had / not been Alexander, gladly would
| have been Diogenes.
We stopped for lunch az Lafferty's,
and while there, were Joined by several
groups of waytarers. | observed that
whatever might be the character of the
varied lunches, one thing they had in
common-a bottle of Mustang. One
trick beg to call attention to: the hab-
it of putting brandy bottles into
spring-'tis abominable | am aware
it coOls the brandy, but there isn't
enough brandy to help the spring. |
am particular about such things-I want
water or brandy, but can't say | fancy
heel taps and counter Stops.
Chance brought me to MOrristown up
on the day of hanging. The streams of
pilgrims, that the day before had been
creeks and rivulets, were now rivers.
Wagons laden with people had passed
the river before day. The why" OF
this early start, one can scarcely analyZe,
except in the insane desire just to be at
Morristown. When our party started,
the road seemed paved with peOple-all
in the DEVILS own hurry-and raising a
cIoud of dust that fell in cinnamOn-tlnt-
ed deposits over everybody and every
thing. One circumstance struck me
the singular, all-pervading hurry, which
created doubts in ones mind, whether
ray n
whether they were running towards or
fiving from an object. One motto GER
tainly was upon the gallOws-stricken
banner: Lets keep policing"
And. In MOrristOwn. The hitched
horses. the unhitched wagons, the sway
ing. purposeless multitude-the women
in doorWays, on pOrChes and in stores
some very pretty-0ae, especially so.
Alas knew her not; but l smiled a
smole; a tribute to ''rose dropped amid
a swarm of cockrOaches and the men,
patrolling the streets, or gathered in
circle around some interesting object
they possessed, which would flash Occa-
sionally like crystal. The majority,
however, making as the crow flies, for
the several bar-rooms. "a point, Why
is it when a man drinks he always does
three things and says one The tripar-
tite movements are; wipe hismOuth, clear
his throat, and then turn around twice.
Is this last movement to ascertain wheth-
er he has surrounded his whiskey p
and the one remark after a sturdy blast
upon his nose, he says, Come, John,
let's 60" Where does he want to go
to?
Within the charmed square of the
guard, at the Jail, the confusion was
terrible. An indescribable Babel, over
which rose the steady, clear voice of
the Sheriff, telling off his men-a lull,
slight hustle of the jail-door, and An
thony Blair stepped into the cart. Body !
and limbs shaped and hung like a tur-
ties; the head presenting the contour
of rams, and surmOunted with black |
cap fashioned with angles 4t the top like
that worn by the Jesuits. His complex
rendered more decided by the
proximity of a brand new rope that
pended from AnthOny's neck and
shoulders. The movement from the
jail to the gallOws, was a miniature
Bragg's retreat-a sort of reciprocal
bootjack application to marching bod
the man behind would get all
the boots. This was entirely due to the
presence of the mob following and
1teir presence was possibly due 20 the
same ineXplicable influence that brought
into MOTfistown at a lOpe.
would suggest 10 the Sheriff to put
peers on his guard next time-fOr three
'anks wouldn't have checked the rush
IN Friday. A tribute is due Sheriff
Loop for his cool steadiness and good
also to the guard for the
rood temper they showed, The gal
ows, once reached, the order was per
ect, and the profound silence unbroken.
Perhaps the less said the better about
he variety show under the gal!Ows, by
'rof. Blair and his assistants. Twas a
mixture of camp meeting and slaughter
ouse-"lil HOrt4is pist bQpAm."
Nothing Is Left of the dead bat tIIeir
zones. Here was a mana thorough.
red brute in form and instincts-who
ad shot poor girl in cold blood. Two
lonths elapse and this murderOus beast |
escorted by ministers (?) to the gal
)WS By those ministers he is Classed {
candidate>foF the White robe, starry
rown and harp business, and given
etter OF recommendation to the Supreme
icing, while the candidate himself,
nth nothing but the blue vaults of
eaven between his offended God and
imself, numbers away in jargOnesgue /
ymn aud makes q sRaeeh an 4FQ4Fi In a
myth. have no intention of preach G
lg, or using improper language, but @
MT this a little too damned thin +? And v
as not that outrageous mockery y0p a
itneSsed a sight to make angels weep s
Id make worldly men who, sometimes, I
TRY under their worldly crust aspira- /
OPS towards 2 kettaE WCrid, skqGder | =
it'll horror Pllbet'Wh6n' Anthony ap- Il
caches the ivory portals, St. Peter v
i'll put on his specs and examine An n
ony's pass-especially, if the murder 81
girl has left AnthOny's photograph Il
it'll the old man. il
Fhe Bihle gays, ssWhQso sheddetA e
ms blood, by man shall his blood be q
ed" But it doesn't say men shall leave o.
cir work for DAVIS and NHofnnR ssanl.