The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-08-26
THE LAST OF THE BENDERS.
Lynchcd by virgIlantes Seven Years ago.
"A Picturesque Account of tho Pursuit,
Canture and Execution.

the greatest secrecy, and none but trusty
men admitted to the organization. The
utmost circumspection was used, for the
reason that in new community like
this the doubtful assistance of suspicious
characters was q thing to be dreaded
The vigilantes did not number more than
one hundred men all told, but they meant
business, as the sequel proved. 1t was
my good or bad fortune to be one of the
elect. Scouts went out in all directions,
and within forty. eight hours of the de-
parture of the Benders from their camp
in the next county, the fact was reported
to us.
About forty of us organized into pur-
suing party and started after the butch.
ers. Once on their trail, we had no diff
ficulty in following it. The murderous
quartet had taken to the open country
west of the river, but were keeping with.
in convenient distance of The thick TIM
Der that grows in the valley watered by
this stream. They were expecting pursuit,
and hoped to escape by losing themselves
in this timber, if it came to the worst.
AS we proceeded The trail freshenel, and
ere long we came across the half con-
sumcd wagon left by the Benders in their
flight. From the direction they were
taking, it became evident TO the mind of
those acquainted with the country that
they we're pointing for
THAT PARADISE OF cUTTHRoATs
located near the mouth of the Red Fork
Of the Arkansas. The country hereabouts
is bleak and desolate region, infested
by horse thieves, half. breed Greeks, Paw
nees and Cherokees. Once there they
knew they would be safe from pursuit.
Even the United States troops have never
been able to penetrate that terra incognitd.
1t is safe retreat for the border ruilians,
and is known to be such all through this
section of the country. This haven for
the wicked is distant about one hundred
and forty miles from the point where the
Virligris River enters Indian Territory.
! The murderers had about forty miles to
travel before reaching the boundary of
the territory, and they were Hrobahly
twenty miles beyond the line Wiz
OUR SCOUTS CAUGHT SIGHT OF THEM
Burdened as they were with much
cumbrous baggage, they had used every
; possible effort to put space behind them.
; 1t was about o'cock Oh hot sultry
May afternoon that we came in sight Of
the party. They saw us as soon as We
came from cover abandoning everything
they broke for the forest. They plunged
into the woods and scattered. We were
close upon their heels, however, and they
did not succeed in cluding us long. The
old man and his wife and Kate were un.
der arrest in less than an hour. John
Jr., was more fortunate than the other
members of the tribe, for he contrivcd to
evade us for and hour longer, but he was
at length run to cover and forced to sur
render.
EVERY ONE OF THEM SHOWED FIGHT,
but with the exception of Kate they all
weakened when it came to the scratch.
This charming border beauty emptied
every chamber of her revolver into our
faces, but her aim was bad and she did
no serious damage beyond manning one
of our horses and clipping lock OF hair
frow my temple. The bullet raised a
ridge along the skin, the work of which
shows to this day. She finally succumbed
to superior strength, but to the last main
tanned the same dare devil, reckless de-
meanor.
The prisoners were accordingly arraign'
ed and
ASKED WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY
in their defence. The old woman was
sullen and ugly, but the two men showed
signs of faltering. Had they been left
to themselves, they would have made full
confessions, beyond doubt. The amia-
Bile Kate perceived this, and, thinking it
would please the vigilantes too much to
hear confessions, she fell to cursing her
brother and father for their cowardice.
Fouler language was never uttered than
came from the lips of this fiend. No
term was too vile To apply to her relatives.
They took it sulenly at first, but soon
something of the reckless spirit infused
them, and they too joined in the TRADE.
The chorus of blaspllemy that went up
from that hardened lot caused a shudder
to run through our party. With death
staring them in the face, they united in
cursing us and lamenting thier inability
10 do US harm. Such malignity l never
saw equalled. Even the old woman
clipped in occasionally, and her appear.
ance indicated that she wholly approved
of the family demonstration.
When charged with the murders laid
at their door, the answer was a curse
followed by more curses, and then a vol.
lev, fusilade of cursed and ribald
abuse. Our court went through with
the form prescribed and then pronounc-
ed sentence of death. The announce
ment was received with jeers from the
hardened criminals, who had determin-
cd to brave it out to the last. 1t was
decided that the murdcrers should be shot,
as it would
TAKE TOO MUCH TIME TO HANG THEM.
The sun was already nearly down, and
the shadows of approaching night were
deepening. There on the borders of the
forest the cruel killers were tied to sap
lings and told to prepare for death. One
of our number, who had not quite forgot
ten his early education, undertook to offer
prayer, bu5the lovely Kate spitin his face
while he was addressing the throne of
grace, and he quit right in the middle
of sentence and drew off in disgust.
The four
DIED WITH CURSES on THEIR LIPS,
hardened and unrepentant to the last.
There in that lonely, dismal spot, away
beyond the confines of civilization, they
met righteous rctribution, and their
souls, black with crime, were sent to meet
the great Judge. Their executioners treat
ed them better than they treated their
innocent victims. They were killed
quickly and painlessly, not butchercd
brutally. i,
To be sure not mnch time was wasted
in burial, but it WAS growing late, and
the vigiantes had long ride before
them. A hole, made by the displace-
nient of the roots of fallen cottonwood,
was made little larger and deeper, and