The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-03-11
The Ending of a Feud.

families of Reynolds and Garth
rsXs1 had its origin some time pre-
rs vious to the great civil war;
but that strife Of section against
section, state against state, and
brother against brother, added fuel
to it's fire and intensity to It's bitter
ess. ~
When the war broke out the Rey-
nolds family ranged themselves on
the Confederate side, and the
Garths, probably for no better rea-
son than opposition to their old
enemies, espoused the Union cause.
1t is not to be supposed that
either of the families cared much,
if anything, for the principles in
volved in the contest, the Reynolds
tribe seeing IN the struggle a pre-
text for deyoting themselves to the
destruction of the Garths, and the
Garth tribe finding in the war an
excuse for the extermination of the
Reynolds. Thus it happened that
no member of either family was reg
ularly enrolled in any army, but all
the Reynolds and all the Garths
preferred to serve their person al
ends by engaging in style of war
fare which was generally regarded
as illegitimate. They called them
selves guerrillas and partisans, but
other people gave them the desig
nation of bushwhackers.
They carried on the business of
bushwhacking to their mutual ex-
termination, if not to their entire
satisfaction. So thoroughly was
the work of the rope and the bullet
done, that there were left of the two
tribes at the close of the war only
Phil Reynolds on the one side, and
John Garth and his daughter Lottie
on the other.
1t was then supposed that one or
the other of the two male survivors
would terminate the feud by com
pleting the determination of one
family or the other, but the general
expectation was disappointed -
John Garth. finding himself OBJ
noxious in the neighborhood be-
cuse of his alleged union senti-
ments, quilted Kentucky. and
crossed the river to take up his
abode in Indiana. -.5..... b. a..
John Garth made an end of his
exile within a year. His property
was going to waste, his old neigh
borhood had settled down to a con-
dItion of reasonable quietude and
federation, and he returned to his
farm, accompanied by his daughter
Lottie, then a tall and handsome
girl of eighteen.
1t was then believed that the feud
would be at last fought out to ia
tai termination, but no immediate
conflict occurred between the sur
vlvors Of the hostile families.
Phil Reynolds and John Garth
both went armed, but that was the
custom of the country, and the
care with which they avoided each
other exceeded the eagerness with
which they had sought a meeting
during their bushwhaeking days.
At last, as Reynolds was return
ing from the mill, he met Garth in
a narrow path on the side of hill,
and a glance at their faces was
enough to show that the fatal hour
had come. ... s1,.,
Neither was willing to make way
for the other, and the first words
that broke from their lips were
those of abuse and recrimination.
After little of this wordy warfare
they drew their pistols and opened
fire.
When all the chambers of taeir
revolvers had been discharged, the
result of the action thus far was
seen to have been fatal to Reynolds
mule and Gsrth's horse, while the
two men were slightly wounded.
They renewed the fight on foot,
clenching and wrestling for the
mastery.
Then Garth slipped and fell, his
falling upon him.
With yell Of triumph Reynolds
drew his knife, and prepared to
wipe out all scores with a death
stroke.
At that moment Lottie Garth
came riding uo the hill, and with
one glance she took in the details
of the scene, and realized her ia
theirs danger,
Without pausing to dismoupt,
she implored Reynolds to spare the
life of the PROSTATE man.
Her fearful eyes, her outstretched
arms, and her agonizing accents
might have melted a heart of stone,
but they could not change Phil Rey-
nold's heart of fire. 49,
He only saw in her appearance
another cause for triumph, a chance
to inflict another pang upon his
hated adversary.
With one sure and powerful
stroke he drove his heavy knife to
the heart of the man beneath him,
and John Garth's fighting days
were ended.
Lottie Garth shook and bent in
her saddle like sapling in strong
wind, and it seemed as if she would
fall from her horse; but she recov-
cred herself, and fiercely faced the
murderer as he rose from his
bloody work.
"Phil Reynolds" she said, and
her voice rang out on the mountain
air as clear as a silver bell, "you
have murdered my father, though l
begged you to spare his life. AS
sure as God let's me live l will kill
you for this deed!'
Reynolds was fairly cowed for a
moment Perhaps he felt the enor-
nifty of his crime, perhaps the words
and tone of the orphan girl cut him
to the quick.
He made no reply, but picked up
his pistol, and hastily began to load
it, as if he meant TO complete the
work of exterminsting the Garths,
and at the same time to get rid of
witness. But Lottie turned and