The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-02-24
A TRAGEDY
In Two Acts, the Scenes of
Which Were Laid in Ten
nessee and Ohio.

a tragedy in the eastern part OF
Tennessee, lear the present site oi
Rugby, that aroused the indigna
tion OF the entire community. Sew.
eral days ago, the concluding chap.
ter was enacted. In the neighbor.
hood mentioned, there lived a
Young man named Abraham Dent,
man of fine education, usually
kind in disposition, hut of so Vio-
lent nature when aroused, that
he was known as bad" Dent. He
was tall and handsome, possessing
remarkable physical strength and
an activity that had made him a
favorite on the schoolhouse play
grounds. He was wealthy, to
which influence he owed his es
cape from imprisonment, for he
had killed a man, and was only
cleared after the best legal talent
had been employed in his defense,
He was not addicted TO the use of
liquor, but would, as his friends
and companions generally termed
it, get on spree of i'll humor. On
such occasions he was morose
quarrelsome and dangerous. His
freaks were strange and unaccount-
able. He would help friend out
of an alteration and Immediately
turn and knock him down. Among
his companions was young man
| named Louis Gulll-a noble
fellow. He was as brave as lion,
intelligent, kind hearted and faith
full to every obligation. His father
and mother were dead, having
willed him the farm and several
''black folks" The friendship be
tween GULL and Dent was a sub
ject of remark, for, where Dent
was violent Gull was genial; where
Dent was In for a fight, GULL IA
vOred an adjustment and hearty
laugh. Yet the two young men
we're friends. 1t seemed that theN
had been born friends. Their ia
theirs were friende. Their mothers
insisted upon having the same
kind of coffee, the same kind OF
cooking; had the same ideas regard
ing children. and, of course, were
! friends
Zone day, at a picnic, the two
friends engaged in a quarra:
"YOu told me that you were not
going t. dance with that girl ex-
claimed Dent.
Il know l did, Abe, but 1
couldn't well get out Of it. They r
ranged the set and assigned the
partners"
at wouldn't make any difference
to me what the boys did. l wouldn't
acknowledge that l told a ID
! lie
"If man tells a lie it is better
to acknowledge it. l hope l have
not offended you"
"But you have. When a man
tells me q ID lie 1 hold him &C
countab!e for it.
"Abe, you are on one of your
sprees to-day. Let the matter
drop"
81 am not in an ill humor, aud
you utter a id lie when you say
So"
''Abe, this has gone far enough"
"It shall go just as far as l want
it. l meant what l said"
Are you in earnest?"
I am"
"Go awsy then. Don't call me
a liar again. If you do, I'll knock
you down"
Several men rushed up. among
them a colored man owned by
Gull. He was his masters friend
as well as servant, and would have
risked his lite for the man who
could. make his existence miserable
or pleasant, and who nobly chose
the latter.
MARS Louis" said the darkey,
"doan hab no Il uck wild dat man.
He doan kere no noah fur blood
den he do fur water and he put
his hand gently on his master's S
arm.
Get away, Buck" said GULL
ale has lnsulted me and must pay
the penalty"
Let him alone" coolly remarked
Dent, and the next instant he lay
full length on the ground. Blood
flowed from his mouth, and for a
time be seemed to be lnsensible.
Recovering suddenly, he drew a
barlow knife and as GULL stopped
ovyr to raise him he uttered an
oath and plunged his knife-blade
into GuiPs breast. Such q STAN
pede followed that Dent escaped.
Gull lay on the bosom of his
faithful slave.
Buck. I'm dying" he said, "It
was a murder. Buck, are you
here?'
"Yes, Mars Louis, Is hesh."
"If Dent is not hung by law, |
want you to kill him"
Yes. Mas Louis"
But don't take advantage of him
fight him with a knife. Do you
promIseY'
Yes, Mars Louis. I'll follow
him to the end ob de earth! I'll
oh, my master is deadr'
The tragedy sent thrill of hor
ror through everyone. Old men
shed tears when they saw poor
GULL lying on the ground with his
lands full of grass, pulled up with
the grasp of death.
GULL was buried in a little or
chard near the old farm house.
Buck delivered the funeral orstion.
Several ministers offered their ser
vices, but the colored man claimed
the right, and as no one could
doubt the friendship which existed
between master snd servalt, no one
disputed the right of the faithful
man to conduct the ceremonies.
On a Sunday afternoon. when the
sun shone bright on the apple bios
! SONS, when the blue jay fitted and
the sap sucker pounded the old
black trees, Buck stood at the
, head OF his masters grave. Friends
, and neighbors gathered around, and
, children peeped over the red
: mound into the deep cavity, shud-
, dered and DIRE back. For full
five minutes b. stood without ut
: tering word.
/ 81 doan know how ter preach Z