The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-09-16


Texas, and there ought to be reward
offered to the first man who will shoot
him on sight. The Lone Star State must
be pureed of such pets before she can
thrive"
"Thnt may be so, said my companion
quietly, "but all I've out got to say,
stranger, is that my name is John Wesley
Hardin |"
Never until that minute was prepared
to believe that mans hair actually rises
on end when he is "struck " with terror,
but when that horseman at my side an
nounced himself as the terrible desperate
whom / had been denouncing I distinctly
felt my hat slide up my forehead as my
hair stiffened and literally stood on end.
/ was transfxed with fear. For few
seconds | couldn't stir hand nor foot.
nor could speak word / never had
dreamed that the horseman was ANYTHING
other than a Texan cowboy, rough but
hospitable-one who had probably killed
his man, but who was not dangerous
character.
Finally | managed to turn my eyes so
as to look at Hardin. He was a little
back OF me, riding at leisurely gait,
and was looking straight at me, with a
peculiar smile on his face-a smile which
| was sure meant my death. Hardin
had shot down Sheriff a short time
before in cold blood and he thought no
more of human life than he did Of
brushing away fly. / was certain he
would shoot me dead within the next
three minutes. / had my revolver at my
hip, but did not dare attempt to draw,
for the instant | moved a hand in that
direction he would send bullet through
my brain. In fact l did not dare move
at all. recall that the end of my nose
began to itch terribly and yet / was
afraid to raise my hand to scratch it,
through dread Of drawing his fire.
BY and by ! managed to stammer
"I-beg-y pardon-but-I didn't
know-it was you, Mr.. Hardin"
II judge not" he said, with the same
horrid grin on his face. "Tve only got
word to add. When you're travelling
through Texas learn who your pardner
is. Don't talk too freely about your
betters. Good day sir, F." and he wheeled
off to the right, while took to the left.
struck my pony into gallop, but for
moment / was sure Hardin would send
ball from his rifle after me, and when
he did that he never failed to hit
hard.' No pen can describe my agony
OF apprehension for minute or so, but
when | glanced furtively over my shoul-
der the little horseman was riding
leisurely along beyond rife-shot and did
not look behind him.
He spared my life that morning merely
because the whim happened to take pos
session Of him, for more heartless des-
perado and more deliberate murderer
never lived than John Wesley Hardin.
He was what might be called the pro-
duct of the reconstruction days of Texas,
when the State was under military rule
and whom public feeling was such as to
develop all the innate deyiltry in mans
nature.
When Hardin was yet boy he began
the amusement of shooting negroes. He
andone or tworeclSless companions would
visit picnic, create disturbance and
begin shooting right and left. When
they were out of ammunition or the signs
were unpropitious they would mount
their horses and dash away. Again they
would gallop through company with
| the object of seeing who could kill the
most, with their mustangs in full speed.
But Shooting of "niggers" became mon
otonous to Hardin, and he began picking
off those of his own race. 1t would re-
quire hours to tell the sanguinary af-
trays in which he was engaged, and in
which he emerged the sole survivor.
Some of these, perhaps, were defenslble,
as he was not always the blamable party,
but the majority OF them were SIMPLY
cold-blooded murders.
About five years ago a noted bully
below Austin shot young man on tue
street one evening while he was promen-
aiding with young lady to whom he was
engaged. 1t was done in pure wanton-
ness, and Of course, the fellow was never
punished by the law, but brother OF
the victim was so infuriated over the
deed that he caught mp double-bar-
relied shotgun and started out for the
murderer. Hardin asked him what he
intended to do and was told. Hardin
laughed. and warned him that it would
be sure death for him to attempt any
such thing. But the young man would
not be dissuaded. He meant to shoot
down like dog the wretch who had
done the same to his brother.
{" Very well, y said Hardin, Il will go
along and see fair play.
The young man caught sight OF the
wretch for whom he was looking on the
opposite side of the street, and dellh-
erately raised his gun and took aim.
Just as he pulled the trigger the criml-
nal observed him, but too late to escape
or get the drop Oh the boy. The latter
pulled trigger and the gun missed fire.
The desperate smiled grimly, and draw
ing up his revolver, said
HNow, it's Blg turn that's Just about
NV distance, and TO prevent any acci-
dents, my kid, won't give you time to
say your prayers, - He had reached
that point in his address, when John
Wesley Hardin took hand in the little
game and the speaker never completed
his sentence, and never will, inasmuch
as he dropped dead at the most interest
| ing point, killed by shot trom har,
! = n1ls. tt-ou ahcy1t the best