The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-09
FOUGHT OVER 4 GRAVE.
A COIOred Man Who Kept a Promise
and White Man Who Was
Not Afraid.
s1ae of the Most Dramatic Tragedies on
Record.
Isl. Louis Democrat.l

sroased the indignation of the entire com
nluaity. Several DAYS ago the concluding
chapter was enacted.
Ia the neighbOrhOod mentioned there
lived "A young man named Abraham Dent. 3
man of line education, usually kind in dis
nosition. bat Of 80 violent nature when
aroused that he was known as Bad Dent.
He was tall and handsome, possessing re-
nnzrSable physical strength and an activity
-hz, had made him a favOrite on the school
house play ground. He was wealthy, to
which influence hc owed his escape from
Imprisonment. for he had killed man,
and was only cleared after the best
lecal talent had been employed in his
defense He was not addicted to the
use Of liquors. but would. as his companions
feared il. get on spree of ill-humor. On
such occasions he was norOse, quarrelSome
and dangerous. His freaks were strange and
tnaceOuntaLle. He would help friend out
OF AL alteration and Immediately turn and
SnOck him down. Among his companions
Wa a young man named Louis GULL, a no
ole fellow. He was as brave as lion, intel
ligent, kind-hearted and faithful to every
obligation. His father and mother were
dead. having Willed him the farm and sew
era BLACK folks" The friendship between
GULL and Dent was a subject of remark, for
while Dent was violent, GULL was genial
where Dent was sin for fight" GULL fav-
orcd aN adjustment and a hearty laugh. Yet
the two young men were friends. 1t seemed
that they had been born friends their ia
theirs were friends. Their mothers Insisted
upon having the same kind OF coffee. the
SAME kind OF cooking. had the same ideas
regarding children, and, of course, were
friends.
One day, at picnic, the two friends en-
gagged in quarrel.
.'You told me that you were not going to
dance with that girl exclaimed Dent.
Il know did. Abe, but l couldn't well
eec out OF il. The boys arranged the set.
ana assigned the partners"
1T wouldn't make any difference to me
what the boys did. wouldn't acknowledge
ris2, had told id lie"
II man tells lie it is better 10 acknowl-
edreit. hope have not offended YOU"
But you have. When a man tells me
ID lie hold him accountable for it,
be. YOU are on one of your sprees to-
o&v- Let the matter drop
Il am not in an ill humor, and You utter
a Id lie when you say So"
Abe, this has gone far enough
y shall go just a. far rs I want it.
meant what | said
Are Won in carnest?'
Il am"
TO away. then. Don't call me liar
again. Ii you do, I'll knock yOu down.
Several friends raised up, among them
co.ored man, owned by GULL. He was his
mas ,cr's friend, as well IS servant. and
would have risked his life for the man who
could make his existence miserable Or pleas
aHt. and who nobly chose the latter.
Mars Louis, said the darkey, ''dOan hab
frgt mex yVfH dat 10
moab fur blood dan he do fur water" and
ne PIT his hand gently on his masters arm.
sect away, Buck" said GULL HE has
iusLlted me and mnst pay the penalty
ct him alone, cOOly remarked Dent,
and the next instant he lay full length on
the ground Blood flowed from the mouth.
and for a moment he seemed iuSensible.
Recovering suddenly, he drew a Barlow
1uife and, as GULL stopped over TO raise
uiIE- ne uttered an oath and plunged his
isn;fe-bladc into Guill's breast. Such a siam
Pede followed that Dent escaped. GULL lay
on TIE bosom of his faithful slave.
Pack, I'm dying" he said. 1T was a
murder. Buck are you here
es, Mars Louis, Is here"
1t Dent is not hung by law / want you to
Kill him."
Yes, Mars Louis"
But don't take advantage OF him. Fight
hini with a knife. Do you promise?"
Yes, Mars Louis I'll follow him &c de
eeBd Oh de earth Ill-Oh, my lnarster is
dead ''
Tie tragedy sent thrill OF horror through
every one Old men shed tears when they
Jaw poor GULL lying on the ground, with his
hands full of grass, pulled up with the grasp
OF death.
GULL was buried in a little orchard near
the old farm house. Buck delivered the
funeral Grafton. Several ministers offered
their services, but the cOlOred man claimed
the right, and no one could doubt the
friendship which existed between master
and servant, no one disputed the right of
rhe faithful man to conduct the ceremonies
On Sunday afternoon, when the sun shOne
bright on the apple blossoms when the
blue Jaw fitted and the ''sap-suckeri
rounded the old black trees, Buck stood at
the head of his masters grave. Friends
and neighbors gathered around, and chill
dren peeped over the mound into the deep
cavity. shuddercd and drew back. For full
fve minutes Buck stood without uttering 4
word.
L lOan know how ter preach a funeral,
lord he said ''bnt | knows what hit liz ter
reel lie pJdlin' of de heartstnngs. IL a
smile can change ter tTemblin' ob de lip,
~ does sorrow set heaviest on de heart what
wuz once.fillcd wild JOY. My marSter had a
heart ez big ez de Imagination Oh chile, an
e. lie heart is de birthplace OBJ de soul, my
marscer Is ON dc right han oh God, close NJ
Ter he throne. May we all meet death wild
aS little fear, an may de angels be ez glad
ter see US all ez | knows da hez been tel
make dc heabenly quaintance oh Mars loui:
CIili Amen
Dent fed TO Texas, but was brought back
and, by some technicality, acquitted. liz
left Tennessee Immediately after the
trial ana went. no one knew where or cared
where.
several weeks AGO a tall man stood OF
Superior street, IN Cleveland His hair wa,
almost as white as the snow at his feet Hi
lace wore a sad expression, and his eye
wandered IS though tired of every object
Az old cOlOred man came walking along
SEER the white-haired man, he stopped
zazcd intently for n moment. approached
the stranger. and said
y. yer name Mr.. Dent?'
Yes that's my name
bid ia ulster call yer Mr.. Bad Dent?'
Yes do you know me-
j does. Ny name is Buck GULL.
.-tsst-- ssng Ter Mars Louis GULL. Don't We
--ec0.l cct me?
Why, yes, Buck; how is your health?
es dig .is hand.
sdr: yer doesn't fetch my han in d.
grs.s ob frindship. was at de picnic We
rico.ieck. when yer stabbed Mars Louis. I'll
Is el in my arms. Fore he died he made m
promise dat I'd kill yer in far fight cassel
de law didn't hang her. Now | poses te
sight yer wild Barlow knives.
'Did Louls make YOU promise this?'
Vas sah.'
Then YOU must keep your promise