The National tribune., 1882-12-14


his detachment back again and out of the stock
ade.
For moment the six raiders seemed to ba
stunned. 1t was not until then, doubtless, that
they were convinced that the regulators were
really going to hang them. Up to that time
they had deIuded themselves with the idea
that the talk of hanging was all "bluff' Tho
silence was broken by one Of them excaimingf
"My God, men, you don't really mean to hang
US up there?" To which Key replied that they
certainly did. At this they broke ont With 4
perfect storm of imprecations and cntrcGtieS,
which was only quelled by one Of them shout
ing: "All of you stop. now; let the priest
talk for u.s." Immediately the priest closed
his book and began plea for mercy. is he
did so the prison became as still as death, and
every ear was strained to catch his words. The
moment however, that those nearest to him
comprehended that he was asking the regula-
tors to spare the lives of the raiders they raised
a cry of No! No. Don't let them go, Hang
them hang them" which was quickly taken
up by the multitude and repeated with yells
from thousands of throats.
A DASH FOR LIBERTY.
1t was critical moment The raiders saw
that they could look for no mercy at the hands
of their fellow prisoners, and in his despera-
ton one of them-the man Curtis, of whom I
have already spoken, who was a short, thick
set and powerfuIly-buiIt fellow-tore off his
broad-brimmed hat and flung it on the ground,
exclaiming as he did so: BY God I'll die
this way first" The words were scarcely out
of his mouth ere, lowering his head and fold
ing his arms about it, he dashed headlong
through the ranks of the regulators They
were ready for him, but in the tussle they
shattered each others clubs and only succeeded
in bringing him to his knees, from which he
rose by a superhuman effort, and plunged once
more into the thick of the crowd. The most
intense excitement prevailed, for it seemed as
if the raiders would all manage to get away.
Indeed, Delaney had already started to follow
Curtis, and might also have forced passage,
had not Timber Jim planted himself directly
in front of him, and, drawing an enormous
bOwie-knife, thereatened to run him through
with it if he advanced another step. While
the excitement was at its height was in
tently watching every movement from my
position on the cook-house shed, and 1 shall
never forget the scene. The mass of struggling
humanity before me gave one the impression
that the earth itself was moving. All at once
some one raised the cry that the artillery was
about to open fire ON the stOckade, and looking
around it did indeed seem to me that the
rebels were on the point of sending vOlley Of
grape and canister into the stockade. You may
be sure that | didn't wait to investigate fur
thcr, but got down from the shed i'll very short
order, and remained ON the ground until the
excitement began to die away and order was
restored among the prisoners. The latter were
also in momentary expectation that Wiz
would fire upon them, but they were deter
mined that the gallows should not be cheated
of its prey, and they continued the pursuit of
Curtis with fierce energy. In the neighbor-
hood of the scallold were several wells that
had been sunk to obtain a supply of water, and
during the melee quite number OF men fell
into them and had their legs or arms broken.
Curtis meanwhile had succeeded in breaking
through the crowd, and by knocking everybody
down Who tried to stop him had managed to
reach the swamp. He sank nearly up 20 his
waist in the filthy slime at every step. and IL
cost him terrible effort to cross ii. but he,
nevertheless, kept on, and it was not until hs
had reached the other side that the r-.,I,a5ors,
who had plunged in after him, overlook him.
TIE EXECUTION.
He was by this time completely exhausted,
and few blows with their clubs qucE'y felled
him to the ground and put him at their mercy.
His re-capture was greeted with a roar Of ap-
plause from the spectators on the north side of
the stockade, and Sergeant Key at once ordered
the balance of the raiders to take their places
on the scaifoid. They obeyed promptly, and
the priest resumed the reading OF the service.
The day was very hot, as | have said, and
remember that the doomed men drank inordi-
nately large quantities of water, two of the
prisoners being constantly employed in fetch
ing it. When Curtis was brought in by his
captors he was allowed to sit down on the
ground for few minutes to rest himself, and
then was ordered 10 join his companions on
the scafiold. lie clambered up the ladder
slowly and painfully, and Delaney shouted to
him: Come. up. now; show yourself 4 man
and die game Again the priest resumed the
reading of the service, but Delaney paid no
attention to it and passed the time in giving
directions to one of his fellow raiders. who was
standing near the railows. rs - the disposition
OF his stolen plumber ring for this one, a
watch for the other. etc. Once during the
service the good old father stopped him and
said: My son, let the things Of this world
20 and turn your attention 90 those of heaven
The fatal moment now drew near. aud the
whole six occupied themselves in delivering
farewell messages 20 their friends. Vt last
Sergeant Key pulled out his watch and said:
' Only two more minutes 10 talk" At this
Delaney said. chccrfully: "Wcll, goodbye,
boys" and added that if he had injured any
of them. he hoped they would forgive him.
There were. ..many within the sound OF MS voice
who had suffered al his hands, but they did
not seem to be in a forgiving mood. Times
up" called Sergeant Key, and raised his hand
The two men who had been detailed to pull
away the supports from the platform laid hold
of the ropes while the SIX exeeutioucrs tied
the hands of the raiders, pulled the mcaEsacks
over their heads, adjusted the nOoSes, and then
jumped TO the ground. The priest began pray
ing aloud, Key dropped his hand, the supports
were pulled away, the platform fell with
clatter, and five bodies swung dizzly in the
air The sixth lay motion!css on the ground.
where it had fallen through the breaking of
the rope. 1t was that Of Mosby, one OF the
most desperate of the gang. He was big,
raw-bOned fellow, and had murdered, among
others, brother of Timber Jim. 1t was soon