The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-20
For the +. & M.-Household.
The Dance Of Death.

s. T.:
''In 1868, six miles out of Newbern OF
the Kiuston road, there stood small
house which was rendezvous for the va
rious desperate and unprincipled charac
iers that are always to be found infesting
the lives of opposing armies; and affording
shelter as it did to spies and smugglers,
it became at last great nuisance to the
Confederates. Sometimes for weeks il
would be deserted, then all at once be.
come the theatre of busy life.
1t was principally used as headquarters
by certain worthless women who passed
in and out between the lines apparently
at their own discretion, and of course ac
ted as spies for both parties. though
always believed that they were regularly
10 the Yankee pay. and only fully betray
ed the Confederates. At last our sapient
commandant came to the conclusion that
this most reputable establishment must
be uprooted, and orders pointing to its
suppression were issued to Capt. OCon.
ner, the famous N. G. Independent
scout, who was to use his discretion as to
the ways and means of so doing.
About week after this order was is
sued. O'Conner came to me and said:
Il am going to break up the Lone
House" tonight, G., and it prom
ises to be rather warm work, would you
like to go?"
Indeed would, Capt" | answered.
Every well, then, I'll call for you al
dark" he replied and walked off.
True to his promise, O'Conner came
for me about dark, and as we rode thro'
camp, first one recruit and then another
Joined us until we numbered ten men.
As we rode along O'Conner said, -
boys, you know those infamous scoun'
drels belonging to Yankee Starke's COM
mand, who have been committing such
atrocities all through the lower edge Of
the county? Well, I've been close on
their trail for fortnight, without being
able to snag them, but I've got them now
certain. Fifteen of them rendezvous al
dance at the Lone House" tonight
in Confederate uniform, consequently be.
ing in our lines they rank as spies, and
shall receive the fate of spies. What dc
you say to it?'' ''All right was the sim
ultaneous response of every voice.
An hours sharp riding brought us to
our destination. We fastened our horses
not far from the house, and O'Connel
went off to recOanOitre, and soon return
ed to say, They are hard at work dane
ing, twenty Yanks and four women. We
will go boldly up, and ask admittance,. i
admitted we will join the dance sociably,
but each one of you mark your man, AND
when cough the second time and droI
my handkerchief, draw your revolvers
and down your man, so as to equallzt
forces a little" We walked boldly up
to the house, each man leaned his loadeC
carbine against the wall, while OConnel
walked up to the door, and striking i
sharply with the butt of his sabre, called
out House" with an excellent imitation
OF the Yankee twang.
The uproar inside was so great that a
first the summons was disregarded, bu
upon its repetition. every sound in th'
house grew still aud presently windov
was carefully opened, and a woman put
ting her head out, demanded who wa
there. O'Conner replied cheerfllly
"A party of friends" Where from 2
"From Newbern, but out now on pi
root" Give the.pass.word!" ''Whe1
ducks is fat" ''All right" said the wo
man, and in few moments the door wa
unbarred and we entered in close file.
MARX your men at once, " said U Con
ner, in his soft yet penetrating whispe
as we filed in.
The room was quite large, and lighte
with dark lanterns only, lying in the cor
ners were the saddles and brides of tn
Yankees, and their sabres and carbines
All of them had been drinking freely an
seemed in perfect abandon of reckles
gaiety, and more villainous looking sc
of cut throats | never saw before.
After few remarks had been exchang
ed by all parties, one of the Yankee
said: "Well, if these gentlemen are agree
able, lets begin our dance again
The gentlemen professed to be ''agret
able" whether the facts bore out tn
!. statement or not, and the dance began,-
the widest, most abandoned revel | eve
took part In.
Each of us selected his vis-a-vis as
target, and just as the dance reached
point of almost frenzy, O'Conner cough
ed and down went his handkerchie
; Simultaneous with its downward futtel
came the binding flash and stunning re
. port of our revolvers and ten Yankees b
the dust.
Instantly the scene changed from
wild revel to still wilder fight for litt
The Yankees wore their side arms an
fought desperately banded together
one side of the room as close as pOssibl,
The women showed more desperate vale
still, and fought like furies single hanc
ed.
One of them was armed with ploug
share, and another, superb creature
with eyes that blazed like stars, and MAJ
nifcent raven hair, falling half way /
her feet, had seized an axe and wielde
: it with reckless fury, all the time swea
ing il the most blaspbemous and shoe
ing manner
& Our men, all averse to fighting with
\ woman fell back before her dauntless a
vance until she reached frey young Lo
,ipian, as she poi> ed her axe for a mu
2 derous blow, he made stroke with b
' sabre intending to knock the weapon O
4 OF her hand, and the same moment 81
:, rang towards him. aud the sabre pas
ed clear through her breast, and can
!, out between her shoulders.
!. Without uttering a sound she tore t
scapt drapery from her bosom, and il
: stantly as she did so, torrent of blo
yelled its snowy surface.
y, 'sMy God, exclaimed the lad, reeli
ie.. hack ;n the utmost horror.-'Tve kill
he her."
s. .'Yes, curse you," she said with b
% fer oath, Pm done for" and the ne
eI moment she reeled and fell in the 6ea
~ agony.
The conflict was sharp and short, al
5. soon eight Yankees stood disarmed abo
, their dead and dying comrades. Ju