The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-27
Revenuers on the War PAIN.

From the Marion Lamp Post We get
the following:
AT midnight Sunday last. the Bur-
Lesson Miller Mica mine, near Flat Rock.
Mitchell county, was the scene of the
most horrible human butchery that has
ever caused the ears to tingle and the
heart of the mountain people to sink, as
like all Ill reports, it flies like the rush
ing wind from house to house and
from town TO town, and i caught
up and formed into mourniul histo-
ry by the black dye of letters, a tit
emblem of the time chosen and the
hearts that executed so tendish a crime.
Stephen Burleson and Sebe Miller
were working a mine under lease from
Col. /. III. Bailey,of Bakersvllle. Reubin
Sparks claimed title TO this mine under
a recent State grant to his father and
has traded one half interest to Ray and
Anderson for the consideration that they
would secure possession in turtherance OF
this contract. Ed. Ray with two Of the
Sparks boys, on Sunday came to the spot
and took possession Of an abandoned
tunnel below the shaft where Burleson.
Miller and Penland, a partner, were
working. and built up a fire intending
to smoke them out OF the shaft. This
did not work as anticipated. Ed. Ray
goes to Bakersville Sunday after his
brother-in-law Anderson, both return
inc to the mine about midnight, leaving
the Sparks boys to hold their horses
some distance of.
Anderson and Raw, both armed, step
ped up to the shaft, which is about
twelve feet deep. Robert Penland and
Stephen Burleson were in the pit. Ray
said, to Miller, who was about to hand
the tools down to Penland, Don't hand
those tools down or | will blow your
: heart out" Penland said he was not
afraid of Ray, if he had killed several
men, and told Miller to hand down the
tools" Miller did so, when Ray knock
ed him down into the pit with his gun
f VIM. Burleson then knocked Ray into
the pit. Anderson who was on the
: outside, ordered Ed. Horton to leave,
: who did SO, and was shot by Anderson
/ as he went off, the ball entering the bach
S and lower part of the head and coming
out through the forehead. Ray anC
5 Penland had a tussle in the pit, in which
S Penland got Ray down, with his plsto
9 presented, when Ray begged for quar-
tiers, and Pelland let him up, and III
8 Immediately shot Stephen Burleson am
and ran up the ladder to the mouth Q
the pit, the ball entering Burleson'
right side and passing through, cut tn
! heart, he died in about an hour. An
y derson then went to the mouth OF tn
3 pit and fired down, one ball enterln
ii Miller's head on the back side and pass
le ing out near the eye, he died lmmed
le ately another shot struck VIM. Burlt
e son in the right side of the back, an
+ was cut out by DR.. Smith on the lel
he side of back. The Doctor thinks ther
lie is chance of his recovery. Ray and Al
&c derson then left and have not been hear
ut of since. 1t is thought they have lie
the country.
ut Since the above was put in type, "
I'D learn from J.. G. Duncan who lie
h. Mitchell this morning, that the Peep
eel are greatly stirred up, and are in squad
searching for the murderers. Couns
a, who came put to the inquest in the i
cir terest of the friends of Ray and Ande
h. son were driven away.