The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-10-08
Kentucky Nountaineers.

The mountaineers are a singular
people, writes a correspondent from
Kentucky to the New York Times.
They have not the slightest idea OF
law and order as it is understood and
practieed in other portions of the
country. Every individual resents
al injury with a knife, pistol or gun,
provided he has the requisite courage
to do so, or, if not, waylays and
shoots down his enemy whenever he
can be caught off his guard. Like
their prototypes who live in the
mountains of Georgia, North Carolina
and Tennessee, the Kentucky noun
tanners are a peculiar set of people,
differing in every way from the good
inhabitants of these states. They are
densely ignorant, and are utterly I'M
able to avail themselves of the proper
process ofthelaw. Theirpoverty and
illiteracy are pitiable in the ex-
IRENE; they know nothing what
aver of the habits of the civ
illized world, and many have
never been. beyond the confines oftheir
own counties. Their houses are
made of logs and mud, and in some
sections the sight of a pane of glass
would cause a sensation. The virtues
they possess are purely primitive, sug-
costing the savage in many respects.
They are strictly honest as to rights
of property; they do not steal; out
RACES are uncommon, but q failure to
be chaste and resultant inbreedinghas
caused much idiocy. With such aeon
dition of things surrounding them, it
is an easy matter for a few bold, reso-
lutte, but reckless men to dominate
the whole country. Those who are
not killed die from diseases peculiarto
people who do not comprehend that
cleanliness is next to goodness. The
term husband" or "wife' is never
heard. It is "my man" or "my wom-
an" N1ne-tenths of these noun
taineers were in the Union army, and
fought with q courage and fierceness
that swept everything before them.
Their names indicate an English
origin, as, for instance, in Bell county,
In Harlan county, as well as in con-
tiguous sections, you End lots OF How-
ards, Turner's, Pursifulls, probably a
corruption of the old English name
Percival, Blanton, Martin, Bowling,
etc. A study Of the names, habits, ig-
norance and inclinations of these peo-
pile causes m to believe that they are
the direct descendants of the convict
English class who were sent to this
nopntITy 70 cn1ra +h0 rantry in av~1o-
ton of crimes committed in England,
settling in Georgia, Virginia, the Car
olinas, and in afteryears working into
Kentucky and Tennessee. They are
O. disgrace to Kentucky, and in no
sense ought they to be considered as
typical Kentuckians. 1t is the crimes
of these people that T t~elegraphed
to the country, just as are those of
the Tim McCarthys of New York. All
other sections of the State contain
people as enterprising, progressive, in
dustrious and cultured as may be
found anywhere. 1t is true that
the politicians are much to blamefora
failure to properly punish those who
engaged in feudalism, and who,
perhaps, are neglected by the authori-
GleS on Cne UneOfy CnaC men,
like some classes of jurymen, always
stick together, and, when they vote
a friend who has helped them out
of a difficulty, it is with q unanimity
that never breaks. The country where
they live abounds in the richest of fine
forests, full of walnut, white pine,pop-
lar, oak, hemlock and other desirable
timber. Their hills are full Of the
finest car-wheel iron known in the
and the coal lands are pro-
nounced by Professor Shaler, of Har-
ward College, to be the superior ofany
n America. A deposit of camel coal
in Breathitt, Letcher and Harlan
counties is pronounced the finest in the
When railroads are built
through these mountains civilization
will reach the inhabitants, and the
example ofthrift and consequent prof
It will, nc doubt, play its full part in
inspiring a desire to indulge in habits
Of industry. Until then there is little
chance of their improvement.