The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-20
THE Late NED BuNrLrNE.
His Narrow Escape from Death at the Hands
of AN Infatuated Mob.
Nashville (Tenn. j special.


Nashville (Tenn.J Special
From a venerable gentleman who Witnessed
the attempt to mob Ned Buntline here in lS47
/ obtained the following thrilling incidents:
Judson, or ''Ned Buntline," was an Iago, and at
that time walked and talked like that character;
was regular masher. He had been editing
Ned Buntline's Own" in Paducah, KY, but
on coming to Nashville he was en-
ployed as assistant editor to Hudson
Kidd in the publication Of the South
western Review. He had been here
five or six months when trouble came up be-
tween L. B. Porterfeld and himself, and.at the
time of the ARRAY Buntline and Bob Parrish
were practicing at target Porterheld's friends
had persuaded him to shoot Buntline with q
double-barrel shotgun and had one loaded at
the corner of Union and Cherry
streets, with a view of waiting for
him. but having heard that Buntline was in
Sulphur Spring bottom he rushed unaccompa.
MED TO that point On getting within range
| Porterfeld opened fire him with pepper
box" pistol Buntline had Colts revolver in
his hand, and after Porterfeld had shot at him.
Buntline said, "Porterield, stop shooting. /
don't want to kill you but needless of the warn
ing, Portereld continued to fire, when Buntline,
placing the revolver across his arm, took DELHI
| crate aim and shot Porterfield in the ad,
instantly killing him.
AS soon as the report of the killing reached
the central portion of the city mob rushed to
the point indicated and ran Buntline into Mrs.
Cockrills hotel, corner of College and Line
Streets caught him and took him TO the court
room. The people were now wild with excite
ment. The courtroom was densely thronged,
and the furore was greatly increased when
Porterield's brother John came running in and
opened fire on Buntline. The crowd scat.
tered in every direction, and Buntline,
taking advantage of the situation, ran out OF
the room In which he had been fired at thirty or
forty times, and was followed down stairs By
regular hail of bullets. He was shot at again as
ha fhQ In rhe ifuD 4nfn1
bullet taking effect in the arm of named
Pentecost. On reaching the door of the hotel
bullets were planted all around him. On going
to the third story he attempted to regain the
ground by climbing down tin gutter. which
broke, and he fell to the pavement of the court,
breaking his leg. Sheriff Barnes kept the crowd
back by saying that Buntlne was dying; to let
him alone, and no would carry Buntline to jail,
which he was permitted to do At dark another
mob was formed and went TO the jail.
Acting Mayor S. V. d. Stout and John D.
Goss who were jail commissioners, went to con-
suit Louis Horn, jaier When the mob rushed
into the jail, they knocked Horn out of a rock
ing chair. and secured the keys when ne said,
''For Gods sake, don't let the prisoners out
Three of the mob entered Buntlines cell. While
one caught him by the leg. another seized him
by the collar. A third, placing his foot on Bunt
lines neck, was about to fire, when the iailer
pleaded with them not to kill him there. Bunt-
line was then dragged pell-mell into the street.
He was then permitted to say his prayers, and
20 minister to be sent to his father at Pitts
burg, Pa. The crowd then hallooed, take
him on" and they did so.
They first attempted to hang him to sign,
out the rope having been too short he was drag
ged to lamp-post When they began to pull
him up Acting Mayor Stout cut the rope and
the form of Buntline dropped to the earth.
The utmost silence prevailed at this critical mo-
ment, when man named Ashbrook cried out,
Its d-n shame to treat human being ia
such brutal manner, and if John Porter
field is gentleman, he will have the wretch
turned loose" At this Porterfeld came
up and said: "rake him back to jail, and
Buntline was returned to his cell. DR.. Joe
Stout said he had received severe internal injur-
les. ard that while attending him Buntline.
boosted that if he saw that a man was going TO
shoot him, he could dodge the bullet When
Buntline had recovered and was about to be sent
down the river, still another mob gathered at tho
upper wharf to lynch him, but the crowd Yves
left standing when the boat started with NO
Buntine on board. The sheriff e!uded the angry
assemblage by taking Buntlne to the lower
wharf, where he was put on steamer, and That
was the last seen of Buntline in Nashville. He
was mover prosecuted.