The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-07-21
INJuN BAPTIST.


until he stumbled upon one. He came
from no one knows where, though it
has always been suspected that he was
an Indian Territory product He is
we'll acquainted in the Nation, seems
to have Indian blood in bis veins, and
looks more or less like . red man of
the improved order.
The oldest inhabitant can not re-
member when Injun Baptist was
smart man, but great many people
here knew HIM when he was smarter
than he is now. He always had
cloud on his brain. Simple, docile,
credulous, he was in earlier times a
sad wreck of border civilization. No
body ever interfered with him. He
came and went among roughs, des-
peradOes and outlaws the same as
among men whose boast it was that
they were honest His long absences
created no comment, and when he re-
turned "Hello, Injun," was the only
greeting that he received. He would
toll labOriously when put at work. and
would not leave any job that he had
undertaken until, exhausted from
hunger and lack of sleep. he would
wander off not to return. When chill
drcn first appeared here he took
great fancy to them. They rode him
around like a donkey, and he seemed
never to weary Of their tyranny.
According to all accounts, he never
exhibited any signs Of mental power
but once. On one of his periodical
visits to the Nation he fell in with a
party of desperadoes who were on .
marauding expedition. Some of them
knew him. and, thinking they might
make use of the foolish" as they
called him, they persuaded him to &C
company them. Whatever they asked
him TO do he would do uncomplaining-
ly, and as newer of wood and drawer
OF water he proved himself of great
value to his companions. One night
Injun was left in the outlaw camp,
near the Canadian. with orders to re-
main there until they returned. The
horses were all br;dled and every thing
was in readiness for flight, but the un-
fortunate who stood on guard perceived
nothing extraordinary in the situation.
An hour or two later the men returned,
and one of them, calling Injun to one
side, led him far enough away from the
camp to point. out house that could
be dimly seen in the moonlight, and
with instructions that he was to 90
there and remain until they called for
him. he darted off.
Injun made his way to the house,
walked around it once or twice, and
then, seeing an open door. entered.
All was dark within. Lighting match,
he pevred around, and, seeing nothing,
he advanced few steps and lighted
another. In corner of the room was
the body of man drenched in blood.
Once again Injun drew forth match,
and, lighting it, he turned around
to fall over the PROSTATE forms of
two other men. His matches were
now gone, but while he was mechanic
ally searching his pockets for more. it
is believed, from the story that he aft
erward told that one of the victims who
yet retained consciousness recognized
him and told him to 60 for help. How.
ever that may have been the fellow
who never before seemed able to ACT
intelligently on two ideas in succession
set out alone and without waiting fol
daylight in search of neighbor. How
long or how far he tramped was never
known, but he did not abandon his
search until he had found assistance
and led the way back to the cabin
The sight that there presented itsel
was enough to make the stoutest hear
quail. Every thing in the house indi
Gated the desperate nature of the figh
which had taken place there. Thu
walls, the ceiling and floor were spat
tered with blood, and the three men
now dead, were frightfully mutilatcd
Injun showed how he had entered tn,
place, and finding the stub of mattel
on the floor he exhibited it with pride
and by motions and grunts demon
strated how he had CROPPED his wa,
around in the horrible place.
The herders who had been sum
moned took in the situation at a glance
From Injun they learned something o
the size of the murderous band, ant
the nature of the work done indicated
clearly enough that revenge rather thai
robbery had been the motive. Com
municating the facts to the proper au
thorities, it was not long before
posse was on the trail of the muir
derers, and in running fight whicl
: afterward ensued between the tw,
parties two of the desperadoe
were killed. Injun found his wa,
back here in the course Of time, an,
: was made great deal Of. The sym
patty of his old friends was aroused
: and many of them went out of thei
way to compliment him and do hin
kindnesses. "Iniun Baptist gettin
= smart now" he would say when ques
b toned on the subject of his adventure
= and every body would admit that
t was telling the truth. After a Will
he developed habit of going aroun
Q with matches in his possession, light
7 ing one occasionally, and while
+ burned or the stub remained in his fin
= gers appearing to be searching fo
, something. For time people smile
: pityingly at Injun, thinking that h
o would soon get over the passion, bu
S they were mistaken. 1t grew upo
l. him, so that, instead of going throug
his performance, as at first seemed I
: be the case, for the benefit of others, h
b got to prowling around at nightin dea
o earliest.
g No place was secure from his intr,
& sion. Ladies going down cellars woul
r find Injun there striking matches. Me
roinr To their harms would encountG