Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-07-20
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HIM.
A Mining Episcde.


"IIc's got to hang!'
"Thats his third mani
The one narrow street of the from
tier town was filled with surging
crowd of excited men. There were
Indian fighters, scouts, gamblers,
tramps, miners, speculators-every-
thing and everybody.
Every town has its bully-ever
frontier town. Big Jim was the
bully of Hill City. lie could drink
more, curse louder, shoot quicker
and start row sooncrt than auy other
man. When he shot Timber Joe it
was a stand-ofl. 1t was rough against
rough. Whoever went under the
town would be the gamer. The
death of his second victim brought
him a certain respect, for he had
given the man fair show. There
was limit to the number of men
one might shoot in Hill City. twas
three times and out. Big jim had
killed his third.
Two hundred-all excited-some
half-crazed-all indignant-some ter
ribly indignant, surged down the
street to the Red Star Saloon bent Oh
vengeance. Big Jim and the man he
had killed were alone in the place.
"Bring him out?'
"IIe's got to hangw
Bring out the bully and the
cowardw
There was a rush, but it was check
ed. Men had pistols and knives il
their.hands, but the sight of Big jim
with ''navy" in each hand cooled
ardor. A life is no revenge. They
lied when they called him a bully
Bulies strike and run or buster ant
dare not strike. They lied wher
they called him coward. Coward'
do not remain to face death.
Big jim advanced a little. TIL,
crowd fell back. lie stood in The
door and surveyed the mob.as cool!
as another man might have looked
up at the pine-covered crest o
Carriers Beak, The mob grew quiet
There were 200 right hands clutchin!
deadly weapons, but not a hant
moved. Two hundred to one is ap
palling odds, but the one was master
Seeming TO face every man of them
seeming to cover every breast will
the black muzzles of his revolvers-
the man backed away up the roa,
into the darkness, out of their sigh
and hearing He said not a word
There wasn't whisper from tn,
crowd until he had disappeared
Then men drew long breaths ofrelei
A terrible menace had passed away
Out into the darkness-down tn
rough road-over the rude bridge
and there big jim put up his revol
vers, turned his face square to tn
west, and stepped out without a lool
back at the camp. 1t was ten mile
10 Darney's Bend. Men driven from
the one camp took refuge in the other
The half way landmark was
bit of a valley skirted by a creek
Wayfartrs who were journeying b
team many times halted here. o
this night there was lone Wagon
Under the canvas cover slept mothc
and four children. Resting agains
the wheel was the husband on
father, his eyes peering into th
darkness-his ears drinking ever
sound.
Big Jim had not reached the vale
yet when the still night air was rel
with wapwhoops-the crack of rife
the screams of a woman and he
children. Indians had discovered Ill
lone and almost delenceless tamil
There were five scalps to adorn the
lodges. The bully and the cowai
had not been discoyered. lie cou
find safe hiding-place. Did he
A half-dozen screaming, yellir
fiends were dancing about Il
wagon shooting. -striking-dodgir
clio sing in on tie one white man "
somehow escaped their blows al
bullets, when there was a cheer al
rush, and the Nays began to crac
Sixty seconds later dead silence hi
fallen upon the valley.
One-two-three dead Indian
Immigrant leaned against the wage
faint with a Wo md in his head. II
wife looked out with an awful terr
at her heart. Bullets had chippt
and splintered wheel and body.
"Who are you? ?" asked the linn
grant as figure approached hi
from the darkness.
"BigJim"
"You have saved us from a ma
sacrc."
ayes, it was well that / happent
along! Rouse up the fire for there
no further danger"
When the blaze caught fresh fago
and lighted up the little valley Il
Immigrant counted the dead Indian
again-one-two-three. lie turne
with extended hand, but Big Jim ha
departed. Next day when men fro
Hills and Barney's found his dea
body beside the rocks mile ava
with five wounds which had let Ii
life-blood out, they whispered
each other,
I'VE thought we knowed him, b.
we didn't"