The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-07-29
Ned Buntline,

I
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July l8.-From
venerable gentleman who witness
ed the attempt to mob Neb Bunt-
line here in 1847, l obtained the
following thrilling Incidents: Jud-
SOB, or''Ned Buntline," was an Iago
and at that time walked and talked
like that character; in fact was q
living impersoHation Of it. He
was regular masher. He had
been editing Ned Buntline's Own
at Paducah, KY, but on coming to
Nashville he was employed as as
sistant editor to Hudson Kidd in
the publication of the Southwest
ern Review. He had been here
five or six months when trouble
came up between T. B. Porterfield
and himself, and at the time
of the ARRAY Buntline and Bob
Parish were practicing at a target.
Porterfield's friends had persuaded
him to shoot Buntline with a doub-
le-barrel shot gun, and had one
loaded at the corner of Union and
Cherry streets, with view OF wait
ing for him, but having heard that
Buntline was in Sulphur Spring
bottom he rushed unaccompanied
to that point. On getting within
range PorterGeld opened fire on
him with a pepper box" pistol.
Bnntline had a Colts revolver in
his hand, and after Porterfeld had
shot at him Buntline said, Porter
field, stop shooting. 1 don't want
to kill you,' but needless of the
warning, Porterfeld continued to
fire, when Buntline, placing the re-
volver across his arm, took DELHI
crate aim and shot Porterfield in
the forehead, instantly killing him.
AS soon as the report of the kill
ing reached the central portion of
the city, mob rushed to the point
indicated, and ran Buntline into
Mrs. Cockrill's hotel, corner College
and Line streets, caught him and
took him to the courtroom. The
people were now. wild with excite
ment. The courtroom was dense
~ sthrOnged, and the furore was
greatly increased when Porterfield's
brother John came running in and
opened fire on Buntline. The
crowd scattered in every direct ton.
and Buntline, taking advantage of
the situation, ran out of the room
i'll which he had been fired at thir-
ty or forty times, and was followed
down stairs by a regular hail of
bullets. He was shot at again as
he Fran across the square to the
City Hotel, one bullet taking effect
in the arm of man named Pente-
cost. 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 Bunt-
line was dying; to let him alone,
and he 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
Jonn d. Goss, who were jail COM
missioners, went to consult Louis
Horn, jailer. When the mob rushed
into the Jail they knocked Hord
out of rocking chair and secured
the keys, when he said, 'For Gods
sake, don't let all the prisoners
out" Three of the mob entered
Outlines cell. While one caught
him by a leg another seized HIM by
the collar. A third, placing his
foot on Buntline's neck, was about
TO fire, when the jailer pleaded with |
him not to kill him there. Buntline
was then dragged pellmell into the
street. He was then permitted to
say his prayers, and on finishing |
pulled ring from his finger, hand |
ed 1T TO a minister 10 be sent to
his father at Pittsburgh. The !
crowd then halloed, ''take him on"
and they did so.
They first attempted to hang him
10 sign but the rope having been
too short he was dragged to a lamp
post. When they began to pull him
up acting Mayor Stout cut the rope
and the form of Buntline dropped to
,he earth. The utmost silence pre-
Vailed at this critical moment when
l man named Ashbrook cried out,
ITS d-n shame to treat hu-
nan being in such a brutal manner
ind if John Porterfeld is a gentle
nan he will have the wretch turned
Dose" At this Porterfeld came
Up and said, "Take him back to
all, and Buntline was returned to
us cell. Dr. Joe Stout said he had
eceiVed severe internal injuries
nd that while attending him Blunt
me boasted that If he saw that a
ian was going to shoot him he !
ould dodge the bullet. When i
'untline had recovered and was S
bout to be sent down the river still {
mother mob gathered at the upper :
harf to lynch him but the crowd 7
as left standing when the boat h
.arred with no Buntline on board. b
he sheriff eluded the angry Assem- a
Iage by taking BuGtline TO the Z
wer wharf where he was put on a +,
Gamer and that was the last seen
Buntline In Nashville. He was
aver prosecuted. B
DIR Rovdis Taofura ~ Fo--o++,..lI II