The Osceola times., 1888-09-29
A, FAMILY FEUD.
rhirty Years of Hate and Blood
Wiped Away in an Hour.

,he hour was about four in the after
noou. when ! got sudden surprise.
was emerging from a ravine TO the
main trail when four men suddenly
suranp out at me from behind a mass
Of rock. One was old and white
haired, though still vigorous. while
he others were men OF middle-age.
All had guns and knives, and "A tough
looking lot they were as they surround
ed me. There was moment Of silence
as we surveyed each other, and then
one Of the men asked;
"Who be you'un?n
told him,
"Oh, yes,n he replied, "a he held
out his hand. so you'un is he'un, be
h' Glad TO see you. "We'uns hev all
heard Of you'un."
All shook hands with me and passed
the time of day, and presently asked;
Out for hunt?n
"Yes." ff tt|
After bearp'
Bigger nor that, stranger"
All chuclsled as II highly pleased,
and after enjoying my embarrassment
for minute the spokesman said:
1--WE mought AK ye TO mix in, stran-
ger, but it's none o. your consider"
What is it?"
"We're huntin' Hank Bibbs an his
pap" ..
Going to kill them?"
III We kin. That's what we're yere
fur That's why we're come from
iOtber side of the big hill"
'Why, l was ON my way to Bibbs'."
Reckon ye were stranger That's
why we stopped ye. Didn't want ye to
suffer In the scrimmage.n
II was a feud--a vendetta | real
ned II now, They had set out to kill
men just as you would kill pigeons.
Tell me about this" | said, as we
sat down on rock and passed out
some tobacco.
WALL replied the spokesman,
''me'n the old man ar Carriers. The
others jined in to help. We've bin
down on the Bibbs fur-let's see-how
long is it, pap?n
"a year afo' the wah," answered the
old man.
"Call it thirty years" resumed the
son. That's right smart, | reckon.
And, we've killed four on 'em-four of
the Bibbs. And they've killed three of
us-three of the Cartersl Thar hasn't
bin any scrimmage OF late, cause
Hank Blbbs has been gone and have
bin gone, and the old folks here got
moas too old. But Hank has cum back.
and | hev cum back, and so we reck-
ohed on gwine over thar and wipin'
the last Of EN- out"
How did this affair startp What was
the beginningP"
THE start! Lets see! It goes back
toofar fur me. Say, pap, what begun
this yero fussP" - .'--l
Jim Bibbs pizened my mewl, cause
beat him choppin'."
Are you sure of itp" ! asked
"Shore2 OF course I'm shore! The
mewl was found dead. and II Jim
Bibbs didn't pizen him who didP"
But was he poisonedpn
III not what made him dep
Perhaps he was sick, or got fall,
Or died of old age"
Say pap said the son, "p'raps
that was the way of it."
"Mought be, Cyrus. / never thort
Of it,
Look here, men,"I said after we
nad talked little further, "this thing
Is all wrong and ] want TO see II
rghted. | want to see Bibbs before
you DO any shooting
What furP'
10 see what he has against you,
anu 10 see If you can't be friends. YOU
nave all been wrong from the start. y
nut didn't my mewl dieP" asked
The Old man.
les, but you didn't know that one
y. the Bibbs' was within dozen miles
81 him. Did you try to find out il
"ey were guiltyp"
ihadnt no show. jist took down
ne gun and peppered Bill Bibbs. Then
Vae oi his brothers peppered my sor
naOs' and 80 we've been pepperin
ana all about an old muller
well, nevis was skace then, and /,
w. The principle of the thing, 70 see.
N.Y. oe we've been too firstly (hasty),
II itover.n N 0' w '''''
ner little more talk it was agreed
m % ! should go on to Bibbs' and tell
u wnat was up and ask the two
ea '.e 70 come down to a little branch
. M u'cn crossed the road ahead of us
ns were guaranteed protection. ant
ovs. aole matter should be talked
NV os win view to permanent peace
t," ouao the men-father and son-sit
h.ss s 10 front Of the cabin. Before
,hs,s 'au twenty words both rushed TO,
49, r guns and 1t was half an hou,
'ney could reason.