Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-05-12
MY ONLY ARREST.

MY ONLY ARREST.
A few years ago had q great desire to
enter the United States service. didn't
care in what capacity, just 80 long as Igot
my living from Uncle Sam. Mentioning
my desire to the United States marshal
for the northern district of Florida, it was
gratifed. was at once ushered into the
presence of the United States judge. held
up my right hand, and, with heroism
worthy of better cause. swore to sup
port the Constitution Of the United States,
though at the time was hardly able to
support my own constitution. Taking my
formidable commission and supply Of
official stationery, went back to the vii
lage of Dead Pine to await orders.
Dead Pine is small town SO named be-
cause there is large live oak in front of
the principal saloon. Dead Pine Is not an
imposing place. At that time 1t had lit
tie depot, some stores, some mortgaged
farmers and three saloons, It also had
malarial back country, with plenty OF
dad men" living in it, a couple of half
starved churches, and some Christians
loaning money at from 2 to any per cent.
monthly to their struggling neighbors. 1t
was also the center of lumber and tur-
pentine district, where prominent citizens
steal state and government timber and
call it business.
In few days my troubles began. Ire
I,c hoaH
quarters at Jacksonville. 1t had four i'm
pressive and sinister looking official
stamps ON the envelope, and ordered me
to at once seize the body of Thomas Per-
kins, supposed to be lurking somewhere
in the county and bring said body before
the United States court, then in session at
Jacksonville. By careful reading Of the
somewhat diffusive warrant, discovered
that Thomas had been guilty of perjury in
violation of the statutes in such cases
made and provided
An hour later the following dispatch
was handed to me:
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHAL,
JACKSONVILLE Fla.
20 United States Deputy Marshal Dead Pine, Fla
Understand Perkins desperate character; get
help necessary; take him dead or alive.
MARSHAL.
That dispatch made me very indignant.
Get help, indeed Not II was feet
inch in height, weighed 1876 pounds. II
couldn't alone arrest one man l was un
worthy to wear the bright red ribbon on
the lapel of my vest labeled United
States marshal"
Besides, if l got help. there would not
be enough glory to go around. wanted
it all for myself. and determined to bring
in the prisoner elect by my own unaided
efforts, or occupy one of the misfit collins
ut the village undertaker's.
The first thing was to locate the gentle
man, who, suffering from some affection
of the intellectual liver, had resorted to
perjury l located him. Six miles from
town, in veritable wilderness, two miles
from any other house, lived, moved and
had his being, Mr.. Thomas Perkins. in
whom this great government of our was
so intensely interested.
The next thing was to make the neces,
sary preparations. / made them. In the
morning by the bright light. Of beauti
full winters day, a stout wagon. drawn by
two sturdy and reflective mules, was
drawn mp in front of the village hotel
which was very inappropriately named
The Delmonico." On the front seat was
my negro driver and pilot, Bill. On the
rear seat sat the writer. Under q blanket
at my feet was Winchester rifle and o
double barreled shot gun well loaded with
buckshot. although was oppressed with
lo~ 90 20 MI hot hor I hadn't
put the buckshot in first In the pocket
of my overcoat was q Smith & Wesson
double action sixty eight, and in the breast
pocket of my inner coat bowie knife that
had once belonged to Texas evangelist.
A curious crowd had gathered to see me
off. They knew my mission, though none
of them knew who was after They
cheered me with novel suggestions and
well meant advice. Il say, Cap" said
one, "yed better take bottle Of whisky
erlong wi you. There amt no barroom
whar you're goin.
My driver looked approvingly at this
speaker.
HE won't look very pretty comm back
here with furrer driv cl'ar through his
chist, will he?" said another.
. 'Twouldn't do fer him to go out bar
huntin at night with that red nose shin
In, wonld hitl"
That last remark hurt my vanity. Ny
nose was rather red, but it come from an
undue partiality for stewed tomatoes. not
from any other cause.
When you fire at him, Cap, watch that
off mules hind leg. fer he's goin' ter
kick" said long. lank Teller on the out
skirts of the crowd.
Even the negroes had something to say.
Approaching me with Difference, one Of
them whispered TO me confdentially:
BOSS. ye'd hest tie dat fool niger
what's drivin' ter the seat. fer soons he
hears cap pop he's gwine ter jump out
an run like de dsbil."
Bill gave the mules stimulating touch
of the whip and away we went. For two
miles out we had good roads. After that
tie toughest and worst that ] had ever
seen. Stumps. tangled roots, hills. gull
lies, swamp, corduroy, and the county
commissioners know what else, made o
regular panacea for the twin evils Of dys-
pepsia and love. according to the jolting
up theorists Now we were in the wilder
ness, solemn, awful silence, broken
only by the tramping of the mules. the
creaking of the wagon ana tine hiccouxEs
(, ms or7Ssr, -yizo Vas about haif drunk
when we started. 1t was q pine wilder
ness, with the underbrush all gone, no
song of bird, no scent of flower. no fiutter
OF insect life strange drearv desert NJ