The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-17
BROKE UP THE VENDETTA.
A Religious Revival Subdues the Ne
of Violence

iiVhIh-iANcioOlc lcuu NHo tIdIlSlcTTcu from
Perry County to this place, the alarmed
inhabitants predicted that more murders
would follow. For many days the town
was filed with armed men, and timid per-
sons were not seen on the streets oilener
than necessity compelled them.
Three weeks ago the Rev. G. d. Hyden
and the Rev. A. l.. Mcclure, Methodist
ovangolsts, arrived in Hndman. They
stopped at the little hotel, and the day
after their coming announced that they
intended TO hold religious meeting in
llindman. They said they were called
thither by extraordinary circum-
stances; they had heard OF the
murders there, and that more were
feared. They came to preach tho
Christian religion 10 ALL and most espe-
cially to those whose bloody deeds had
struck terror in the town. They earnestly
asked all those who had any part in the
troubles between the Trenches and the
Evcnoles to be presentand hear what they
had to say. They begged an audience, and
II that were granted they feared not for the
result.
People laughed when they heard the an
nounccmcnt OF the reverend gentlemen,
and learned that the latter came expressly
for the purpose Of stopping the feud by
means of religious exhortalion. They said
that all the preachers In Kentucky could
not check the wiCkedncss OF Red Mule"
Smith, dad Bill'' Smith, Bob Ploilitt,
Anderson Coldiron aud the others. They
wouldn't he quiet until the collin lids
were screwed down upon them.
Nevertheless, the ministers were not dis
couraged. They told the good people of
llindman that they had come TO perform
difficult task, but II they succeeded they
would feel their reward the greater.
The first night My llydcn aud Mr.. Nc.
Clurc preached the church was crowded.
Clabc Jones, Red Mule" smith, "Bld
Biz Smith and their friends were there.
"lIed Mule" said hc had heard "them
preachers was ugoin TO talk about hghtn',
and he wanted To see II they had enough
nerve to say anything ugin' the boys"
All preserved the best OF order The
mountainous have the greatest regard for
minister, and never arr the clergy treated
with the smallest d.srcspcct
MIR. lIydcn spoke iiml, aud plunged Mt
once into the middle OF his subject. fIc
criticised both tho French and Evero.e
partlsans with unsparing words. lie said
that the ieud had begun without cause.
that those on both sides who took part in
II were murdcrars, aud unless they no.
pointed they would surely 70 to hell. Mr.
lIydcn mentioned names Tie Alluded di.
rcctly TO those In the audience.
suddenly pointing his finger directly at
Red Mule Smith, lac said
81 have been told that YOU are one Of
the worst men IN all this country. IL has
been your boast To count the number of
your murders, and prove thai thcy exceed
those ui any other man IN the mountains.
For you, bloody sinner, the fortunes of The |
damned were especially inycnied."
Red Mule was NJ badly frightened !
with the attack that lac thought to shrink |
down behind the other members OF the |
congregation aud hide himself lie was |
much relieved when Mr.. llydcn turned |
his attention Ia some OF the others. who |
Rcd Mule nlicrward said were lust AS |
iad ns himself.
When Mr.. lIydon finished, the congrc.
,niion sang hymn, aud then Mr McClurp
lie WIS just ~ causlic ~ his
predecessor la conclusion, lac announced
hat thcrc would bc services there ON the
following night.
The next day everybody talked about
.ho sermons aud admired The boldness of |
ho two preachers. Tho second nights
..rviccs were ~ we'll attended ~ the iinst.
he theme was the same. All llindman
Became interested IA the services. On the
lith night Clnbn Jones the jailcr OF the
ouniy, AN Evcrsolc man, who helped kill |
hc sloan brothers. nrusc in his scat aud
walked forward to the pulpit. lilo was
weeping, aud lac sud hc wanted To pub.
ioly confess that the words Of the minis.
ems hat touched his heart, that hc know
b. hal done all kinds Of wicked dee Is.
mi that there WIS not a grealer sinner on
afth. but he wanted to WpUnt while
here was time, ani ho asked the Lord TO
orgvc him. lie said that he would
IcNcr light ANY more, neither would hc
airy ANY arms. Tho ministers received
ones ioylully aud prayed over him.
hey urged Others to do ~ ho had done.
Their CNhurtutions were not wasted. As
Ice meetings progressed nearly everybody
u llindman confessed religion" and I
jincd tho church. Among them ,
.cro many Of thusc most conspicuous
! the irud. Both Anderson Cold
on aud Bob Pfolliu are now
lcihodists On probation. The minister, {
light have even got hold Of Rcd Mule (
NTH aud Had 1911 Smith, but these two |
.urthy gentlemen concluded that Hind. q
ian was getting too hot Tor them, aud tho /
,yvnth ~ eighth night OF the meetings
icy departed. Red Mule. before leaving &
iid Ice believed u be- stayed there much /
niger they would make n woman out of
i'm, too, aud gct him into the church.
The meeting, lasted two weeks. aud then
be- two ministers announced that they be.
eyed God had helped them Ia accomplish I
be- purpose Tor which they Cnmc 10 Hind 4
ian. IL was nov time Tor them 10 do. :
art. Othvn who wcnr concerned in tic
.ud lived Ia Hazard. They wished Ia On
aero aud sop What they could do with
icsc men OF blood. Them was the great.
" regret when they left. since their dc.
arlwc llindmln hns been pcaccablc In
D respects Their influence NAV NOT sion
be- lCud entirely bat ID has done much Ia
'cnncilo old enemies.
tlhhv Jones certainly seems prraily In
itncst. llc has constituted himself rrn.
1ul pcaccmakct aud SAYS be- will moi
'lsc his efforts until be- h satisfied that
% huslilitcs will occur About his con.
rnion NO one doubts.
Mcssrs. llydcn aud McO,r-c have now
cen preaching iu Hazard several DAYS aud
j the circumstances indicate that tbpir
icccss will not be- less than in llindman.
Uat crowds gBt1 hear them, aud Thorn
ave already bcCn many conversions Roth
be- ministers sV 10 il their especial dcs.re
gvt " L. French 10 llnmrd anl iuIurp
im 10 hear them. They think Il will
own thvir work u they can got him into
lc church. but French has not vet left
y new home at lost Greek, In Brcaihitt