The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-04-24
a BRAVE TEXAN.
HE GAVE HIS LIFE IN DEFENCE OF A
WOMAN.

| The Story Connected With q Lonely Grave
| koar hewberrS- che Bravo Mnn Digs
| AIS Grave Aucicut Oceds Of Chivalry
| hscallrd.
| ID. A. Dichert In the Atlanta Constitution.
NEwBERRY, S. c., April ia little
mound near the cotton mills in New
berry, S. c., covers the remains of
one who has left an eternal monu-
ment to the South's chivalry. His
name is unknown. immediately af-
ter the close Of the war the negro
troops belonging to Sherman army
were marched by different routes to
Port Royal and Charleston, there to
be disbandcd. The night of which I
speak, regiment Of negro troops
were encanpcd i'll Newberry, near
the railroad depot.
Tho town had boen plundcred, and
| her citizens subjected to all tho in
dignitics thata drunken negro mob
could offer. A government train was
then running from point twenty
| five miles north of Columbia to
Greenville to carry soldiers and refu-
gees as near their homes rs possible.
| This night as tho train slowed up at
the depot it was immediately sur
rounded by drunken, howling
crowd of negro soldiers. On board
| the train were two ladies. The ne
groes swarmed through the cars like
n set of demons set free from the in
fernal regions, while white soldiers
on board were helpless and at their
mercy. What place for two help
less women without friends or pro-
tectOr6!
In the coach with the ladies' was n
soldier, md from his dress and de
meanor, one would Judge him to be
from Texas. He WIS tall and stately,
piercing black eyes, while his mas
sive head Of hair we'll became his
brawny face. He plainly showed
that he had been determined fol-
lower of the lost cause In their
wild carouse one Of the drunken ne
groes came to where the ladies sat,
and commenced to offer insults and
lndlgnlties to the younger, too re
voting in their nature for rehear-
sal. In trying to release herself from
his loathsome embrace, she cried out
in despair: "My God, have I no
friend; will no one protect me?' In
a moment voice WAS heard in the
rear end Of the coach: eyes, I will
protect you, if die for it," The tall
form of the unknown Texan was
seen rapidly approaching along the
aisle. His eyes shono in the dim
light like those of the wild beast
ready to spring upon it's prey. The
blade Of % knife WIS seen to glitter
above his head and with mighty
blow was buried to it's hilt in the
breast of the black ruffian With
wild yell he leaped from the car and
! fell dead upon the side-track
The stranger quietly walked out of
the coach at the other end, and step
ped few PAGES away, under cover of
the darkness, and waited develop
ments. He had not long to wait.
All the imps of darkness turned loose
could not have equalled the uproar
and tumult this deed created. Word
| flew to camp that one Of their com
rades had been murdered by Con-
federate soldier. A wild rush was
made for the train, and for n few
moments it looked as if all Oh board
would be put to death. Search was
made for the murderer, declaring
| that if found he would be put to
death ut once. The stranger stood
but few feet away, quietly listening
to his death sentence, as the soldiers
madly rushed by. At last one de
clared he had found the man; he
seized one of the officials Of tho rail
road, and others coming up, with
equal positiveness sworo to his iden-
tity. Violent hands were lain upon
the innocent man, while the drunken
mass that crowded around him SEEM
cd as if they would crush him to
death. His vain pleadings Of inno-
of the surging crowd. He was being
carried away for execution. Where
was the unknown Texan? He had
shown his courage, now would he
waver in the face Of immediate
death? With his hand he had pro
tected the person Of defonceless
women, by dyeing it in the blood of
her assailants, would he stand by and
sec an innocent man die in his stead!
| With calm deliberation, without
any emotion whatever, he made his
way to the maddened crowd, and
with Il loud voice said: "Turn this
man loose, he is innocent. I am the
one who did it--now do your worst"
This gave new impetus to the drunken
crowd, and he was hurried away to
camp. A drumhead court martial
was convened, and he was condemn
ed to be Immediately shot. While
he was being tried, word flew like
lightning over the town that a white
man was to bo shot, and every negro
that could possibly go camo rushing
into camp and surrounded the brave
| Texan, Offering him every insult and
indignity that their wicked souls
could invent. The negro women
outdid the men in rejoicing over The
fate Of the prisoner. Even tho blood
thirsty and cruel Queen Esther could
not have rejoiccd more over her cap
tiyos.
At half-past twelve spade was
given the condemned andh was order