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

Recalled.
ID. A. DicHcrt In the Atlonta Constitution.
NEwBERRY, S. c., April 13.-A little
mound near the cotton mills in New
bel ~, S. c., covers the remains of
one who has left All eternal monu-
mont to the South's chivalry. His
name is unknown. Immediately af-
ter the close OF the war the negro
troops belonging to Shcrmans y army
were marched by different routes to
Port Royal and Charleston, there to
be disbandcd. The night Of which 1
speak, regiment OF negro troops
were encalnpcd III Newberry, near
the railroad depot.
The town had bocn plundcrcd, and
her citizens subjected to all the in
disnitirs that a drunken negro mob
could offer. A government train was
then running from Il point twenty
five miles north of Columbia to
Grccnvillc to carry soldiers and refu-
gees aS near their homes as possible
This night as the 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 sNarmcd through the cars like
II set Of demons set free from the i'll
frrnnl regions, while white soldiers
on board were helpless and at their
mercy. What II place for two help
less women without friends or pro-
tectors.
In the coach with the ladies was II
soldier, and from his dress and de
meanor, one would Judge him to be-
from Texas. He was tall and stately,
piercing black eyes, while his mas
sivo head of hair we'll became his
brawny face. He plainly showed
that lie 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
lndignities to the younger, too re
Voting in their nature for rehcar,
sal. In trying to release herself from
his loathsOme embrace, she cried out
in despair: My God, have l no
friend; will no one protect mc!" In
a moment voice WAS heard in the
rear end of the coach: "Yes, l will
protect you, if die for it. The tall
form of the unknown Texan was
seen rapidly approaching along tho
aisle. His eyes shono III the dim
light like those of the wild beast
ready to spring upon its prey. The
blade OF n knife was seen to glitter
above his head and with n mighty
blow was buried to its hilt in the
breast of the black rutfian With q
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 Il few PAGES away, under cover of
the darkness, and waited develop
ments. He had not long to wait
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-
federatc soldier. A wild rush was
made for the train, and for fow
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 Il few feet away, quietly listening
to his death sentence, rs the soldiers
madly rushed by. At last one dc
clared he had found the man; he
seized ono of the officials OF tho rail
road, and others coming up, with
equal pOsitivcncss swOrc to his idcn-
tity. Violent hands were lain upon
the innocent man, while tho drunken
} mass that crowded around him seem
cd as if they would crush him tC
death. His vain plcadings of inno
cence were drowned by the wild ycllt
of the surging crowd. He was being
carried away for execution. Wher,
!, was tho unknown Texan? He hat
, shown his courage, now would h,
waver in tho face Of immediat,
I death? With his hand he had pro
{ tected the person Of dcfonceless
women, by dycing it in the blood o
, her assailants, would he stand by nnt
l see an innocent man die in his stead
With calm dcliberation, without
any emotion whatever, no made his
way to the maddencd crowd, anC
| with Il loud voice said: "Turn this
= man loose, he is innocent. 1 am the
one who did it--now do your worst.
, This gave new impctusto the drunken
{ crowd, and he was hurried away tC
camp. A drumhead court MARTA
I was convened, and he was condemn
ed to be Immediately shot. While
he WAS being tried, word flow like
lightning over tho town that white
J man was to be shot, and every negro
that could possibly go came rushing
into camp and surrounded tho brave
Texan, Offering him every insult anC
indignity that their wicked souls
!, could invent. The negro womcl
outdid the men i'll rejoicing over the
fate of the prisoner. Even tho blood
thirsty and cruel Queen Esther coulC
, not have rcjoiccd more over hcr cap
tiyos.
At half past twelve spade wa.
, given the condemned and he was order
ed to dig his grave. Selecting spot
+ near the brow of the hill, ,hecommenceC
( the heartrcnding task of digging his
; own grave. Spadeful after spadefu