Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-22


booy with jerk, and then snapped and
threw him violently upon the ground
He slowly and with difficulty raised his
head and looked around, his eyes staring
as if he had seen 8 specter, his mouth
drawn with pain, and the tears trinkling
down his cheeks.
''Confound that rope!'' exclaimed a
boy.
Buck regarded Tony silently.
whats the matter, Tony?' asked
another boy, as he noticed the remarkable
expression In the negro's face.
Tony was sitting on the ground careful
ly feeling his neck all around, and was un-
able to speak for the suppressed sobs that
choked him. He rose to his feet, looking
ruefully about.
Lets try it again, said Buck.
mo, you don t., screamed the colored
boy, with determination the frmness of
which could not be doubted. He was as
fierce as be was frightened, and occupied
himself with rearranging his suspenders,
which were on the point OF slipping from
his shoulders.
why, Tony?''
Yer plays too rough. OATS why,
now!"
dit it hurt?'
Course it did, he said, with look of
contempt
They insisted; Tony refused. One little
fellow caught forcible hold, ont Tony threw
him off and bounded into the brush They
pursued him, captured him and brought
him back, crying and struggling iercely.
Finally they succeeded after the greatest
difficulty, in lifting him from the ground,
while Buck could climb the tree and tie the
rope. There was no ceremony about the
affair nov. The work was done silently
and in dead earnest. The unfortunate vic
tim yelled, but the boys were not to be
cheated out of the fruits of the first grand
lesson they had learned in the economy
of government, the protection of society.
The rope was at length securely tied
The cries of the unwilling victim were sud
denly checked, as his weight was gradually
allowed to fall upon the rope, stra' Cling
him. They were determined that 81 dden
jerk should not again Illustrate their plans
Throwing his liberated hands wildly about
he cutched a boy by the hair, and made
him yell with pain. 1t required strong
efforts to release him.
Then they all Withdrew to snort dis
lance.
Net a sound of any kind escaped the
hanging child. The boys looked on
silently, and with grim satisfaction
| Tony vainly endeavored to reach up and
catch the rope that was choking out his
| life, but there seemed to be weight up
on his arms, and he could raise them no
| farther than his shoulders He kicked to
the right and to the left, and squirmed
and twisted. The knot was behind his
neck, and the rope fell directly across the
windpipe and great arteries. The boys
watched the contortions Of his face with
| absorbing Interest, and a few became
somewhat pale with an excitement tine
| tured with anxiety, but they possessed
too much stolcism to betray their feel
| ings while the younger boys-and es-
| pecially Buck-looked on with such calm
courage.
Il wonder if it hurts him much, ~ guer-
| led boy.
Buck on being asked the question, nod
ded, and, with bis thumb in his mouth,
never removed his gaze from the suspend
Ell Tony.
"Well, We'll take him down after a
while. wonder why he don't say some
| thing, Buck
Can t."
"Why?"
| But Buck merely shook his heal and
| said nothing.
| The poor little hanging wretch grew
more and more quiet as the moments flew
| by. His teeth were shut close, but his
| lips were slightly parted, and his eyes
stared with a dumb, beseeching, horrify-
| ing agony. After the lapse of few
minutes his struggles ceased. he turned
slowly from side 20 side; then there was a
| shivering; the eyes rolled upward, and be-
| came fxed,
''I'il bet you he won't go around any
| more blowing about it s not hurting him,
| said boy.
Buck looked at the speaker and then at
| the swinging body. He told them to hold
Tony wuile he climbed the tree TO unite
the knot. They did so; but through little
carelessness and ignorance they allowed
the body TO lunge to one side, and it fell
to the ground like a log. They stared at
| it, and a boy asked:
Why don't you get up, Tony?"
What are you doing your eyes that way
for2" asked another.
| Amt he still p remarked third.
''Do you think he's putting on?''
| Il don't know. Here, you take hold of
That other arm and help me pull him up,
up. Tony
He was lying on his back. They raised
him by his arms to sitting posture; but
as soon as they released him he toppled to
one side and forward; and fell, his face
buried in the sand. The boys were thor
ough'y alarmed. They felt that something
a wtul had happened, but they were ignor-
ant of its nature.
whats the matter with hiIa?"
| No answer.
Does anybody know?'
Still no answer.
DO you, Buck?'
A quiet nod.
"What Is it ?''
Dead y W. C. Morrow in Short