The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-21


Dsachinery OF Law Was In Force-Berefe
ofReason-A Pathetic Story of Lynohing
In the Northwest.
Especial Correspondence
NoRTHwooD, N. D., Oct. 1o.-It is a
bright, serene and marvellous clear day
In North Dakota. The prairie is check
cred with squares of grass and grain
fields. The little clumps of hand plant
ed trees are tossing their branches in the
amber air. Now and then bird chirps
its roundelay, OF q vagrant butterfly reels
down sunbeam and lights upon their
leaves.
The little village where am sojourn-
ing for few brief, delightful days, lies
stepped in sunlight, and broad, brave
sweep of undulating years lies between
me and the hour when / was here before.
Oh, that hourI 1t is branded as with
burning irons into my brain, my heart,
my soull
I sat that day, of all days in my life, at
the door of The Northwood Headlight
paper was editing then. Suddenly
heard cry of rage, pathos and despair,
and springing to my feet I looked down
the road to the westward, from whence
it came.
A block of 90 men were standing in
front of the jail-5O men in granger garb
so men, with hellish, terrible purpose
in their hearts. They had taken pris-
oner from his cell. They had pulled him
over the threshold into the open street,
where he lay on his back painting with Il
rope round his slim, white, boyish
throat
remember that stood as if one
transfixed and turned to stone, while the
mob started off, voiceless, dragging its
victim through the dust.
Not a word Was spoken-not one.
The only sound that startled the silence
was the tramp, tramp, tramp, of the
avengers and the awful means of the
poor, bloody, foaming creature battered
at their heels. Men, women and chill
dren rushed to doors, windows and por-
ticoes as the hateful procession passed,
their lips sealed in speechless awe, their
faces blanched at the atrocity of the
spectacle.
Sick at heart, 1 turned back into my
office, but when I went to my hotel in
the twilight l saw ghastly thing that
God had made high swinging from a
sycamore.
Astorm sprang up Mt midnight. Light
ming tore tho sky into slivers of flame.
Thunders shook the world Rain fell in
fury, and winds went shuddering
through vast black voids.
And through it all the CHASTITY thing
that God had made upon its gibbet
swung!
In the midst of the tempest train
rolled up to the depot and left one pas
senger in this little town-an old WON
an, with soft, white hair, bloomy cheeks
and sweet, bright kindly eyes. She went
to the one hotel, registered and retired.
The landlady met her in the morning
and remarked:
81 hope you rested well, madam, for
1T was rowdy storm we had"
ooh, yes" said the old woman, with a
sunbeamy smile. 81 rested we'll, though
1t was, as you say, q rowdy storm. But
took happy heart with me to bed
and it is happy heart have this morn
ing, for will meet my son today-my
Cyril, whom l have not seen for seven
years"
Have you travelled fur?"
Eyes, ma'am; from Massachusetts"
she said, running to the door, but
what's that!"
"Oh, it's young man they lynched
yistidy = boss thief, they said = an
they're kerryin his buddy to the cor
oner's. Twas n shame, his hangin, fur
he was real handsome Teller, perlite an
clever, an SEE to observation-disclosures my
husban-I SEE to him this very mornin
that didn't believe as how the boy had
done it, am
The four men, carrying the dead upon
stretcher, were passing the door. The
body was covered with q cloth, but one
hand fell below its folds, and on that
hand there sparkled q quaint hoop Of
twisted gold, clasping star opal that
glittered in the sun.
The old woman saw it. Her face grew
gray. A maniac light leaped into her
eyes, and tearing the cloth from the
corpse she shrieked:
My son! My CYRIL"
The men laid their burden at her feet
She knelt over it. tangled her fingers in
the golden locks and pressed her lips
upon the beautiful dumb lips of her
dead boy.
Silence.
The landlady leaned forward with
tears running down her face, and sobbed:
Come with me, ma'am."
Silence.
"Ma'am, do-do come with me-"
Silence.
A doctor stepped forward, lifted the
bent brow and whispered huskily, "She
is deadr'