The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-07
TO THE BITTER enc.
The Deadly rcud Tint Grew From u Small
Begirnimg.

whose tree covered crest is almost hidden
from sight by the dark blue vapor which
has hung there for centuries. TO the rail-
3ngs on the north and east side of the hum !
BILE inn are htchcd a score of horses md
mules. About the inn are 10 opl5 men. on
the steps of the general store opposite are
as many more, nonresidents of the town.
but living in the county. A stranger would
find himself wondering if the two crowds
were strangers to each other and if so why
the majority of the men should muttcr and
scowl as they looked across the narrow
street.
At l O'Clock p IN. the crowd mt the inn
moves up the street to the schoolhouse.
Zen minutes later it is followed by the
other. Now we know what has brought
these men from their homes5, 10 or Is miles
away. Here are the lawyers, principals
and witnesses in n lawsuit The justice of
the peace takes his seat with becoming
dignity, though his countenance betrays
anxiety, and court is opened. 1t is the case
OF Rives versus White, both small farmers.
Each has secured the best legal counsel he
could, and tho number of witnesses are
pretty evenly divided.
Here are two of the oldest and strongest
families in the county. They have been
friends for three generations. They have
borrowed and lent, sat Mt each others Ia
bles, attended the same church, looked up
Il
mule goes astray and brings up among
Farmer Whites corn. 1t is large field,
and the corn is scarcely worth hauling
away to market The damage, therefore,
is not worth mentioning Farmer Rives
comes and demands his mule Both men
were close friends up to that moment. HUI
man nature has it's "ofT" days. Farmer
White is nettled and asks for damages. and
two minutes later Che men are ready to
nj bnr A e.,
rides up, and blows are struck, and the
law is appealed to. A family friendship
which runs back for almost Il century is
broken by word. Rives and White
fought side by side mt Stone River, Chicka-
manga, Franklin and OH other fields of
battle. Their grandfathers fought side by
side Mt Cowpens and Kings Mountain and
Yorktown. Their grandmothers fed the
troopers of Marion, the Swamp Fox, and de-
fed the rough riders of Tarcton. All this
is forgotten as the case is opened and the
witnesses take the stand
There is no jury, though the Justice
doubtless fervently wishes that there was
that the responsibility might be shifted
from his shoulders. The witnesses exhibit
bitterness OF feeling to surprise YOU The
question ut issue is who struck the first
blow. There is rank perjury on both sides,
and it is with considerable reluctance that
the justice gives his decision. To an out
slider carefully following the case, it seems
just and legal. Farmer White is adiudped
guilty of the charge of assault and battery
and fined nominal sum. He is chagrined
and indignant that the case went against
him, while the other faction is displeased
that he was let off so easily. Men mutter
and glare at each other across the room
The lawyers advise that the fine be paid
and n reconciliation effected, but their
words are wasted. There is notice of appeal
and angry talk, and the serious look on the
lace of the justice is proof that he realizes
what his decision may result in
The factions do not mix as they GO out.
The witnesses feel all the hatred and ami
mostly firing the hearts of the PRINCIPALS.
and they avoid each other and look sullcn
ana vlndlctive. One crowd rides away, and
after half an hour the other takes the same
road. The storekeeper has sold shotgun,
two revolvers and half n dozen boxes of cur
tridges today. This is the beginning of the
Rives-White feud.
twenty years passes away. Farmers
Hives and White have passed the age of CO.
Ihey arc white haired and wrinkled. The
one limps from bullet hole in his thigh:
the other has but little use of his left arm
because of splintcred bone. Both shots
were received from ambush and meant to
XIII. There have been other shots fired
from behind trees and rocks, but the bull
lets flew wild. bingham was a witness for
Rives. lie was ambushed and killed dur
ing the first three months. Thatcher was
awitness for White. He was ambushed and
Killed Il week after the death of bingham
Stebbns, Carson, Parsloe, Williams, Brown
Bebee-all witnesses and all dead Rives
had two sons, and they were shot down
while Mt work in the field. White had n
son and daughter. The son disappeared
one day, and his bones have never been
found. The daughter was shot off her
morse while riding home from town.
twenty years have not added q dozen
houses to the hamlet. The inn stands here
just the same, and across the street is the
same store. though they may have changed
proprletors two or three times There are
no loungers at either place 1t is n peace
1ul summer day, and the struggling street
is clear of all life when two old men ride
into town from opposite directions and
meet III front OF the inn. 1t is an uney-
pected meeting. Both seem little Hurried
for moment, but then they ride closer and
one says
Let us dlsmount and have it out"
"Im agreed!' is the ready reply.
They have no firearms, but thew have
keen, cruel knives which have been kent
sharpened for years. There is no waiting
They are no sooner on the ground than
they eagerly advance upon each other and
begin to cut and slash. Not word is ut
tered-neither cries out as the others knife
drinks blood. 1t is over before any one
knows that it had begun. When the alarm
is given, the villagers rush to the spot, but
only to find the men dead-two old, gray
haired men, cut and slashed and lying dead
in a pool of blood
ut is Rives and White. and this is the
nxn1 g l..Ns.. 4 ~