The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-09-30
GEORGE EARLE, TAILOR.
TOOK TO SOLDERING AND BE-
GAME a DEMON.


On the bank of the Plaquemine in
ST. Martins parish, Louisiana, stands
group of magnificent live oaks. and
with them two magnolias, making
the air dank with perfume. At the
foot of one of the oaks is small
mound covered with short turf, and
at the head slab of hewn cypress
plank, and here in this lonely spot
rest the remains OF one of the bravest
of our Northern soldiers
''fes. sah,n said my friend, she
was the boldest little man | ever
knew. These river parishes were
filled with ruflians, who went in
bands killing negroes and robbing
ali alike. We'll, sab, he came here
lieutenant in the Sixth Indiana, II
poor, sickly little man, about five
foot five and weighing ninety pounds.
He had consumption, would get Il
hemorrhage in the morning and look
like death, and by night be oil
through the swamp hunting down
some outlaw, and he got 'em every
time. His name was George Earle,
Scotchman by birth and a tailor by
trade. just think of it, He could
take dozen of our field hands and
by some strange influence they would
follow him anywhere and fight like
bulldogs at his order"
1t Is strange, indeed, this poor
consumptive coughing his life away.
so weak that on some of his raids "A
soldier supported him on either side.
Some of his adventures seem incred-
ible, and when told by the negroes
are ludicrously so. They believed
Earle to be a wizard and were dread
fully afraid of him. says the Phlla-
delphia Times,
He went to Louisiana after the fall
of Port Hudson especially detailed
with 100 men TO put down the
guerillas who fired on the river boats
and robbed everybody. Many OF the
decent people gave the Union soldier
all the aid they could. but the me-
groes were his best allies, Through
them he got authentic information
and was down on his enemies when
they believed him 100 miles away.
For time rutiian named hobart
ruled this region, and it was his
pleasure to torture and murder the
helpless blacks in the neigh borhood.
Finally he captured one of Earle's
men, and after brutally lll-troauing
his captive, coolly shot him
Earle at once put two of his black
guides on the track of hobart. and Il
week after learned that he was to
give an entertainment to Il party of
Dick Taylor's cavalry ut the house of
sugar planter fifty miles south on
the PlaqucmIne bayou. Sixty men in
five barges started down the bayou
at night and before daylight hid
themselves and boats in the swamp.
Earle was very poorly, but danger
acted as Il stimulant, and when night
came he was eager for the fray.
The mansion was la"oe Ia - LIN,
fifty yards back from the water.
There was high rcvclry inside. Every
window glowed with lights and the
cavalry bugles and negro fiddlcs
made the music. The guides care
fully reconnoitercd, all were at table.
hobart at the head The house was
surrounded. The door behind hobart
quietly opened and the little red
nalrtu 'NtpltuliluH EIlutu W inc
ruffian's chair, n navy revolver in
each hand.
81 am the ID Yankee tailor you
wanted to meet. " said Earle. hobart
had not time for an answer, for he
was dead man the next instant,
and shooting right and left the lieu
tenant charged the crowd. No mercy
was shown. As they Were simply
outlaws and robbers the soldiers,
using their bayonets, soon cleared
the room. Twenty-Five were killed
and number of wounded and pris-
oners taken, and not least in value
50, 900 in gold that had been taken
from United States quartermaster
captured and shot few days before.
Earle died in a negro cabin just at
the close of the war attended by an
old adnty, all of his men being alb
sent on details, and was laid to rest
under the Live Oaks, and to-day tn
negroes pass the spot in silence, for
the Yankee soldiers grave is for
some occult reason n "hoodoo" to
Thorn