Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-17

Hendricks kept this work up with vigor,
| intending, if possible, to prevent the es-
cape OF a single soul who would report the
! discovery of the gold upon the men. Be
fore two hours were over he was master
OF the situation and then waited quietly in
! the house for the reinforcing party.
The result was a cruel and successful one.
The posse of only six men rode up TO the
gate unsuspiciously and had no sooner got
upon the inclOsure of the lawn than they
were received with murderous volIey from
the house and another from the wood. In
a moment the lawn was strewn with their
bodies.
Hendricks knew very well that all this
meant war, and he faced it with vigorous
military energy. He converted the house
into a fortress and barracks and began
moving all that was valuable into the cave.
As the affair was reported to the governor
of Tennessee, it looked like an orGaniza ton
| OF robbers who had taken possession of the
Laran house for their headquarters. He
therefore appointed new sheriff and placed
the Memphis Tigers eighty mem and the
Crockett Fuseliers Of Paducah Sixty four
| mem under his orders with instructions to
proceed at once to Upton county and arrest
the gang. Adit. Gen. Luscomb met part of
the troops and the sheriff of Marshall and
proceeded overland with them to Laran.
The sanitarium stood upon a rounded
knoll OF about ten acres. corresponding to
another and larger knoll, which Hendricks
had by measurement fixed upon the
crown or roof Of his rotun6a The ground
sloped gradually to the road two hundred
feet away, which road marked the valley
between this hill and another slight but ex-
tended excavation that began on the other
side and stretched away eastward into the
wilderness.
To the west there was clearing and the
stables and extensive outhouses, and be-
yond heavy timber belt, that ran with oc-
| easional breaks almost to Marshall. 1t was
| from this direction that the troops came
/ They surrounded the house in the early
morning. and the adJutant general, on a
| fine white horse, In full uniform and gold
| epaulettes and cooked hat and sword, rode
! upon the lawn and in an impressive voice
| called upon all the house to surrender.
| voice from the house replied
This is private property If the COM
| manding officer Will come in. L will confer
| with him.
There was a consultation on horseback
| the sheriff and the general leaning over
| and evidently comparing views.
While thus engaged Hendricks made his
| appearance upon the balcony.
General. he said, 'it is my desire to
| avoid blooished. If you will step inside We
| can probably arrange matters. / pledge
| you my word that no treachery will be at
| tempted"
The general and the sheriff novel their
| horses up to the steps. and the general said,
| with much pomposity:
DO you know VINO / am, sir? / represent
| the outraged dignity OF the sovereign sta tc
| of Tennessee. | command you 10 give your
| self up instantly, together with all your
confederates and belongings. That is the
| only way to avoid bloodshel"
Hendricks smiled. You are 100 old ard
! an experienced an officer" he said, TO lie
| foolhardy, and she lives Of these olen you
! have brought here are in your hands L
| have expressed desire TO avoid blood
| shed"
Sheriff, arrest this man cried the gem
| eral. He defes a law, and We ere under
cover OF the guns of the sta tie troops"
Hendricks took step toward hem One
moment" he said before you attempt to
arrest me- You and your men are covered
by 400 repeating rifles. one move on your
part to arrest me and your force will be
7 annihilated. l mention this n the interest
OF humanity. II you decline TO 'reat re
with the courtesy due to brave enemy
| you had better retire. l will give you two
minutes to rejoin your men"
The impuslve general wheeled his horse
galloped into the center of the lawn ana
called in loud voice, as drew his
/ sword:
Capt Hawkins, mass your men. Bring
up the reserves. Prepare to storm The
| house"
| Hendricks leaned against one Of the nil
| lars of the balcony.
You see," said the sheriff. resistance
| IS useless. 1t would be better to surrender
at once, as l propose to AXE you now"
! and he made a motion to draw hi; pistol
Before he could get it fairly into his hand
! there was sharp crack Of rife at short
range and he half raised himself in the stir
/ rups and fell heavily backw lrd upon the
horses launches, the pistol falling upon
picked ii up, as the horse reared AMI ba ok "a
away-and at that moment a crack Of fire
arms was heard and he went quickly back
into the house and shut the door.
As soon as he got to an opening in the
| barricaded window he saw the 1cncral
/ wildly gallOping up and down, fourishrng
/ his sword and calling upon his men u fan
I in. But many of them were past falling in
Their bodies were conspicuous by their uni
forms lying where they had fallen IN the
grass, and the rest were budding con-
/ fusedly, running indetermi1I-ely into the
T trees at the foot of the slope under muir
derous fire from all parts of me house
He could see when the general turned his
head that a stream of blood was running
down his face from cut in the temple and
had dyed his white whiskers.
/ wounded as he was, the old general sue
ceeded after Z while In withdrawing his
/ men across the road TO the opposite s,c-
/ chEtty, where, under the shelter of some
/ rocks he reformed them and tried % en-
courage them. His con lition was n dis
/ tressing one He mad lost out Of III men
at least fifty He could not even bring them
! all off and consequently lid not know II
| they were killed or wounded. The sheriff
! was dead. He had no hospital stores or
stretchers. for 1t would have required more