The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-05
I scream of fear "oh, no, mol My God,
BY HArlLIN GARLAND.

scream OF lear. 'Oh, no, no! MY Gou,
no! amt the man! It's that next"
"We'll hang every d-n man"
Next door to the left" said calm
voice from one OF the upper cells. "The
man in red stockings"
Defend y'rself!' cried Dan again.
But the prisoner was powerless. The
revolver was out of his reach, and he
couldn't have used it anyway. He could
only cling to the bunk and to the door
as they wrenched him out; his dry lips
uttered no sound, and his eyes had the
wide-open look hunted animal wears.
He made no other resistance than to
catch at everything in reach.
"Out with 'im!"
''Here he comes. Get out O. the way"
Every was as mad now to get
out as they had previously been to get
in. They swept Dan and Annie into
corner by the door and held them
there; but as they went by he called:
"You amt done with me yet, John
Haynes, Nick Gootz, Sam Morris" "
They were too intent on getting out.
side to do more than glance at him. A
wild roar arose outside. For the first
time Annie weakened and Dan saw it.
go inside, Annie"
He took her revolver from her hand
and pushed her into the living room,
then turned and rushed to the door
way.
The sight made his hair tingle and
stir. Few men in their lifetime ever
see such scene Thousands of hu.
man beings packed closely together,
their faces concentered, each man
strained to tiptoe and motionless.
Something-some vast mesmeric inhu-
ence-seemed to oemanate from the mass.
In the center of the lawn two MIN.
bic figures were mounting into slen-
der elm tree. As they went up, deep
expectant hush fell on the crowd, as if
they stood waiting the bursting of
burning shell. Each ear was strained
forward to taste the sweet horror of
hearing the condemned mans agoniz-
ing prayers for life. But they were
disappointed. Either he was dazed
with fear, or he had reached that reck-
less mood where shudders and cries
cease. He remained silent, and the
raucous voice that had dominated and
directed the crowd the whole evening,
rose:
String i'm upl Up with the black
hearted"
a twisting, writhing form rose into
the air. a cold creeping shudder
touched all but the few incarnate de-
mons who were pulling at the rope with
jovial shouts.
"Ooop-a-daisy!"
"Heave ho!'
"Up she rises"
"N0W, all together"
The sheriffw wept in his helpless hor-
ror and rage; but suddenly without
noise the writhing shadow fell into the
sea of men again. Then new cry
arose:
Bring another rope. Another rope" !"
There was little delay. Now again
the crowd relented, and would have
given up. But rope came whizzing
over their heads, and was thrown from
hand to hand till it reached the hang
man. AS they knotted the moose and
flung it over the head of the reviving
prisoner, he raised his voice in agonized
cries and prayers for mercy.
"Up with i'm! Shut isguzzle, )" com
manded the leader.
"iSt0pi" shouted Dan. "F'r God AL
mighty's sake don't hang the man
toicei"
"Here she goes-,a0,c, yo-hee"
Dan raised his revolver and fred at
the men in the trees.
"Get dozen! (Bang.) Drop out O that.
(Bang-bang.) You hellions!"
They dropped from the tree like ripe
fruit. Snarling howls arose as the
faces turned upon the sheriff. But he
was oblivious to all danger now. His
soul was at white heat. he faced them
in sort of delirium Of joy.
Ills arm was btI IuCh uONh Wy u
friend. Drop it, Dan-they'n string
you up, too-drop it, l say"
A half dozen friendly arms seized
him and dragged him away around the
house, raving, lashing out like mad
man.
When he came back it was after
twelve o'clock, the town was quiet, de-
serted. There was no sign of that
monstrous outbreak of savagery, save
the trampled grass, the broken
branches, and the swinging shape in
the tallest elm, moving fitfully in the
soft wind, the quiet moon shining
upon the contorted face, crushed close
against the limb.
He went in to Annie, his wife, with
a grim face. 81 go before the county
with this as an ISSUE" he said. "We1l
see whether this represents the people
of Pine county"