The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-03-16


etc, that had been sent for by Mr.. |
Sukolt, as superintendent and owner
of the mine. All the letters to the
miners were brought in this way, too.
The mail was directed to the near
est town, and these freight men would |
stop and bring it to the camp. 1t
was a rule, made by Mr.. Sukolt, tn 1t |
the mine should shut down. for an
hour whenever the wagons arrived,
that the men might read all their let
ters without interruption, and on this
day it was so late that ShankS ordered
the mine closed for the day.
1t was still light, and the miners,
between drink that one of the drivers
had brought along to treat the boys
and the good news from home, had
become hilarious and noisy. Shanks
had told Bushy to sit on a box by one
of the wagons and stay there until he
could get his coat and take her home.
How the mob started Shanks could
not explain any more than could any
of the others, for like all mObs, it
seemed to be a creature of very mys-
teriouS existence.
Lynch him." cried one of the
miners.
About thirty infuriated men, some
in dust-cOvcrcd mining clothes, Others
from the trains still with their whips
in hand circlcd about man who W. S
talking loudly and excitedly,
This troubled movement and sho ut
ing filed Bushy's heart with fear.
She stood up on box and looked over
the heads of the crowd Of men that
would first advance, then retreat,
push, yell, strike each other and shout
at cntervals, Hang him. Hang him .
Lynch him "
81 tell you again am glad of it; il
serves him right" cried the voice Of
Mac, in hot, angry tones.
Then a wave passed over that crowd
something like the movement and
snarl of cyclone, after which came a
lull that showed Mac, erect against a
great tree, held so by lariat that
had been passed twice around the
tree, crossing hlm over the chest and
arms, holding him helpless.
"Say that again ifyou dare" called
out one of the leaders. There was a
growl from the crowd, and they drew
closer.
"No; was thoughtlessl' II cxclaim-
ed Mac, now realizing his danger.
"Bah, hang the coward. Anybody
who is glad Lincoln is dead should be
dead, too" yelled out the driver who
had brought the news of Lincon's
assassination. and at the same time
he threw over one Of the branches Of
the tree another lariat, and the crowd
grew more excited, even these who
had not been so active before now fall
ing in with the larger party, which
was for lynching Mac.
When Bushy saw the rope go over
the branch she knew what that
meant, for six months before she and
her father had come across man
near the blacksmith's who had been
lynchcd for stealing horses. Over his
head, on a pine board was written in
big letters, "Bill the horse thief-t0
be cut down at tomorrow" Bushy
had not been able to sleep well for a
month afterward-that mans face
seemed to haunt her. That was the
first time Bushy had heard the word
'Iynch," and when the miners cried
Iynch him." the picture of the other
man came again before her.
"We don't know how tcame about"
explained Shanks to Mr.. Sukolt after
ward; 'but when Walt turned to
unite Mac, and the crowd pressed for
ward to help at the lynching, there
sat Bushy on Macs shoulder. She
had climbed up there like a cat, and,
with her feet slipped behind the ropes
that CLOSED Macs chest, she braced
herself, and, throwing her left arm
about his head, clnched her hand on
his blue shirt; then, with eyes almost
throwing out sparks of fire, she faced
us, with revolver raised and ready to
fire.
"Wcll, it was Il shock to the' crowd
greater than if we had all been struck
by ljghtning-wc knew Busly's shot
was sure go. Then, who would hurt
u hair on her head? Il like Mac, was
all she said; 'an1 III sit here till the
padre comes The men swore and
laughed, and whistled, and finally
went back to the wagons, sobered and
thoughtful. Come, Bushy, get down
and we'll let Mac go this time, eh,
boys p | said, and they replied in a
body, Yes, Bushy, yon have saved us
from doing foolish thing But
Bushy, to my surprise, never changed
her attitude and checked my ap-
proach with Go away, Shanks; you
talked loud, too That was a blow !
did not expect. She did not trust me
any more than the others, and there
she sat until you came, keeping her
eye on everybody that went near the
tree"
When Mr.. Sukolt arrived he under.
stood the situation at once, and, jump
ing from his horse, ran to the tree,
took Bushy In his arms, and cried, in