New-York tribune., 1895-10-07


OF his real character awakened 1t was said
that he fitted the description of "nigger-stealcr''
Tor whom, n few months before. a large reward
had been offered In adjacent county BY pre-
concerted ARRANGEMENT half dozen strong men.
taking an opportunity when he eating his
supper and off his guard pounced suddenly upon
him and made him a prisoner before he could offer
any effective resistance Upon searching him they
found n pair OF heavily loaded Colts revovers in
his belt and a big. keen bowieknife In one Of his
boots. Without having any precise ideas az TO the
necessary OUTFIT for a soldier OF the Church mill
tant. they assumed that his armament
behtting a 'pestiferous nigger-thlef' than meek
and lowly follower OF the Lamb" and forthwith
threw him into jail. abruptly cutting short the
promising work OF grace in the revival field A
rider dispatched in haste 10 the town-about
thrty-five miles distant-where the evangcllsts
head was supposed to be wanted. and. pending the
return of the messenger. the community rejoiced in
the exharatng hope OF hanging its captive the
morrow.
The little Jail OF the common Southern type.
a low stone structure containing a block Of
row. nl-Ventiated stone cells. surrounded by a
corridor. As the weather was warm and the cells
rather fun the prisoners We're allowed to sleep in
the corridor Fairfield lay near one OF the gratings
cogitatng upon the situation long after all the
other inmates seemed to be sound asleep His
keen hearing made him aware OF a gentle scratch
ing upon the outside OF the prison wal near the
second grating beyond him. Il ceased and after
little pause sounded again. step nearer lie
waited. listening ntcntly, and presently heard It re-
peatci. this time close by his head. BY n low
"sst" he responded the signal. as he correctly
understood the soand be. and in reply heard tho
faintly whispered query. who is you?' The
preacher" he answered in the same tone. "Who
are you?" "A slave. who'd Ike TO help you. sab"
"Can you get for bar OF iron two feet long
and an inch thick" Eyes. sab. Plenty run in DO
blacksmf shop" Good. Get It and pass (; in
here"
MUSCULAR CHRISTIAN.
In the early morning the evangelist walked TO
and fro in the corridor with his arms folded be-
neath the long threaabare blue cloak that was ono
OF the most effective features OF his makeup. and
in his right hand he grpped the iron bar. As he
walked he with devotional fervor that
seemed to render him temporarily oblivious 10 his
dismal surroundings:
Jesus my All. 10 heaven is gone.
Him whom fix my hopes upon.
His track see and I'll pursue''--
The Jail door thrown open and the TALLER
a big bury. brutal buly-entered, rattng his
bunch of keys and shut iron portal behind him
with a cane. His morning salutation TO the singer
was ingenious combination Of oath. epi-
thet. insul, too foul for repetition and promise
Of seeing him hanged before But for the IN
suit he would perhaps have been allowed to live:
that put him beyond grace.
The heavenly way til Him view"
continued the exhorters song. In that instant
the insult was uttered just as the two met
and in the next seconi the jailer fell the floor
with his skull shattered as II 1t had been an egg
shell. He dead before the clash OF his keys
the stone tagging ceased echoing.
Fairfield took up the keys. opened the jail door
and coolly told the prisoners to get out" which
they promptly did The hour was still so early
that they scattered and escaped in all directions
without being observed. Their liberation part
of the 'ngger-s stcaler's" revenge on the community
that had hoped to hang him bat not all In de
fance Of the frantic efforts that made for his
recapture he remained for a fortnight hidden in
swamp within three miles OF the town. guarded and
fed by negroes while he deliberately perfected his
arrangements for getting together and taking away
with him the largest gang Of fugitves ever run off
in body from the South before the and
every one of them got safely TO Canada.
FAIRFIELD'S THEORY OF COURAGE.
1t hard 10 learn whether George Fairfield
had any of what commonly known as re
iigious opinions" excepting that he believed in
the existence OF God. but the God OF his concep-
ton had points not universally recognized in ortho-
doX teachings say the least. The one article o.
faith concerning his concept OF the Deity in which
ne had most profound confidence that Goo
respected and protected a brave for his BRAY
cry. irrespective Of the cause OF It's demonstration
ana would allow him to be killed in fight,
whatever nigh, be the odds agans: him, 50 long
shade or taint Of cowardice entered his soul
1t was. he believed. only when thought Of craven
personal fear touched the fighters heart that in in
stant punishment for his unworthiness. death was
permitted To strike him down. one y compelled,
however. 10 look upon George Farfelds death as
d complete refutation OF his theory.
He had gone 20 little town In the Iron Noun
tans of Tennessee TO take away the wife of
black man who hai escaped to Canada two or three
years before. 1t was dangerous place for him.
decorated with rewards for his head dead or
alive" a. consequen,ce Of former sue successiH
ably tempted him for he seemed to love desperate
was attempted. But he could longer be caught
off his guard. and would not be taken alive. The
back against wall. and when he laughed at the
summons 10 surrender fred at him volley after
IN his reVovers. his will and the wall held him
res w anTeeus aS iha Se coDd SIN stand moa
wounded he had been again and again. At
s cs %Gh o his ne o SSs %heR the re rain M om his m many
wounds had drained the sight from his eyes and h
for final supreme Effort and, sprincing blindy
forward. clutched the first throat upon which his
buried in the heart OF the man he had seized They
with him 10 the neither shades left the eighth
corpse that lay before where he had stood
HANSON CRAIG.
The black nberator Hanson Craig who voi-
unfairly remained a slave during fourteen years.
when freedom his for the taking at any time.
simply that he might. by arduous. self-sacrlhcins
toll and in constant great danger. help others TO
be free.
The man who claimed ownership Of him lived in
Kentucky. about a dozen miles back OF CovngtOn
He was rich, not hard task-master and seems TO
have regarded Hanson with especial confidence and
favor Very often-weekly during certain seasons
the black man trusted TO go alone to Gin
cnnau with a four-horse wagon load OF farm
produce deliver II TO commission merchants there
and carry back its value In cash. to his master.
In the course Of his visits 10 the free city he
soon learned the existence there Of men who sym
kfo hit
in the rlghtfuness OF slavery ana willing ana
ready 10 give effective aid 10 fugitive slaves in
the fight for liberty. From the time he became
ACQUAINTED with those men he devoted himself