The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-05

bion," had come in that morning and
reported that brigands had raidcd the
hacienda and murdered the entire fam
lily save himself, no having escaped by
the help of u pcon and ned to the town.
The military authorities who, for
some political or worse reason, either
favor or fear the brigands, were coldly
irresponsible to tho lads appeal for e.
punitive force to DO sent after the ma
rauders, and the hot-bloodcd citizens
had taken the matter in their own
hands. In the plaza found band Of
fifty natives and foreigners, fully
armed. ready to start in search of tho
dc?redators. Needless to say that
joined the party, although l lost my
passage by that mail.
Jock Hunter, apparently aged sew
eral years by his terrible experience,
went Il little in advance of the CHILEAN
lynchers as they rode forth, and ut IL
favora bic moment got beside him to
hear the story in its details And it
was indeed thrilling. At about three
o'clock the morning after l left, an un-
usual knocking ut the front door
aroused the family. Supposing that
some bolatcd traveller wished accom-
mediation, Mr.. Hunter hurriedly got Oh
some clothing and opened the door
There was shout of many voices, then
n rush OF feet, II loud cry, the discharge
Ct firearms. The boys slept upstairs,
while tho parents and girls occupied
two OF the three lower bedrooms, the
third of which was set apart for
strangers. Bob and Jim at once rushed
down the steps, but poor little Jock
was SO scared that he remained on :hf,
landing looking down on the scene,
which wac illuminated by tho swinging
lamp his father must have lighted be-
fore opening tho door,
AS Bob and Jim reached the 0oor
Jock saw them quickly cut down with
machcttcs by gang of men who were
crowding into the house. About the
same time his mother and sisters rushed
from their rooms screaming and thiply
clad In their night clothes. Then en-
sued scene the boy could scarcely
master himself to tell about, and which
must haunt him to his dying day. Spell
bound with horror and powerlcss to
aid them, he bcheld his dear ones
dragged and buFctcd and fought over
by those wrctchcs as some beasts OF
prey fight over their quarry. Ere the
lootng Of the house began, peon who
slept in an attic above the bows room
succeeded In getting jock out of a
window into the branches of u trco, by
which means they escaped
We found everything in and around
the hacienda in confusion, and the
place was deserted. Not u pcon was T.,
be found. The scene in tho hall wa
awful. The big bricli-floored room was
like a siiaenblcs, The bodies Of no less
than nine brigands lay in all directions.
mute and ghastly witnesses TO the
fierce conflict among themselves which
Jock had witnessed. To these, how
ever, we paid but passing attention, the
slaughtered family claiming our FIRST
care. There they lay, nearly together.
six i'll all, stark in death and literally
cemcnted to the floor by their own
concealed blood.
Shall l ever forget that spectaclcl
Nothing that l had seen Oh the bloody
battlctlclds Of the north ut all CORE
sponded to tho appealing horror of 1t,
and for quito awhile l was completely
unnervcd. Mr.. Hunters foce wore still
the genial Scotch smile knew so well
lie had died instantly, with the warn
glow of welcome in his heart reflected
on his face; his chest was riddlcd VIII.
bullets. Tho countcnnnces OF the two
boys showed wonder and surprise, il,
SO far ns the ugly wounds left any
traces Of expression. But the women
g@IS A 81 /