The herald., 1896-04-05
IN OLD KENTUcK

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These Kentucky legislators who lay
their eix-shooters handily ON the
desks and loosen their bowie knives in
their sheaths before proceeding to an
other ballot for United States senator
are, after all conservative men. Their
lethal weapons are simply evidences
that the doctrines of heredity are
sound. One is disposed to casually
dispose of Kentucky styles of argu.
ment as radical and their methods of
enforcing the same as drastic. Thus
they may be measured by other than
Kentucky standards, but the cherac-
teristics mentioned are those of age.
The only change to be noted is in the
make of weapon. The double action
hsmmerless has succeeded the cap and
ball six-shooter-the original Colt
model which thirty-five years ago re-
placed the old time horseman's pistol.
The Kentuckians honestly inherited
their quickness on the trigger and fine
mechanical alertness with the knife.
The Ohinns, the Clays, the Bronstons
Of 100 years ago cleared their farms
with an AK in one hand and rifle in
the other. The usually peaceful en-
terprise Of driving home the COWS was
often interrupted for the purpose Of
killing off an Indian or two. So the
weapon tecame part of the every day
equipment of the citizen, and the logic
of the bullet became the convincing ar
gument.
They have a strong sense of their
personal Importance, do these Ken
tucky men. The mountainesrs possess
tn tnv,
degree than their neighbors of the low
lands. They are as proud and naughty
as Scotch Highland men, and have not
the smoothness and polish Of educa-
tion and contact with the world that
the blue grass Kentuckians have.
These latter are gentlemen in all the
word implies, education, accomplish
ments, social ease and the greatest
confidence in the purity of their pedi-
grees. The mountaineers are the same
without the graces. They have lived
isolated for generations, and, while
they are no doubt thoroughbreds, are
yet to be trained and groomed. I saw
an entertaining instance of the high
personal regard in which the noun
taineers are disposed to hold them
selves. 1t was on q Lexington and
Eastern train coming down from
Breathitt county bloody Breathitt.
Two young men or jackson were pas
sengers. It might be told az showing
the popular trend OF popular habit in
Jackson that local statisticians COM
pute the number killed in the main
street in the last twelve years at more
than 100 persons. "An' not q nary q
case OF bushwhackin'," said the narra-
tor, strong in his local, pride,
"they was all shot off on
the square," The front of the
courthouse is Clipped and SCARED by
bullets until IT looks as il made Of
rough-faced brick, instead of the sym
metrical parallelopiped used by the
masons. But one man has been legally
hanged in Breathitt. He was "Rad
Tom Smith," who was borrowed ro
an adjoining county for executio.. oy
way OF an object lesson. However, this
has little to do with the incident of
railway travel.
These two young men, who we're
going to Lexington, had the front end
of the smoker to themselves, and the
bottle which they held in joyous alter
nate embrace. The Lexington and
through mountains. lta curves are
sharp and of small degree. Its sidings
absolutely blasted from the face of
nature. Naturally, in the expensive
construction. the sidings were made
no longer than necessary. Near
stretch of land locally known as In
dian Oldfelds, just before coming out
of the hills, the passenger train
stopped and presently began to back.
An up-bound freight, composed largely
OF empty cattle cars, had gone up the
siding to permit the down train to
pass, but was too long by three cars
and the caboose, which remained out
on the main track. The freight backed
out of the switch and the passenger
train, which was short, was taking its
place to leave the main track open.
"What's the matter?" asked the
young mountain men, with the curl
osity of infrequent travellers. "Wha!'s
he-all a-doin'?" pointing to the brake
man, who was throwing the switch.
"He's switching us into the siding to
let that freight train pass" explained
the conductor.
"Not on your life" said the outraged
young men. 1--WE are free born Amer
leans, and We don't take no sids
track for hawg train. Yo'-all seems
to think yo' got a passed. of yellow ..
dogs aboard.
Thereupon the travellers drew their
revolvers and began shooting at the
unhappy switchman.
"We-all will keep the right of way if !
we has to kill every rsilroader 'twixt |
here and Clay City" they asserted. So |
they would if their aim had not been !
bad. The switchman fell off the rail- |
way bed into small ravine. He was
untouched by bullet, but was jolted by
the fall, and scared so much he could !