Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-05-06

customary revolver, they were followed
towards the jail by party of inquisitiye
and interested townspeople, at sight OF
which array Parmelee's posse on duty
at the Jail had fred one voliey from that
building and then rushed for the shell
ter Of the cellar under the meeting
house They had killed Potts mule
and wounded another in exchange for
which the Pottsites had ridden of
with the first two animals and all the
prisoners they saw. There was no one
TO claim the latter, and old Potts had
coolly offered the former to the inspec-
tion of Capt. Close; one proved to be
government property, the other Parme-
lees. I'll just bawrow these two to
take Us back home, an then you gentle
men can have 'em as soon IS you'll send
for 'em; but you'll hardly expect US TO
call again, after the reception accawded
us law-abiding and peaceable citizens
to-day" This was the majestic con-
ciusion of Potts remarks to the sur
prised but stolid captain. Then they
rode away, and, crossing probably al
the ford. made a circuit back through
town. where they doubtless had Tug
aloa Jubilee with their friends and fell
low-citizens. to the continued alarm and
dismay of the bcll-rinCers in the meet
ing house. until warned that the troops
were coming. when they deliberately
withdrew across the railway track,
L. ffsa~~
of the characteristic southern vocal
isms known TO fame as the rebel yell"
This was iniudicious 1t was well
enough to ride away In company with
prisoners whom nobody claimed or APP
peared to care 10 hold, but they should
not have reioced thereat with riot and
ungndly glee. 1t was human and by nc
means divine. It gave the opposition
too much to tell about in the startling
reports that went broadcast over the
north that very night and appeared
with lurid headlines in the morning
papers on the morrow.
Parmelee had not been seen from the
moment of the initial appearance of
Potts and party until he came scrainS-
ling into camp on a borrowed mule.
Later that afternoon, when matters had
measurably quieted down, he made his
way westward in time to tell at the
state capitol his story of the riot to his
properly indignant chief. while, all
alone, Capt. Close was jogging over to
Potts on the day accommodation" lit
tie dreaming of the ill-repute in which
he and his youthful subaltern would
stand before the unthink;ng of their
northern feilow-citizeEs on the NOR
row; for, as was only natural, the dep
uty marshal had squared accounts with
Close by laying the blame for the escape
of the prisoners, the peril of the be-
leaguered posse, and the riot and insur-
rection in Chittomingo county upon the
captain and his lieutenant, who, he said,
though wearing the uniform and hold
ing the commission of the United States,
had refused to come to the aid of the
officers of the law.
Il ought to be back by nine o'clock"
was the message the captain told Cor
poral Cunningham to take out to camp;
but Cunningham was the ingenious
youth who first accosted Mr.. Lambert
on his arrival that morning, ard Burns
had nearly shaken the life out of him
when he heard the story the men were
passing from lip to lip. Cunningham
was young fellow with Il better opin-
Ion OF himself than his employers
seemed TO entertain, and, though fair
" educated in the public schools and in
u business college of his native city, a
fondness for Bowery life and associa-
tion with Bowery boys had undermined
his usefulness. He enlisted after los
ing his situation, and, coming to Clos :
company when clerks were hardly
be had at any price, was put into the
company Office instead of the awkward
squad. Then came vacancy among
the corporals; the young fellow, being
a new broom, had swept clean, and was
so helpful about the books, papers and
the like for six weeks that Close gave
him the empty chevrons, and gave
Burns abuudc.nt cause for another out
break of blasphemy. There might have
been some way of licking Private Cum
ninrham into shape, but there was none
whatever of reforming Corporal Cum
ningham. He was not all bad, however,
for by evening he began to realize the
extraordinary solecism of which he had
been guilty in the morning; so he was
actually ashamed to go near the lieu
tenant, and never even repeated his mes
sage to Burns until nine o'clock had
come and the captain hadn't. Then
Burns went over to the lieutenant's
tent, where the youth sat wrapped in
his overcoat, trying gloomily and with
stiffened fingers to write some letters
by the light of single candle.
II suppose, sir, the captain meant 10
ride the mule back himself. He could
have got to Potts place before six and
back here by eight, easy. 'Tisn't likely
they'd ask him to stay to supper. I'm
only afraid of his gettin' into q row,
and him all alone"
Il wish he could have beer content to
send for the mule instead of going" said
Lambert. ANY of the men could have
gone, suppose"
well, sir, the trouble is that he'd
have had to send the men ON 1nuleback,
or else pay their fares over on the cars.
The captain has pass, and it doesn't
cost him anything; and he's afraid to
let the mule be gone over night. It's
mighty easy losin' 'em among all these
niggers, and they might charge it up
against the captains pay. The captain
has stuck close to camp so far as these
night posses have been concerned, but
he'd hunt the whole state for lost
blanket or bayonet. And he always
goes alone-and gets what he's after,
and he's had no trouble worth mention
in; but that fellow Potts was impudent
to him to-day, and he was slow bout
seem it at first; now, though, he's got
his mad up and gone over there to get
the mule and satisfaction both; that's
what I'm afraid of, sir. He lashed
Parmeleee to-day for bein' 4 coward,
and-beggin' your pardon, lieutenant
though the captain aint much on mil
itary, he fires up like flash at anything
like insult to the flag"
do you think it advisable to send
after the captain?" asked Lambert,
after moments reflection.
There's no way we can send, sir,
'cept afoot or behind four-mule team
in an army wagon. We only had that
one saddle mule"
Lambert stepped to the tent door and