Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-07-10
The MO0nshiner'S Revenge.

smoke OF their cigars. The stories
had been on tragic turn. In the
party was representative from 8
Southern state, and when The others
stopped as though it had come to his
turn, he was slow to break the ST.
lence. He ran his fingers through
his mass OF iron gray hair, as if in
meditation and then leisurely con-
suited his watch.
II might tell you bit Of history
said be, "a story which was tamil-
lar to almost all the inhabitants in
our section some thirty years ago.
but do not know that / can expect
you TO believe it, things are so diff
ferent now than they were then, you
know"
There was general request to
$50 on and during the time con.
sumed by the congressman in relat-
ing the story, each one present sat
as if bound by spell, no one utter
ing a word from start to finish. This
is what he said, to the best Of my
recollection, and l paid strict atten-
ton TO every word he uttered
sat the time this little tragedy
was enacted the mountainous re-
gions of our state were Infested
with illicit distillers. They were
dangerous men, and as reckless of
the consequences of law-breaking as
they were dangerous. 1t happened
one day, after an exciting chase, a
sheriff's posse overlook and cap
tured two of the moonshiners who
were most wanted, and, as result
of the trial which followed, each re-
ceived long sentence in prison. |
remember the incident quite we'll,
and | recall with distinctness that
there were many threats, some of
them made openly, that the witness
es for the prosecution would suffer
dire consequences for having taken
the parts they did. One of these
witnesses was man Of middle age,
as fearless as a lion, who lived in a
small log cabin, some three and a
half miles from the country seat
where the trial had been held, in an
isolated mountainous region. He
lived with his son, young fellow,
born and reared in the section, a
man who had seemingly inherited
the courage and vigor of his father.
He was OF my own age, and as |
was, and have since been, on init
mate terms with him, / am able to
relate the incidents which occurred
in an accurate manner.
Scarcely a week had elapsed
from the time the pair of moonshin-
ers were convicted when the old
man was surprised one afternoon, an
hour before sunset, just as he was
entering his cabin home. Two men
had their rifles lsveled at his breast,
and, being taken unawares, he had
no course left but to throw up his
hands as they commanded. As it
turned out, had the outlaws been
content to shoot their victim then
and there, and thus ended the affair,
it would have been we'll for them,
but they were intent upon torturing
their enemy and the means they
employed were the most fendsh
and cold-blooded that pair Of cut
| Threats minds could we'll coniure
up. They followed the old man into
his cabin home, bound his hands Sc
curely behind his back, tied his feet
tightly together and finally lashed
him in an upright position to the
stone work of the fireplace. They
next gagged their prisoner, dragged
the heavy article of furniture which
answered for table to position in
front OF him, placing an old-fashion.
ed homemade chair on its top. In
another moment they had securely
fastened the barrel Of the old mans
| rife to the chair, in such manner
that its ominous muzzle was direct
ly on a level with his heart. One
Of the Williams next produced piece
Of stout cord, carefully made a
slip-noose in one end and drew the
moose tightly over the hammer of
the weapon. The other end Of the
cord was soon fastened to a conven-
lent nail in the wall at the other
side Of the room, after which, with
deliberate GOODNESS, the heavy table
and chair we're pushed little near
er to the bound man until the rifle
was almost at full cock. It would
be difficult for any man, accustomed
though he might be to danger and
death, to imagine the feelings of the
prisoner as he realized that the sew
ering of the cord meant instant
death He was not left long in
suspense as to the nature of the
desth-dealing means his enemies
had prepared for him, for in short
er time than it takes to relate it,
they had taken a candle from the
window sill, lighted it, placed it
conveniently upon a small box they
had placed upon the table in such a
manner that the fame has but to
burn halt hour until it sboald
reach the cord and burn Il in two.