The National tribune., 1897-11-11
kl1kf2 VGkbsrs h7h1
~ laurel Blooms
~ And Men and Women
Live Near Natures Heart..-
By JOHN McELROY.
By JOHN McELROY.

Capt Griggs, take the Inru1es outside of tn
COURTROOM, and release them"
More dazed than by his own danger Rober
ert had looked wonderingly on, trying t.
comprehend what was happening. Now h
began to understand that the Elder wa
offering himself as a sacrifice for him and hi
| sens
He raised quickly to his feet, and called
out firmly and distinctly, but still IN hl'
usual slow, musical drawl:
"Cunne Rhea! Cunnel Rhea I'm Jest be
ginnin' t understand that Elder Stornmont'
give hisself up T. save me an my sons.
won't have hit. My sons won't have hit so.
| Weuns have done nothin' T. desarve death.
God is our Judge. But eff your he'll born
Suthern Conled risv thirsts fur blood-ef hit
will be satisfied with ncthin' bat blood of
! honesty an innocence take our'n ruther than
! bis I'M I'm ready t die fur my country;
! I've taught my sons t lie ready t die when
ever the time comes. Gar lives air of little
value compared { hisun. The country needs
! him-hit doesn't need MS. III not consent t
! his sacrifice"
Remove the prisoners from the court, -
commanded Col. Rhea coldly
Come, git outen this, " said GriggS, catch
ing hold of Robert Inrule and dragging him
toward the door, while two of his men did
the same with Bildad ard Reuben BE
monty thankful that yer not hung, ez yo'
sartiuly desarye" continued Griggs. But
yo won't 20 fur long. The ropes already
twisted t swing yo'."
The mOuntaineers gathered around the In
rules in excited discussion of the event
This gave Capt. Sam Griggs another oppor-
tunitv of displaying his brutality. Putting
himself at the head Of a squad Of his men, he
charged down upon them, yelling:
. Git ont, yo' Internal Tories Scatter, yo'
white-Gyered Lincclnites f.. Vamose the
rancho, yo' scaawag Yankees ! Gar the
camp, every one of yo', or I'll lock yo' up!
Bob Inrule, l wuz only t. let yo 60 outside
the courtroom. ] amt bound T. keep my
hands often yo' an yer brats a minnit longer,
an ] won't ef | ketch sight o yo' five min
nits later. Hunt yer holes, 20 traitors, ef
yO' valley yo' lives"
Several of the Union men were struck in
the face with fists or knocked down by gun
barrels.
Accompanied by a few of their nearest
friends the lnrules walked of sadly toward
home. Before they separated il was agreed
that they meet the following evening in Blue
Racer Cove. sequestered spot hardly known
TO the rebels. 1t was no longer safe for tie
Union men 10 gather at the house Of one of
their number, for all these were watched
more or less.
IN hour or two after the removal of the
Inrulcs Col. Rhea ordered the Elder TO he
brought before him. The Elder confronted
the severe glance that the Colonel turned
upon him with look as bold and naughty
as his own. After a painful silence of min
ute Or more the Colonel said, in cold, meas
ured tones:
Elder Stornmont. it would be cruelty 10
you for me TO conceal the truth from you. OF
even delay in making it known to YOU You
know better than | can tell you the depth of
your treason toward your country. and the
enormity Of your offenses against her laws
Your wrong doing has been the more fragrant
because OF your greater knowledge and in
tiuence. You are the spiritual guide of these
people, and you have abused your sacred
office to mislead them into ways Of pernicous
wickedness
1t is very necessary for the good Of the
whole people and for the peace and we'll
being of the Southern COnfederacy that Won
should die Numerous grave crimes, clearly
proved, make you deserving of the extreme
penalty of the law. The safety of the South
ern Conlederacy demands that Won suffer that
penalty with the least possible delay.
1t is therefore the sentence of the court
that You be hanged at this place one week
from to-day. May you employ the time that
the court mercifully allows you in preparing
for death, IN repentlng of your evil course,
and IN exhorting your deluded followers to
desist from their wicked ways, and become
loyal citizens of the State Of Tennessee and
the Southern COnfederacy.
In the meantime you will be closely
confined IN the guardhouse of this camp, and
every precautiOn taken to prevent your es-
cape"
But, Col. Rhea,' ex postulated the Elder.
have had no trial such as the laws of my
country provide for even the meanest of men.
do not know the charges against me- | have
not been confronted by my accusers. have
not been heard in my own defense"
in time of war, replied the Colonel, the
ordinary safeguards and technicalities must
be dispensed with. The public safety is the
supreme law. Everything must bend before
that. All the evidence against you has been
carefully considered by the court, and YOU
have been given the benefit Of every doubt
and excuse. The court is unanimously of
the opinion that YOU have lived entirely too
long. In allowing you week more of
life the court has gone TO the limit of mercy
1t is far better than you deserve Do not
=
that it can be further extended"
But | appeal from your decision" said
the Elder. =" appeal from you to your SUI
periors. As there are grades of devils in hell.
50 are there in the Southern Confederacy
those who are higher than others They NAV
be more mercifuL appeal from you TO Gen.
Smith, at Knoxville, or to headquarters, at
Richmond -
| II IS useless, replied the Colonel. in the
same cold, measured way. I" My superiars
are occupied with much more momentous
things than the complaints OF a pestiicnt
traitor and bridge burner The orders ex-
pressly direct the commanding officer on The
spot 10 deal with these matters ACCORDING 10
has own discretion, and carry out the general
orders to the letter in regard to the suppres-
sion of treason in East Tennessee and the
punishment Of Its instigators
Much as you may think Of your life. it is
Of little account IN comparison with those of
hundreds OF gallant devoted men who are
almost daily dying in conflict with the in
yaders Of our homes, whom you are abettinc.
For your own sake, | urge you not to deceive
yourself with the hope that there is anyone
above me who will reverse my decision. The
ssesssygsI'.SvZl1
] , =