Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-09-21
A WAR INCIDENT.


sour lane within speaking distance
of two young men husking corn in
company with several adult negroes
1t was about four o'clock of a cold,
gray day.
81 hate to see mcn work so hard,
the rider called, with intent to be
sarcastic.
Hello, jeff" the young fellows
called as they rose from the piles of
stalks before which they sat and saun-
tered toward the fence,
You're a likely chap to talk about
work. ridin' around the country on
a mewcl, like they weren't no work to
do"
The rider grinncd. dts too late
TO husll corn, anyhow. You South
Car'lnaus arc always about two
aanontbs late" Suddenly his voice
Changed to a tone Of joyous excite
ment, and he bent over the pommel
Of his saddle: .,
"Say. the knights meet tonight
shut up. You fool" said one the
huskers. Don't YOU see the niggers
listening? What's going on?'
The riders voice sank to a humble
az don't know. Jim met me and told
me the Dutch pcddlcr had brought
some news, and said he wanted all
the knights to be on hand"
where do VIC meet?"
"Jim Lyons barn"
"WeH. I'll tell you this-we We got
to have a lot O. pickets out, for the
nggers arc excited They have an
idea something is going on that would
interest them"
"Jim'll watch out fer that. Well
so long. BE on hand"
swell be there"
The country about st. Louis was at
that time more secession than union
in feeling, and though the farmers
Of the creek were pursuing their ways
quietly. they were ready at any mo-
mcnt for an enterprise in aid of the
south. By swift and decided stroke
of military foresight, Frank j. Blaii
had captured Camp Jackson and its
arsenal in May. thus saving the city
and its munitions TO the union, but
there had sprung upall over the coun-
try secret society in sympathy with
the south. These societies were
branchesof Inc Knights of thc Golden
Circle. and it was their hope that at
some time they might be able to do
some decisive work in aid Of secession.
There ives a loC-c. or circle at Gra-
vols. into Which all the confederate
sympathizers were gathered, but thus
far the southern cause owed them lit
tie. There was something in the sud
den call for meeting this November
day. however, which convinced every
eager knight that the time for action
had come at last. Some deed was to
do-what it was no one could tell,
save the pcddler; but as the night grew
thick. from every direction, on foot
and on horseback. the men began to
move through the cold, bleak air
toward the rendezvous, The two
young men of the cornshocks were
brothers, Abner and Zimri Taylor.
Others merely felt alphabetically
the tense anxiety of the time, which
portended tragic deeds. There was
a restraint in the silence which Abb
ner's wife perceived. AS he rose from
the table that night he said to his wife;
I'm going to the post office TO hear
the news"
The young wife seized the moment
TO say:
80, Abner, hope it isn't any pro-
ject of the knights"
''Be quiet" he said, sharply. "You.
needn't worry if it is. promised you
] wouldn't go into the service, and ]
won't-at least, not now.
promise me not to do anything
rash. Abner,"
He smiled a little. 81 don't have
that reputation among the circle" he
said
The younger brother grew impa-
tient. ooh, come along, Abner; wen
be late"
Abner had already been under ar
rest for a rebelious act while on
visit to St Louis, and his wife was
easily alarmed now By7;30 the barn
held score Of men of all ages and
sizes. and outside a circle Of pickets
kept watch that no prying negro came
within hearing distance Of the loft
in which the meeting was held. In
the center Of the group, and doing
most Of the talking, was big, black
whiskered man of alert and vigorous
manner. Themembers were hunched
or sprawling about on the hay listen
ing in silence, AT last the chairman