The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-03-10

that enabled him to resist an almost
overwhelming sensation of depression
and disgust. Marching at route step
low-toned conference with Sergt. Burns
and learned something of the circum-
stances that led up to the events of the
day. "Old man Potts." said the SER
geant, was character. He owned n
place halfway over towards Quitman
and so near the county line that nobody
knew whether he rightfully belonged
to Quitman or to Chittomingo. When
he was wanted" in one he lodged to
the other. Two of his sons had been
killed during the war, and the two
younger were prominent both as citi-
zens and "skylarkers," for there was
no mischief or frolic going on they
weren't mixed up in" Sergt. Burns
didn't believe in kukluk Whereabouts,
but the colored folks and the deputy
marshals did, and so the soldiers were
kept ION the jump" Old man Potts
had "cussed" Parmelee off his place two
weeks previous, but had ridden in to
Quitman and reported himself to
Brevet Lieut.. Col. Sweet, commanding
the two-company garrison there, and
said any time he or his boys were
wanted" just to say so and he would
come in and account for himself and
them to an officer and gentleman, but
he'd be damned if he'd allow that sneak
Parmelee on his premises. Then he
had had high words with the marshal
4 Ia Il
harmed no one, he said. They were full
of fun, and perhaps Of fight-hc
wouldn't own 'em if they weren't; but
they did not belong to the kukluX-if
there were anything of the sort around
there at all-and they only fought
when interefered with. They might
have expressed contempt for Parmelee,
but that wasn't law-breaking. The
marshal told him that very serious al
legations had been laid both against
him and his boys, as well as against
friends with whom they forgathered.
and warned him that arrest would fol-
low if more "outrages" occurred; and
the result was that only the interior
ence of Col. Sweet prevented a shoot
ing scrape on the spot. Ever since
then Parmelee had had some one
watching the movements of Potts and
his boys. There was young lady over
at Clayton's plantation to whom one
of the boys was devoted, and Parmelee's
spies reported there was to be dance
there. That's how he came to go over
TO Buccatubbee with the squad, but
they only got Harry Potts and two of
the Scroggs boys; Barton Potts wasn't
there. They were riding home to
Ouitman county after the dance and
making some racket, as young fellers
will, and Parmelee laid for 'em on the
road" They were brought into the
Jail by Sergt. Quinn and the squad and
there left to Parmelee and his people.
AS for the rest, the lieutenant knew as
much as the sergeant, except that "old
man Potts" with his boy Hal suddenly
rode into camp just after Mr.. Lambert
had walked away, and the old man had
given Capt. Close piece of his mind,
after which he and Hal with couple
of friends rode back townwards. All
the shooting that took place was prob
ably feu de ioie to the accompani-
ment of triumphant yells.
1t was a fact that when old Potts
with his friends, not more than half
dozen all told, came riding in 10 offer
bail for the boys, armed only with the
customary revolver, they were followed
towards the jail by party of inquisitive
and interested townspeople, at sight of
which array Parmelee's posse on duty
at the Jail had fired one volley 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 off
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-
ton 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 as 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-
clusion of Potts remarks to the sur
prised but stolid captain. Then they
rode away, and, crossing probably at
the ford, made circuit back through
town, where they doubtless had Tug
aloo jubilee with their friends and fell
low-citizens, to the continued alarm and
dismay of the bell-ringers in the meet
ing house, until warned that the troops
were coming, when they deliberately
withdrew across the railway track,
firing off a parting salute and a volley
of the characteristic southern vocal
isms known to fame as the "rebel yell"
This was injudicious. 1t was we'll
enough to ride away in company with
prisoners whom nobody claimed or APP
peared to care to hold, but they should
not have rejoiced thereat with riot and
ungodly glee. 1t was human and by no
means divine. 1t 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
| II