The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-15


ways quietly. they were ready at any
moment 6or an enterprise in aid of the
south. By swift and decided stroke
of military foresight. Frank P. Blair had
captured camp Jackson and its arsenal in
May, thus saving the city and Its NUM-
lions TO the union. but there had sprung
up all over the country secret societies
in sympathy with the south. These So
cieties were branches of the famous
knights of the Golden Circle, and 1t
was their hope that at some time they
might be able to do some decisive work
in aid of secession
THE LODGE MEETS
There was a. lodge or circle in Gravois
thizers We're gathered, but thus far the
southern cause owed them little There
was something in he sudden call Tor u
meeting This November day. however
which convinced every eager knight that
the time for action had at last come
Some deed was To do-What il was. no
one could tell. save the peddler. but as
the night grew thick. from every direc-
ton, on foot and on horseback. the men
began TO silently move through the cold
bleak air toward the rendezvous. The
two young men of the cornstOcks were
brothers. Abner and sLimri Taylor. They
We're both Sta2Wart. bearded and very
tered no word Of the news brought to
them, for black ears, keen as a hare's,
were open 10 hear the lowest word. The
blacks We're already I~emulous with ex
citement over the news of battles in the
south, which some of them comprehend
ed TO mean that certain white men We're
fighting for them. Others merely felt
sympathetically the tense anxiety of the
time WhicA DOrtended tragic deeds.
There was restraint in the silence which
Abner's wife perceived. As he rose from
the table that night he said to his wife:
I'm going down TO the postoffice TO
The young wife seized the moment TO
''oh. Abner, / nope Il isn't any project
BE quiet ne said sharply. You
needn't worry if it is. 1 promised you 1
wouldn't go into service, and 1 won't-at
least not now
He smiled a little Il don't have that
reputation among the circle he said.
The younger brother grew impatient.
.'Oh, come along, Ahner. We'll be late
The young wife looked as if she were
not SO sure of Abners caution, and she
went about her work with a strong feel
ing that some great calamity was i'm
pending. Abner had already been under
arrest for a retelliOus act while on visit
TO ST. Louis. and she was easily alarmed
now. She looked at the children with a
glance which showed a sleeplesS fear for
chem as well as for her husband What (
would they do without his big arm TO pro-
tect them. by $50 the barn heiu a score Z
of men of ali ages and sizes and outside
a circle Of picketS kept watch that no I
prying negro came within hearing dis I
lance OF the fOal II WHICH the meeting J.
was held. In the center of the group, and I
doing most of the talking, was a big
black whiSkered man of alert and vigor- I
GUS manner. The members were hunched {
or sprawling on the hay about listening
N sinister silence. At last the chairman I
raped for order. and said IN low voice
which gradually grew intense and savage:
Brothers OF the circle, you are called /
together tonight because there is work TO
be done You've all been just achin' to do
something for the cause, and now's yo'
chance. We've had TO keep our mouths
shet. We have had TO submit to these
Yankee scrubs who hold our fo't Fo't
Jackson should never have been surrend-
cred. We have been helpless under me
Now we have q chance to make them paw
Brother Nose Banner mas a word TO
say. He took his seat thereupon amid a
profound silence.
WHAT THE PEDDLER SAID.
Banner was a peddler who carried drugs
from St Louis to the Confederate armies
in the southern part Of the state. He car
ried also whatever news of military move
Inealts he could secure. He now stepped
out into the floor, the excitement of a big
project in his broad visage. He plunged
into the plan at once
Brothers. we have chance to rob the
northern armies OF a brigadier general
General q. $. Grant of Cairo is home IN I
without a guard. Nobody with him He's |
at old man Dents. which is not more than
TWO miles from mere You all Know the :
place He VIII be there all night My
plan is to surround the house and. seize
him while he is asleep. The Union cause {
VIII have one brigadier general less
Two or three Of the younger hot heads /
eaDed up, white with excitement :
Good. I1ats the plan. Wen make :
him pay for Belmont
The holiness of the scheme took the
cooler men at disadvantage Before j
hey could gather their limbs under them a
another belligerent was in the middle of I [
he floor blazing with excitement. his r
words q YOiley. {
1T Is a glorious opportunity to serve
he cause OF the south. We nave been or {
rauized for Just such work as this. Now a
: our chance 1 will be one 10 do his s
york tonight n
$50 viii ]. said one at his side. t
"And - shouted several more G