The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-05
How Piren Jim Dodeed Hanging.

now l'lNen Jim DOdEed a Hang n2.
There were three of them. The one who
wore a sombrero and high boots was talk
ing loudly. The one who wore a derby
and tan shoes was listening intently. The
quiet looking little chap, who was dressed
so unobtrusiveIy that no one noticed what
he wore seemed TO be asleep, says the
New York Press. They were all seated in
the smoking car of a train that was
speeding rapidly norUhward from Chicago.
You folks up north here don't know
anything about a good country" the
speaker was saying. why, down in Tex
as. where I came from. we have flowers
the year round. Beautiful roses bloom
every month. And straw berries-why,
we're getting rich down there sending
straw berries to Kansas City and st. Louis
and other cities in the winter time. Why,
say
Just then the little man opened his eyes,
and the other man stopped
That's right, Jake" said the little man,
give US all a rest. Let up on the straw
berries and the posies for a little while.
There's another side to every story and
the other side of the Texas story is about
snakes and tarantulas and ba-a-ad men
and sech. "Tain't all flowers and fruit and
blamy breezes down there. Let's ali have
a drink out of your flask and I'll tell our
friend here how Pizen Jim met up with a
RATHER one day.
"Pizen Jim came honestly by his name
1t amt necessary to tell all the things he
done to earn it, and, besides, there ain I
time; but he deserved it, all right. It's
mOre'n probable that If he hadn't run
against that snake he'd of been strung up
for stealing stock the next day. for I was
after him (being sheriff of the county them
days. and had him dead to rights when
the snake caught him. I'd been laying
for Jim for some days. I wasn't exactly
on his trail but I'd heard where he prob
ably was, and how he'd likely come home,
and 1 figured he'd stop on the way at a
certain waterhole 1 knew of to refresh
himself and his horse.
$50 I went out to that waterhole at night
and lay low in the grass, close by, reck-
oning he'd get there about noon. Well
my reckoning was right. Just about the
time the shadows got short and pointed
due north Pizen Jim rode up, got of his
horse and stopped down to get drink out
of the waterho.e. He didn't have no cup
and he had to scoop it up with his hand
While he was getting down I got him well
covered, ready to sing out to him to throw
up his hands when he riz up.
But l never had no call to sing out
anything to him. He got one swallow all
right, but just as he put his hand down to
the water for the second time heard a
snakes rattle, and then saw something
fly out Of the tall grass and catch Jim in
the side of the face close by the mouth
1t was the snake, Of course, and it had
struck so hard that its hooked fangs stay
ed put and the serpent couldn't get away
I'd repeat Jim's language if it was fit and
proper and I had the talent. 1t was very
interesting. So was the next thing Jim
done.
He didn't have no whisky and he knew
he was a goner but he made up his mind
he'd punish that snake. So he just grab
bed the reptile in both hands and he tore
him apart. And them he took his bowie
knife out of his belt and he cut that rat
tier up into little bits Of pieces. And then
he tromped the pieces down into the mud
with the heels of his boots.
In less than two hours, gentlemen
Pzen Jim was a body, and a mighty bad
looking one at that. / wasn't exactly glad
of what had happened but din't have no
regrets about not having to take him in
and look after his hanging