The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-29
LYNCHING BEE SPOILED.
TOO MUCH ATTENTION PAID TO THE
ETIQ UETTE OF TIE OCCASION.

Acouff Themselves In style " hen
They Hanged Him and He Got on
with "a Run for His Life.
Fresno Letter in New York Sun.
II don't take the personal interest in
lvnchings that I used 20" said Uncle Tom
Atkinson. as he sat on the veranda Of his
hotel talking over The recent lynchings in
the South. 1T isn't entirely because I
am getting old. but the last iynelng party
/ took part in disguised me with the
whole business. You see, Pete Lansing
stole a horse and we got a party together
and started ont after him. Pete gave us
quite a chase, but at last we struck
hot trail near Pine hills, and then we
gained on him so fast that when our little
party of Vieilantes swept around the curve
at the foot Of the hills Pete was only half
a mile ahead and pushing his horse at a
gallop across the prairie. We called 10
him 90 stop. OF course he couldn't hear
us at that distance, as he knew we wanted
30 hang him for horse stealing, he wouldn't
have stopped if he had heard but il was
the first time since we organized that
the Diamond Center Nigilantes had been
called out and we wanted TO do things in
proper style So we formally summoned
PETE TO surrender. Dick Evans our lead
er, wanted everything done exactly right,
but l and some of the other boys think he
was too particular on this occasion. A
swell benton society affair is one thing
and a lynching bee is another, and there
isn't any use trying to combine them.
However that may be. after we had
called upon Pete to stop we thought we
had done all that etiquette. as Dick cali
ed it, required. ana we began 20 pump
bullets at him. Pretty soon one of the
bullets struck his horse and It tumbled
over. Pete knew there wasn't any use
running after that, so he lit a cigarette
he was "a sort of a dude in some ways
and waited for us to come up.
Guess We've got you this time, Pete,
says Dick
Looks that way replies Pete. as calm
and unconcerned as if he didn't have any
part IN the show. What is the next
thing on the programme?
THE nearest trees We're about half way
up the Pine Hills and We allowed the first
thing to be done was to take Pete TO
where the trees we're. After We reach a
tree we won't have much trouble finding
out what to do next. Mr. Pete lansing
said one of the boys in an ugly kind Of
a way The man who spoke had lost
three or four good horses that season and
was ANNiltie hliu OF sore over II, but Pete
looked quite hurt at being talked to in
that kind of fashion and Dick Evans spoke
Up:
''That'n do for you. Tom. That's no
kind of way TO speak TO a man who is
almost dead
But our troubles had only begun Pete's
horse was dead and he swore that he
wasn't going TO walk to the Pine Hills.
Nobody ever heard of a man trampine a
T1ila n
fair and square says Pete, and / don't
Kick on that, but tn be damned if l am
going to hoof it across this prairie. A man
IN my position ought to have a little no
likeness shown him.
Jim Haly, who runs the Crescent sa-
loon, happened TO have a deck of cards
in his pocket and he proposed that we
throw around and the low man give up
ms horse to Pete We all agreed to this.
and Pete being in one way our guest we
set him deal That made a delay, for Pete
dealt himself low hand, and as he
didn't nave any horse we had to deal
again. One of the boys got stuck this
time, so Pete took his horse and we start
ed out for Pine Hills.
1t was pretty dark when we reached
the NILS, but one of the party cot ont
rope and we thought the business would
be over in few minutes. But here PETE
made another kick. For man who was
gong 10 be hanged he was the most par
tcular, bothersome fool / ever ran across.
1 don't want 10 be hung right here
alongside Of the road where everybody will
see me. Take me a little ways into the
woods ana do the job there
But we want your body to be an ex-
empie'' says Dick Evans. Sort OF doubt
fully.
That made Pete mad. Example be
damned he snarled. I takes a horse. YOU
boys catches me and strings me up. So far
ali right. But don't want my body used
as the tag end of a Sunday school lesson.
Besides, what kind of a thing would that
be TO show strangers thinking to invest
their money in the growing town of Dia-
mond Center? You fellows amt got any
patriotism. Example, Example be hangedv
says Pete scornfully.
There seemed TO be a lot of sense in
what Pete said, so we pushed on about a
hundred yards into the woods II was
pretty dim outside by this time, and in
among the trees II was really dark. but
Pete was riding in the middle of the party.
and It didn't look as If there was any way
in which he could escape. Pretty soon we
reached tree with big boughs hanging
low down, just the tree for what we want
ed.
Il guess this win do all right saws
Dick, who was riding anead
I'VE stopped and one OF the boys threw
the end of the rope over the bough of the
tree, white l fixed the moose about Pete's
neck. Pete had been riding with his head
down as If he was thinking pretty hard
and moi paying much attention 10 what
was going on. but when he fell the rope
about his neck he looked up sorrowful and
disguised rather than angry.
guess that this is the first time any
~ HOY Aar fuIy
uvity Of this kind says he, sort of sar-
castle ike.
I'VE allowed It was
Well, it is a good thing you have me,
resident of Diamond Center to try il on
FIRST for you would make the camp a
laughing stock If YOU acted this way with
q stranger | wish I had time to give you
a rehearsal says Pete. kind Of regret
fully, but it's growing TOO dark Why, I
actually believe you fellows would jerk
man over the pearly gates without Civ
ing him chance TO say few last words
and speak little prayer
We all was silent at this. for we had
fpT.r0FfeW all t1,-