Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-07-20

M ~ the great open
80. fireplace.
The first of these lectures was on
temperance, practical subject, and
suited to the locality, for although
liquor is made and too much is con-
sumed in the rIountains of Kentucky,
there is no elace of which L know
where there il q more strenuous and
wholesome ta nperance sentiment. So
my lecture vas we'll received in the
schoolhouse O. Richland Creek, and
I was invited to deliver it again on
Horse Lick.
Horse Lick was eighteen miles dis
tant, and the road was rough and
steep, but [ took it on Friday after
room, having dismissed school early
for the purpose. A mountain preacher
met me by appointment on the way,
and rode the remainder of the dis
tance with me. We were well mount
ed on good, sturdy horses, and tho
ride was pleasant, save as it brought
carer the strange audience which L
had rashly promised to address with
all too meagre preparation. 1t began
to grow upon me that although L
might without presumption give in
formal talks to the people about my
own schoolhouse, talks hastily pre-
pared and necessarily superficial but
not wholly without value for their or
iginal purpose, it was quite another
thing to go to a strange locality and
attempt formal lecture with the same
material.
However, on one point I felt toler-
ably strong-the part of my lecture
that dealt with intemperance and
crime. In my own schoolhouse I had
used as the lawful example" the
well-known case of the then regnant
desperate of the adjacent county, Pal
Seagraves. Every one in our county
knew who Pal Seagraves was, although
he preferred to do the most of his
mischief in the nearest bluegrass
county, Madison, and when pursued,
to take refuge in the mountains of
Jackson.
Jackson itself knew all too much of
what he could do, but much as he was
hated there, he was feared more, aud
few ventured to turn him from their
door when he came up and asked a
nights lodging, and perhaps u place
in which to hide. SO with the whole
county of Jackson for hiding place,
and more than half its homes open to
him. he rode in and out at will.
Pal Seagraves consumed more un-
colored corn whisky and killed more
men than any other man in that part
of kentucky. L never knew just how
many men he had killed, but the total
was not small. Murder was matter
of freak with him; sometimes he had
killed a man for no other apparent
purpose than to terrily a neighbor-
hood and make his name more potent.
Sometimes, so ran the explanation,
che was ies' drunk and didn't Ileer. ."
He was an excellent warning for use
in temperance lecture in the county
where he was known by reputation
only. He might not serve 50 we'll in
the county where he made his head
quarters. But that county was Jack
son, and Horse Lick, to which L was
going, was there, in 'the free State of
Jackson" )" as it is called
L eagerly askedmy companion about
Pal Seagraves, for his possible pres
ence at my lecture would necessitate
radical changes in it, and l had no
time to make them. Much to my re-
lief, was informed that he was gone
gone, they hoped, for good. Being
hotly pursued by the sheriff for II
crime in Madison County, he was said
to have ridden away into distant part
of the State.
Immensely relieved, l gave myself
anew to thought upon that part OF my
lecture, and material for it accumu
lated, as the road was eloquent with
tales Of Seagraves.
Right here" said my companion,
opal Seagrayes killed man" We
We're watering our horses in ford.
Fright where?" | asked.
"Right here. They were watering
their horses together. They had had
fuss, and expected to shoot at sight,
and they met on yon hill, and the
other fellow got the drop on Pal. But
Pal begged him not to shoot. He told
him they were good friends. He
swore that he would stand by the
other fellow if the other fellow
wouldn't kill him, and he, feeling
good to have humbled Pal and to have
made him his defender, shook hands
with him. They rode down here and
watered their horses together, and
| while the other fellow WAS looking
| down at his horse, drinking, Pal shot
| him.
Later my friend pointed out double
log house, with barn across the mar
row road