Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-23

don't propose to let you murder me. nor
steal my negroes. Now go, for have the
drop on you, and shall use IT,
Morrill, hesltated a moment, made no re-
ply, but wheeled his mustang. and, fol-
lowed by the gang. rode off at a swift trot
When about 800 yards from our position,
they wheeled. again facing us. Instantly
one of Morrill's men raised his rifle and
fired The report was answered by a
shrek from the left of our line followed
by that most mournful of all human
sounds, the wall of the negro for their
dead. The lamentation Of the irish people
has no comparison in intense patho5 to this
hopeless wall of the southern slave. The
sound rose and fell like the signing of the
wind. Katie killed. The dismal cry
ran through the lines. Poor girl. She had
given way to her curiosity and risen to
watch the Morrill, gang they rode away,
and was shot at sight. The sharp crack
of Obeds rife mingled with the cries of the
terror-stricken negroes. He fired the in
slant Katie fell.
His aim was upon Morrill,. who reeled In
his saddle He was evidently hit hard, but
instantly rallied.
1 had been lying fiat on my face. await
ing Wesner's orders. but at the first shot
from the Morrill, gang l fired with an un-
steady aim and missed my man. Morrill,
still sitting erect in his saddle. turned and
followed by his men. rode back beyond the
range Of our fire. Our rifles were of con-
siderably longer range than theirs. and
this contributed to our success IN n marked
degree. Grouped together. they consulted
a few moments, separated, and, at a long
distance from each other came toward US
like the wind. Morrill, leading and every
man yelling to distract our attention
When within four five hundred yards
each man threw himself upon the opposite
side of his horse, and. describing a circle
about us, they commenced a rapid fire.
shooting from under their horses necks.
The air was full of whistling lead. Obed
WaSnnr iI.al
a slight wound In the head which confused
him for moment. The negroes. except
Obed and Mason. lay perfectly still.
Shoot Morrilrs horse" cried Wesner
Don't let them narrow in upon us. You
may miss the men,
The advice was good. A ball from my
Colts rifle pierced his breast and the beast
fell dead upon the prairie, pinning Morrill,
beneath him. Upon Morrills fall the gang
rode toward us and opened with their pis-
tolls. but the range was too long for execu-
ton. and We had already taken a secure
place in the wallow protected from their
shots. Wesner now opened on them with
his repeater and Katie's murderer fell by
shot from Obed's rife.
The survivors perceived that 1t was per-
feet madness to continue the fight and as
another riderless horse rushed over the
prairie the remaining horsemen fled The
horse ridden by katfes murderer ran a few
rods and then returned to his dead masters
side.
buiiilS LILO 10" minutes tnat this anair
lasted We were firing fast as we could
take aim. but as their horses were urged
to wild run. the time short and our aim
necessarily hurried and faulty, we did not
accomplish all We tried for.
But Morrill, and three OF his followers
fatally wounded, lay upon the ground and
awaited our coming. and the two who es-
capped l do not think were scathless We
sent few useless shots after them as thew
rode toward the line where the blue sky
cut the distant prairie.
Katie was dead She was a bright smart
girl. perhaps eighteen or twenty years Of
age. and could read and write Her whole
being was imbued with the idea of freedom
When sick In the swamp she had no fear
OF death Then she would be free
II l can only get north" she had once
SAID to me, Il can earn enough In one wear
to buy mother-she is aiing and all massa
asks for her is 800"
With saddened hearts the colored peopIe
mad gathered around the body of the dead
girl: Their tears were falling fast.
we must not stop here" 1 said. LET
us go and see how Morrill, fares"
Before moving from our position we load
ed the empty chambers Of our rifles. and
then slowly approached the spot where the
dead and wounded lay.
The man who shot Katie lay nearest
US. Obed's bullet had gone through his
neck. He was dead. Morrill, was the next
He and the horse were dead, Morrill, being
crushed beneath. The last man who fell
was alive when We came to him. but died
in few minutes.
He gave Us the nanss Of The Qthelp and