The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-02


enacted in Lexington. ~
The principals were n brown-eyed brown
haired. sweet-faced little woman OF the
hills and Crepps Reckham. whom the
changes OF tumultnous political cam
paign. had advanced from a position OF
lieutenant governor to that OF governor
The scene was room in the Phoenix
hotel and the woman wore the white cap
and apron OF a chsmbermsid.
Kneellng at the feet OF this young scion
of race OF governors. the woman turned
her piteous tear-stained face up into that
OF the handsome man and begged him 10
give her back her husband. The husband.
Jay Draughan. had been sentenced TO the
penitentiary for term OF years for muir
der committed In Bell county.
So eloquent was her pleading that the
promise was given. the only proviso be-
ing that The approaching election should
read Beckhsm's title to the governorship
clear In the eyes of friends and foes
alike.
When the returns showed clearly that
John w. Yerkes. the republican candi-
date. was defeated. pardon was issued
for jay Draughan.
But this was only one OF the many
striking incidents In the history of Mar
tha Smith, the heroine of feuds. the belle
of four counties and afterwards the wife
Of one OF the most desperate men In the
mountain country. Tor whom she more
than once risked her life in order TO de-
liver TO him food and money when he was
in hiding fugitive from justice.
When the husband returned from the
penitentiary the four-year-oid baby hoy
came between him and his wife. He start
ed for the west to begin life again The
wife's father refused TO give back the
boy into the hands OF the clustering.
rough often drunken and dangerous faith
er and Mrs Draughan. rather than leave
her child. chose TO remain in Kentucky.
She has settled in Lexington and rs liv-
ing in qniet and retirement In easy reach
OF her boy now staying at her fathers
home on Lost creek in Breathitt county.
IN THE MIDST or FEUDs.
Martha Smith. born in Breathitt coun-
~ on Troublesome creek. from her earl
lest babyhood was reared In the midst of
feuds and feudist and knew no code save
that OF the vengefu mountaineer, get
even and don't wait for law"
She learned TO feel all the bitter hate
and partisanship which feuds engender.
and In her enthusiasm dared things at
which brave men would hesitate. She
was still n baby when her father moved
10 the mouth OF Lost creek, where there
is little settlement Of hundred people.
There she lived close neighbor TO the
Trenches. whose feud with the Eversoles
has made both names famous throughout
the country on account OF the bitterness
OF their deadly warfare. ks
..~t.. Aegff taA
French home she was called in one night
20 AID Mrs. Fuls French in attending to
ahe wounded I'm n general tight which had
taken place that day. Jessie Fields, one
Of Erepch's lieutensnts, has received
bullet I'm his arm. and others OF the band
were hurt. After killing John Campbell,
of the hostile faction. the Trenches had
retreated 10 their block house on Lost
Greek TO await. as they thought, an at
tack from the Eversoles.
THIS block house was remodeled from
nm old store and thick oaken doors had
been hung and locphol,s cut on either
side OF the chimney and I'm the half story
above near the edge OF a sloping shlngle
roof The heavy beach logs of the cabin
were ample protection from bullets Of the
enemy.
Fortified here. closeted with 10 or 20
armed and desperate men. the two brave
women spent the night. Three low burn,
ing lamps cast a dusky light over + the
group within the cabin.
Fearful OF an attack. thinking that the
EyerEole faction was pursuing with SUI
perior force the men bolstered up their
failing courage with moonshine whisky.
only TO be recalled from their drunken
clustering by some false rumor that the
expected hattie was about to begin
Across the lot was a frame building the
home OF one of the Trenches fighters
1.S fnsf ktseG fteFht bat Ihars
the Eversoles would conceal themselves
and hold the cabin fort under the cover
of their rifles. The women knew their
duty and did not fail TO do II.
The brown-eyed slip OF a mountain girl
threw a shawl over her head and placed
her little white hand within the arm of
the stern-faced woman who each day
arose I'm the dread that the night had
taken from her those whom her soul held
dearest
Lamp IN hand they boldly started to-
ward the house. First breaking inJat the
window they finally pushed past the door
Finding no one concealed there they
brought back the joyful news TO the men
in the fort. On this and other occasions
the girl riskcd her life for tho benefit of
her faction.
But her father. the kindly old proprietor
OF a molrltain store. had ambitions for
his daughter. and felt that the education
81 the district schools was not sufficient
for her
She was sent first 10 Jackman. which
was near her home. Her brother, e.. G.
Smith, was superintendent of the county
schools. and looked after her education.
SHE MET JAY DRAUGHAN.
n was st school that she met the man
who was 90 play so important part VA
her life. and for whom she was 10 do and
suffer 20 much.
JAY Draughan was q schoolmat 10 during
she last year Of her attendance at the
Hindman high school and the meeting
which began with n distaste and almost
nn aversion on the part of the girl. ripen-
ed in To an admiration and Afterwards a
love which flung To- the winds consider
zion OF home and self interests for his
sake
Draughan was a blusterer. a dare devil
bully. the staggering Cyrsno OF the little
mountain town where he lived. The reck.
lessness Of the escapades OF this ruder
modern knight won the heart OF the girl
who was born where the crack OF the
r1he most often meant the death Of a
nd