The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-04

HIzt1 +. . 49, ~ hAAe tyAeAS9 AA
N the great open
~ fireplace
The first OF these lectures was on
temperance, a practical subject, aud
suited 10 the locality, for although
liquor is made aud too much is con
sumed in the mountains Of Kentucky,
there is no place OF which know
where there is a more strenuous and
wholesome temperance sentiment. So
ny lecture was well received in the
schoolhouse on Richland Greek, and
i vas invited to deliver il again on
Horse Lick.
Horse Lick was eighteen miles dis
tant, aud the road was rough aud
steep, but took il on a Friday alter
noon, 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 we're well mount
cd on good, sturdy horses. and the
ride was pleasant. save as il brought
u sarer the strange audience which i
had rashly promised 70 address with
all too meagre preparation. It began
to grow upon me that although /
might without presumption give in
formal talks 70 the people about my
own scho0lhouse, talks hastily pre-
pared and necessarily superficial, but
not wholly without value for their or
iginal purpose. il was quite another
thing to go 70 a strange locality and
attempt q formal lecture with the same
material.
However, on one point felt toler-
ably strong-the part Of my lecture
that dealt with intemperanco aud
crime. In my own schoolhouse / had
used a. the lawful example" the
well-known case Of the then regnant
desperate Of the adjacent county, Pal
Soagraves. Every one In our county
knew who PalSeagraves was, although
be preferred 10 do the most Of his
mischief in the nearest bluegrass
county, Madison, and when pursued.
70 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, be was feared more, and
few vontured 70 turn him from their
door when be came up and asked q
nights lodging, and perhaps place
in which to hide. 50 with the whole
county Of Jackson for q hidiug.place,
aud more than half is homes open 70
him. be rode In and out at will
Pal Seagraves consumed more un-
oolored corn whisky and killed more
men than any other man ia that part
Of Kentucky. never knew just how
many men he had killed. but the total
was not small. Murder was a matter
of freak with him, sometimes he had
killed q man for no other apparent
purpose than 70 terrify a neighbor-
hood and make bis name more potent
Sometimes, 90 ran the explanation,
''he was jes' drunk and didn't keer. +"
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, 70 which was
going. was there, in ''the free State Of
Jackson. as il in called.
/ eagerly asked my companion about
Pal Soaqraves. for bis possible pres
ence AZ my lecture would necessitats
radical changes in Il, aud ] had no
time 10 make them. Much 70 my re-
lief. was informed that he vas gone
gone. they hoped, for good. Being
hotly pursued BY the sheriff for a
crime 10 Madison County, be was said
20 have ridden away into a distant part
ol the State.
Immensely relieved. I gave myself
anew b thought upon that part Of my
lecture. aud material for ii accumu-
lated. 81 the road was eloquent with
tales Of Seagraves.
Fright here. said ny companion.
s'Pal Seagraves killed q man. We
we're watering our horses in a ford.
Right vheregn I asked.
fright here. They we're watering
their horses together. They had had
q fuss. and expected 10 shoot at sight,
and they met on yon hill, and the
other fellow got the drop on Pal. Bat
Pal begged him not 70 shoot he told
him they were good friends He
suore that be would stand by the
other fellow II the other fellow
wouldn't kill him. and be. feeling
good 10 have humbled Pal aud Is have
made him bis defender, shook hands
viih him. They rode down here and
waierod their horses together. and
while the other fellow was looking
down Ct bis horse, drinking. Pal shot
him.
Later my friend poiniedont e doahle
log house. with barn across the mar
saaa e.a