The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-09
FEB WHITE.
He Tells of His Adventures With a
Rig Roaring Man.


Rig Roaring Man.
Yes, I was all through the wah," re-
piled the old possum hunter of Tennes-
see in reply to the query land 1 was
right thar the day Uncle Bob Lee had
to give up fur good. I wasn't sorry
when the wah was over. No use hang
in on when yo' hain't got no show, yo'
know
I reckon most of 'em felt as I did,
but thar was one pertickler critter who
came home spilin' fur mo- bloodshed.
His name was Bill Haynes, and
they had got him into the army
bout three months befo' the end.
When that critter heard that Lee was to
surrender, he got upn ripped and roar
ed and shed tears and wanted to fight
the hull Yankee army single handed.
He wanted to die fightin', and he gin
out that if he had to surrender it would
break his heart, and he couldn't live
two days afterward He jest howle5
around til he made everybody think he
was the awfulIest fighter in the huh
south. He ran away befo' they could
parole him, and when 1 got hum he
was buildin' a cabin bout three miles
above we're.
WAL, yo' orter heard that criter go
on. He talked war and blood and fight
till everybody got skeert O. him. He
used to cum down to my cabin an sot
on the doorsteps and gnash his teeth
and work his ears and cry like child
kase they didn't let him go in and use
up Grants army. Bimeby he'd say to
me. SEE he:
:. 'zeb White. will yo' do me a favor.
a powerful favor?
g Reckon / wili'
" Then get about fifteen of the fight
inest men in these we're parts an pitch
inter me! I'm a dyin' fur a row and a
rumpus. I've got to be KILN sumbody
or commit suicide That wah is jest
woke me up, an I've got to hev blood
whether or mol"
WAL" said Zeb after kneeling to
4 look into a hollow log in search of a
rabbit, the Yankees at Knoxville heard
/ bout Bill Haynes and his awful words,
and the provost marshal sent him word
70 cum down thar and surrender. When
Bill got the word, he clumb up on the
roof of his cabin with an ole rag in his
hand fur a flag, and he waved and he
shouted and he ripped and he hollered.
He said red die, but never surrender.
He told EN- he'd stain these we're noun
tains with gore if they sent men up
arter him, and he pranced around till
the Full rof of the cabin fell in vita
him. In the co'se of three or fo' days
they sent ten soldiers up to take him
Bill got up among the rocks on the
/ mountain side and SEE to them, SEE he.
How MANY men hev Xo' got in the
army today thar?'
- Ten seq the Teller in command
VOC
No
Then go back. Go right back and
tell the Teller that sent yo' that il ne
wants Bill Haynes to surrender he'll
heV to send a thousand soldiers and
/ SIX cannons UP we're and fout him fur
4 nun week Only ten men and no can
non, Why. I'll send my ole woman
down thar to pull his nose fur insultin'
me:'
Say, now, but they didn'tn' replied
Zeb. Il don't say they got skeert of
MIN, though he talked in a way to
make ones blood run cold. but reckon
they thought some of 'em might be
killed, and so they went back fur or
GERS. Bill Haynes, he was tickIed to
Death He'd won a great victory, and
ne WhooDed and yelled and roared till
ne made the mountain shake. Thar
was store uD at the crossroads. and
OF cose lot of US used to meet up
thar. One day thar was about Is of us
hanSln round when Bill Haynes cum
up He was cryin' bekase them yam
KEGS wouldn't send IN men and can
mons and fout him. Bmeby he got
over cryln' and paved up the airth and
bellered and walked around and the
null Is Of us was rayther slSeert of him.
was iookin down the road when ]
seen lone Yankee soldier cun1in' from
knoxville, l squinted at him fur awhile
and then seq to Jim Botsford. SEE I:
Reckon he's lost Jfm2'
Dunno. Wish he hadn't cum this
50 Fur why?'
Bekase Bill HAYNES will chaw him
up es, sab; he'll eat that Yank's ears
ana then drive him into the airth'
1 was afeared to go and meet the
man and turn him back, and so he cum
9oggln long with his head down When
ne draWed nigh. we seed he was a fell
Ter not much more'n boy, and we was
peglnnln' to pity him in our hearts
when be walks right up to the crowd
ana softly seq, seq he:
Is thar a rip roarin critter around
yere named Bill HAYNES?
.. . 1nar bsN yelled Bill as he jumps up.
:. Ild he surrender at Appomattax2'
tie never did.
And he wants us to send up a thou
terrible critter2'
" Mebbe yo' might be the man yo.self.
N eooe [ am. and what of it?'
men that leetle slim legged chap IN
olue VINO had voice like a gal reached
eut ana took Bill by the ear and started
L Lar Hnoxvllfe. In co'se we looked to see
MN devoured on the spot but he WASH t.
. mat ar Bill Haynes. he never looked q
hke a calf bein' led to pastur.'
And ne didn't kill anvbodv?'' I asked
Not a kill. That boy led him seventeen