The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-15
BITTEE---A REDWOOD TRAGEDY
Romance Girl and the Mistake Which Was Made
by Band Of Regulators the Pacific Coast

them out one by ore and brought the
night
II was nearing midnight when Ford
and Bittee came hurrying back TO camp
through the fog and the DARK. along
the logging trail from Fingan's. An
hour earlier they had stood before a
justice Of the peace al the settlement
and had been made man and wife As
they came 70 the last rise before de-
seending into the camp. Ford stopped
suddenly-
WHAT whispered Bittee. drawing
near to HIN.
Trey listened. At FIRST there was only
the stiffness OF the forest; then the soft
tread OF many feet on the dusty path
a minute later through the fog came
the half distinguishable figures OF a
band o. men.
Perceiving the two figures in the path
before them. the men stopped. who
are you2" called one
Ford did not answer. The figures
were moving in among the trees He
saw that they were surrounding him
If you amt him. the chopper. as
married the Chinawomsn. say So said
the voice. and move On"
I'm Ford. and I'm chopper, II that's
who you're looking for he answered
them. but I've married no Chinawoman;
the man Who says so lies. This woman
here. ny wife IS as white as any OF
YOU As ne said the word wife he
drew Bittee closer TO him.
ITS a lie'" shouted the men Up
with EN- both. String EN- up
The words were evidently a signal
for even as they were uttered Ford
heard the whizz OF RATA. AS he sprang
forward. the hide rope settled down
about his neck and his arms were pin
toned by a dozen hands.
The struggle. though brief. was dss--
perate. The men had in Ford no child
10 deal with The choppers great
strength was redoubled by anger and
by the knowledge that he was fighting
not only for his Own life. but for that
OF another who had become part OF
H. Twice the cords that bound dis
arms snapped. like threads. but be gain
cd nothing for the odds were a hundred
TO one against him. and his power only
exhausted Itself without bringing free
dom. Soon he stood bound and gagged
and helpless.
As the men had torn her away frcm
him. Bittee had called 10 him once only
for help. Now he could see her lying
near him. bound and gagged like him
self He hoped she had tainted Then
two OF the men picked her up and car
ried her into the forest Ford they drag
ged at the end OF the RATA behind her.
There was no doubt now as 70 the
men = intent; neither had Ford any hope
OF rescue Through the black. foggy
darkness they stumbled on into thu
depth OF the redwoods. The tread OF
many men as they tTamped over drie.i
leaves and pushed through tie thick
underground was the only sound. 4
single light guided them. At a clearing
the light halted. Ford could see dimly
through the darkness the outline of the
trunks Of two trees near together. He
shuddered-
Instantly a RATA was thrown over
limb OF each tree: the ends OF the two
ropes dangled 10 the ground within
few feet OF each other Under one OF
the ropes the insensibIe form OF Bittee
vas laid Ford vas led to the other. He
could offer the woman nothing now.
could give her no help. As the rope was
I being tied about his neck. once more.
with mighty Will he tried to free him
self It was useless. The rope had
/ frightened. For a moment All was still.
You have time 10 pray" said the
leader.
+ Through the redvoods. over fallen
trees. through tangled brush following
7 the lynchers' path and only few short
minutes in their wake. sped the figure OF
/ Loong. the Chlnaman.
Crazed with fear thai he might be too
/ late. that the choppers might not believe
/ him even though he should reach them
/ before they had committed their awful
deed. the Monaghan rushed franJieaIly
I on. His one thought was 20 save Bittee.
/ with whose loss died all his hope Of
/ earthly gain. They might believe him:
/ he took The chances
The men about the trees had given
/ Ford a few short minutes fer prayer. and
I he had taken the time Bittee. bound.
and with a rope about her neck reach
J ing up into the tree above her. lay still
. upon the ground The mans face turned
/ upward in silent prayer Then. facing
( the men about him. ne shouted ia =
voice hOarse with passion:
/ "COwards, cowards,'
AS though the words had awakened
an echo from above the white mizts.
4 there came out OF the heart OF the red
. woods long, shrill shrek. and then an
other. and another. The hands upon the
death ropes loosened their hoId. ne
masked faces OF the men turned from
their victims 10 the forest; and through
4 the brush into the clearing rushed the
Chinaman. wild-eyed and frantic.
'Whuf for make-a kill2" he screamed.
| waving his arms before him ''Whuf
for make-a kill? No. belong Chinawo-
man girl; belong white woman. nake-a
look. seer In his hands he waved a
paper "Cath-e paper. mske-a say no
belong Chinawoman girl" be went on
wi!dl--
From Lcong's hands the leader q
I the rupfz ha = I'D 2