The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-12-05
AN EPISODE OF TIE
RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE
fo-IgInal.l

During the cIgu war the people Of the
border states were divided in their
~sympathies.
One morning in the summer Of 1868,
when General Burnside was marching
OH Knoxville move that eventually
freed east Tennessee from Confederate
rule-a woman living on a farm be-
tween Knoxville and the Cumberland
mountains went to her door with a
broom in Ler hand and. looking up tie
road. saw two men coming On a quick
run. AS soon as they reached a point
opposite the house they turned in. and
the woman recognized In one Of them
her son. Waiter Grain. eighteen years
old.
Mother" cried the boy. we must
hide. The fighting parsons band are
after us. They want me for shooting
one Of their men last night They'll
shoot ne sure"
Mrs. Grain hurried the boys into the
house and thrust them into a closet
Size had scarcely done 50 before a man
With a long beard came riding down tie
road. followed by a dozen others. None
of them wore a uniform. and most of
them were dressed IN the .'butternut'
clothes common among the poor viii es
Of the country. They had organized
ostpnsibly 10 assist the Confederate
cause. but really for terrorizing mon
lists. among whom the Grain family
were conspicuous. \ raBid. fire eating
clergyman named Sayles. called the
lighting parsou." was captain of the
band. When they reached the house
they called:
is this Grains placer
Yes" replied Mrs. Grain.
Sayles d~lsmounted and with several
of lis men proceeded. without asking
any questions. TO search the house. lie
argued that the boy would naturally 20
to his home for a hiding place and re-
solved to spare no pains to find him
1t was not long before the two boys
were dragged from the closet and tax
en- out into the yard in front of the
house.
(which is Walter Crane?" asked the
captain.
Neither replied. They had been
bAAOO4AlAAFN dlu bOFthAA Il %AN
ly they had been ont cunning for seces-
sionists. Grain Lad shot one of their
men and fled. the two boys separating.
During the pursuit Il country woman
whom the fugitive passed told he out
laws that he was Walter Grain. The
two boys came together at Il point OF
rendezvous and made for the Grain
plantation.
Sayles was one Of those extreme ma
lures who are half devil and half saint.
He was impatient to learn which OF
the boys had killed one of his band
that he might have him shot at once
and be off. for be had got wind OF the
advance of General Burnside's army
across the mountains and knew that
should he fall into the hands of the
Yankees there were plainly of Uni1nists
about TO inform upon his misdeeds and
see that he was punished.
Are you Mrs. Crdin?' he asked OF
the woman.
"Yes. and you're John Sayles. I
knew you in Kentucky when you were
a boy. and a worse boy | never knew.
They said wien sou got religion and
went to preachin' you had turned an
gel. but | didn't believe it,"
Something in this sreech excited the
evil in the fighting plrson's' niture.
(which of these boys is your SOM"
be asked.
Neither"
This was false, but what mother
would haveansw r.ridiffcr ntly? Sa. les
turned away with an angry exclama-
ton. and taking two gum from his
men placed one in the hands Of each of
the boys. Then he ordered his men to
place Mrs. Grain against the side OF
her house with her face 10 the wall.
Walter Grain OWNED that the out
law was preparing to make a test as
TO which of the boys was the son by
ordering them to fire on the mother.
He whispered something to his friend.
who nodded assent. Both boys were
pale as n night mist.
Now. raise yeur guns" said Sayles.
"and when | order you to fire shoot
this woman The one who fails dies"
At the rloment the notes OF 4 hugle
rang out clear and near. and horses
hoofs v-e,e heard beating the road.
Evasy eye was turned TO see. and
bSrsanep were discovered coming mt a
canter At the same moment a cheer
was heard IN the opposite direction