The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-10-25


ing that nothing could stop them No
one had any thought Of conceaiment;
if was all as open as the light Of day,
all done in the broad sunshine. Moth
Ing had been determined as 20 what
was to be done at the Crossroads more
definite than that the place was TO be
wiped out. That was comprehensive
enough; the details were quite certain
TO occur. They were all on foot march
ing in fairly regular ranks. In front
walked Mr.. Watts, the man Harkless
had abhorred in a public spirit and be
friended in private. To-Day ne was a
hero and leader, marching to avenge
his professional oppressor and personal
brother. Cool, unrumed and to out
ward vision unarmed, marching the
miles in his brown fFock coat and gen.
erous linen, he led the way. On one
side OF him were the two Bowlders. on
the other was Lige Willetts, Nj. Watts
preserving peace between the young
men with perfect tact and sang froid.
They kept good order and simili-
tude of quiet for so many except far to
the rear, where old Wilkerson was
bringing up the tail of the procession,
dragging a wretched yellow dog by a
rope fastened around the poor ours
protesting neck, tie knot carefully ar
ranged under his right ear. In spite Of
every command and protest Wilkerscn
had marched the whole way uproari-
ously singing John Browns Body.
The sun was in the west when they
came in sight Of thes Crossroads, and
the cabins on the low slope stood out
angularly against the radiance beyond.
AS they beheld the hated settlement
the heretofore orderly ra@ks showed
disposition to depart from the steady
advance and rush the shanties. Will
let's, the Bowlders, Parker, Ross Scho-
field and dozen others did, in fact.
break away and set sharp pace up
the slope.
Watts tried to call them back
whats the, use your gettin' killed"
he shouted.
'sWhy not?o answered Lige, and, like
the others, was increasing his speed
when old Windy" rose up suddenly
from the roadside ahead of them and
rnotioned them frantically to go back.
They're laid out along the fence wait
in fer ye.'' he warned them 'Git out
the road. Come by the fields. Fer the
Lords sake, spreadY' Then as sudden
II as be had appeared he dropped down
into the weeds again. Lige and those
with him paused, and the whole body
came to halt while the leaders con-
suited. There was sound of metallic
clicking and thin rattle of steel. From
far to the rear came the voice OF old
WiIkerson:
s.Jehn Browns body lies a-moldering in
John Browns body lies a-moldering in
the ground"
a few near him as they stood wait
inc began 20 take up the burden of the
song. singing it in slow time like a
dirge. Then those farther away took
il up. 1t spread. reached the leaders.
They. too, began to sing, taking of
their hats as they joined in, and soon
the whole coneoarse, solemn. earnest.
uncovered, was singing-a thunderous
requiem fer John Harkless.
Tie sun was swinging lower, and
the edges Of the world were embroider-
ed with gold, while that deep volume
OF sound shook the air, the song Of a
stern, savage, just cause-sung perhaps
as some Of the ancestors Of these men
sang with Hampden before the bris-
fling walls of, q hostile city. It had
iron and steel in it The men lying on
their guns in the ambuscade along the
fence heard the dirge rise and grow
to its mighty fuiiness, and they shiver-
ed. One Of them, posted nearest the
advance, had his rife carefully leveled
at Lige Willetts, q fair target in the
road When he heard the singing he
turned to the man next behind him
and laughed harshly, II reckon we'll
see a big jamboree other side Jordan
tonight, huh?'
The huge murmur Of the chorus ex-
panded and gathered in rhythmic
strength and swelled to power and
rolled and thundered across the plain.
John Browns body lies a-moldering in
the ground.
John Browns body lies a-moldering in
the ground.
John Browns body lies a-moldeSing in
the ground.
His soul goes marching on!
Glory. glory. halleluiah!
Glory. glory. halleluiah!
Glory, glory, halleluiah!
His soul goes marching onr'
A gun spat fire from the higher
ground. and Willetts dropped where
he stood. but was up again in second
with a red line across his forehead
where the ball had grazed his temple
The mob spread out like a fan, tbs
men climbing the fence and beginning
tie advance through the fields, thus
closing on the ambuscade from botl
sides. Mr.. Watts, wading through th'
high grass in the field north Of th'