The Washington herald., 1907-05-26

there was material for a great deal OF
heroic Greek poetry in the mining camps
Of the Sierras, but said that he would
content himself with making a few brief
sketches in prose Of a period bridged
over by other historians with a simple
chronicle Of results and a general COM
plement Of survivors. A chronicle Of the
mountain feuds usually tells OF the net
results. including the list Of victims,
without throwing much light upon the
character Of the clansmen. Novelists have
added falsity to fiction by writing meio-
drama rather than Greek poetry about
the mountalneer; yet IN his true charac-
ter the feudist is not unpicturesque.
Bad Tom" Smith was the only man
ever legally executed in Breathitt Coun-
y. KY. where it is estimated that go
men have met violent death since the
civil war. He bore little malice or hatred
in his heart. yet to kill a man to accom-
modate a friend was no infraction Of his
code and shooting from ambush never
violated his conscience Upon one oc-
casion a powerful clan leader decided
that a prominent physician incumbered
the earth. and Bad Tom undertook his
elimination with a careful attention to
detail that left little chance Of miscaT-
r!age Of his plans. With trusted friend
Smith visited the physicians home ana
sought his professional services.
A careful examination Of the pretended
sufferer failed 70 reveal the slightest cause
D T. -v-rr ka Insisted nj
tested Itself IN unbearable pains about
midnight. The physicians interest was
aroused. He readily agreed % adopt the
suggestion Of Smith that he should re-
main overnight. so that a diagnosis might
he made At midnight the doctor head
| piteous groans coming from the rooms
occupied by the patient and his companion.
/ SpringinR from his bed, ne rushed into the
room Smith. who was sitting up. with a
/ hip cannon In his hand. calmly shot
/ the physician dead. His companion tes-
tihed that the shot was fired in resisting
an attempt upon the part Of the physl-
clan 20 commit robbery. The true story
/ did not become public until Smith un-
raveIed a great many mountain mysteries
/ by way Of passing the time between the
date q his conviction, for subsequent
murder, and the date Of his execution.
} Having contracted 10 assassinate man
who had been rendered somewhat gUnshy
/ by having received a warning, Bad Tom
! hir upon the happy plan Of getting his
I intended victim o attend a funeral az an
exposed cemetery. He provided the fu-
/ neral by the simple eXped.ent Of killing
/ the mans brother Upon the morning Of
{ the obsequies he stationed himself upon
a wooded hill overlooking the cemetery
and patentlv awaited the conclusion OF
/ the ceremonies. as he was a church mem
. ber and disliked 10 disturb public worship.
As the rnorlrners We're turning to leave
. the grave. the report of a rife was heard.
I and the man who was wanted fell 70
the ground with a bullet in his breast
In the confusion attending the tragedy
Smith slipped quietly away through the
bushes. leaving no clew 20 his identity,
When Bad Tom" was finally convicted
there was much speculation as 10 whether
he would make a confession duplicating
the men who had used him a s a tool. but
those who had hoped for sensational de-
re}opments were disappointed. He ac-
cepted his sentence like a philosopher
drvly observing that he saw no reason
for drawing his lifelong friends into the
cont~oversv. The hanging Of "Bad Tom
was looked forward 10 as a great event
in the mountains Friends and enemies
A.. alike anticipated the event with keen
Measure because Of its spectacular fea-
lures When the Eallows was being erected
itinerant vendors Of gingerbread. cider
fried chicken. and hsh sandwiches were
b husv building booths for the entertain
ment Of the crowd. and the one topic OF
conversation was how Smith would 'takt
his medicine.
! Killings in the feud country arise from
trivial causes. Several young men were
seinine a creek. and the man dividing
the fish was a humorist. He put all o.
the small fish in one mans pile, and th'
crowd enjoyed a laugh az the expense o
the victim Of the joke. Apologies and
new division were made, but the mar
who had been Inundated brooded owe
the wrong done him. A few DAYS late
the humorist was found face downward
J upon a mountain road with a bullet holt
S between his shoulders. Ten DAYS late
the man who could not see the humo
70 of the practical joke was found in
e somewhat similar position with some
q what similar hole between his shoulders
- In the course Of time the origin Of III
e feud was forgotten, but for years III
r. 1.-TWO families continued TO exchange shot
, when occasion offered and the aggre
gate results of the practical Joke grew &
4 enormous and ghastly proportions.
! A mountaineer who Is marked some
s times goes into his house and there re
mains for an indefinite period. or unit
To- n friend succeeds IN ambushing the maj
T who is looking for him. From the tim
Z that Dr. B. u. Cox was assassinated un
2 I'll the Kentucky militia occupied Jackso
o. 10 restore order and protect the cour
I during an investigation by a special gran
q jury. Police Judge Cardwel brother
o in-law Of Dr. Cox. remained in his stor
dav and night. holding court there whe
o sessions were necessary. and never show
i, ing his face at the window The stor
4 was opposite that Of the Hargis brother,
leaders Of the opposing clan.
A feudist who wished TO get a shot a
a man had immured himself In his HON
took COW bell under his arm and slippe
, into the mans garden one dark might
He then gently swayed the bell unit
he heard the intended victims wifi
. waken him and ask him to go and driv
the COW out of the truck patch. As IN
man opened the door the COW aros
n and fired both barrels Of a shotgun. TIL
s ruse was effective, and the story is tol
n in the mountains for its fine flavor G
@ humor. the tragedy being entirely sui
b. ordinated to the comedy in the mountai
mind.
Two mountaineers fought with fists
; a cornfeld The resGlts- flacked f1nallt
c and the men repaired to their homes f,
Il their shooting irons. The man VIII
; owned a rife knew that his antagoni!
q had a shotgun. Desiring TO get a lou
5 range shot he hurried down the road q
e ward the other mans home but befol