Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-12

Of 1t. But that's neither here moi
there. / will answer for all 1'havs
done to the commander OF the Dor
chester post, and If you can make him
hear your voice at this distance, yor
have a better pipe than my rope ha:
touched yet-that's all. So, to youl
prayers, while take sup Of this wa
ter. Here, boy, hold the bride"
The wretch descended, and the boy
refined up the steed, while Gaskens
strobe onward to the spring. The
tim, and was about to pass the looI
over his head, but he resisted by ev'
cry effort in his power.
Great God!-but this Is not ir
earnest? Hear me, Amos Gaskens-
hear me, man. Monster! are you moi
ashamed to sport in this way with The
feelings of my poor wife and child ?"
Gaskens looked around contemptu-
ously, but still strobe onward, as he
replied do your duty, corporal, OF
blast me but 1 run you up, though
have to do 1t myself. You shall know
Wat Griffin, whether I am not good
enough for your id log-cabin now
or not. Two minutes, corporal-only
two minutes, and a short cord-re-
member-two minutes, l say-no
more"
With the assistance of two Of the
Tory squad, Griffin was thrown upon
his back, and lay struggling upon the
ground, while the rope was adjusted
to his neck.
my wife! my child!-let- them
come to me, Amos Gaskens-let them
see me, Gaskens-man or devil! Will
you not suffer them to come to me?-
let me see and speak to them, l pray
you!"
"They will see you better when you
are lifted up! Be quick-say your
prayers, man, and lose no time. One
minute Is almost gone already. Make
the most of the other"
The ruffian spoke with the coolest
indifference, while mixing gourd OF
spirits and water .at the spring: This
done, he ascended the hill, bearing the
liuuor in his hand. and bade the exc
cution proceed. They hauled the VIC
tim by the rope up the little rising,
and towards the tree, almost strang-
ling him before he reached the spot.
In the meantime the air was rent with
the shrieks of his wife and daughter
in the rear, who were pressed back
with the other prisoners, the guard
keeping them back from any approach
to the doomed man. then about to be
from them forever. He
cried to them by name, in thick,
choking voice, for the rope was now
drawn, by the party hauling him
along, with a suffocating tightness.
"Ellen!-Ellen, my wife! on, Ell
God remember you for this! Oh, FL
len! God help mel Have you no
mercy. monster-none?" He scream
ed to his murderer, in agony-and in
vain!
Father, dear father!" cried the girl.
The mother had simply stretched
forth her hands as she beheld the
threatened movement, and, overpow-
cred by her emotions, had fallen
senseless in the effort to speak. The
daughter strove to rush forward, but
the strong-armed sentinel rudely
thrust her back with a heavy hand.
and pressed her down with the rest OF
the prisoners who had been made to
file into the grove of tallow bushes,
which the 'prescience of Singleton had
assigned them.
Gasping, but struggling to the last,
the victim had been already drawn up
by his executioner within few feet OF
the broad limb stretching out over the
spring, which was to serve the pur-
pose Of a gallows; and the brutal lead
er of the party, standing upon the lit
tie eminence-the liquor in hand,
which he was stirring, yet untasted-
had already declared the time to be
elapsed which he allowed to the pris-
oner for the purposes Of prayer, when,
distinctly and clear, the voice of Sin
gleton was heard-above the shrieks
of the daughter-above the hoarse
cries Of the prisoner in parting to his
all the hustle of the
The single word, as CIV
en- to the boy Frampton, was uttered;
and, in the next instant, came the
sharp, thrilling crack of the rife, ia
tally aimed, and striking the legiti-
mate victim. The body of Gaskens,
between whose eyes the bullet had
passed - the word unspoken - the
draught in his hand untasted-tum-
bled forward, PROSTATE, immovable,
upon the form of his reprieved victim,
struggling, but half stran-
gled-the corporal had just dragged
beneath the fatal tree.