The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-02-15
THE GRIM REAPER.
Claims Capt. Joe Slack as His
Victim.

AZ - SioCh idSU MOIudy mOTuluS
the Grim Reaper claimed Capt. j. j.
Slack as his victim. Mr.. Slack's
health had been on the decline for
several months. He had sought the
aid of various physicians and had been
frankly told by them that medicine
and surgical skill could not reach his
trouble, some sort of valvular de-
rangemeDt of the heart. He had
frequently stated that he realized
that his lease on life was a very short
one. Only on the Friday before his
death, the last time he came down
town, he saw the undertaken and
sought to make arrangement for his
burial and gave specified instruction
as to the kind Of coffin he wished his
body placed in.
Captain Slack was born In the state
of Georgia and had he lived until
August, next, would have been sixty
five years old. When only two years Of
age, his parents moved to Mississippi
and he grew to manhood in YalObC-
sha county. When the war between
the States came on, he was but a
mere boy, but he at once Shouldered
his gun and enlisted with one of the
first companies that went out from
Co~ffeeville. In due time, he sought a
transfer to the cavalry and had the
honor of being one of the intrepid,
who, under Forrest, threw diSmay in
to the camps of the enemy. He
made a good soldier and no one found
a greater pleasure than he in revert
ing to those stirring days and in late
years, he has frequently been heard 10
refer to the business of Forest, Jack
son and other heroes on the "other
shore"
After the war he hung out his
shingle to practice law at Garner
station, now .5cObey. In 1879 he
moved to Grenada where he has since
reSiUcL. Ie has succeeded here as a
member Of the bar. lie has been con
nected with some of the most impor-
tant litigation that has ever been
tried in this court. His addresses to
jurieS were rich with witticiSmS and
humor and he rarely failed to nave a
house crowded with listeners.
In 1883 he was elected district at
torney, defeating Ira D. Oglesby, one
of the best prosecutors The state ever
had. Mr.. Slack bore the record of
making a good prosecuting officer.
He was a unique character and
many of his expressions will no doubt
be handed down for generations. He
had far more than a local fame as a
Reunion" or dedication" OratO r
and was frequently called upon by the
ladies in various parts Of the state to
make addresses on such occasions.
He was pesSimistic as to latter day
policies of such men as Bryan and
Roosevelt. He thought they would ere
long engulf the country in trouble
that would perhaps take the life of
the Republic.
He Vas quaint in bis likes and his
dislikeS and frequently SO as to his
1t was a part OF his
creed to be just to friend and foe; to
be honest for the sake of honesty.
Now that his mission in this world
is ended, let the golden links in his
the threads of beauty in
his life be gathered up and linked
with the good in those that survive
him so that they may continue TO
echo all that was best, true and noble
u the voice that is now hushed in death
The funeral services were conducted
the family residence on Tuesday
morning by Rev. N. W. p. Bacon of
,he Baptist church assisted by Rev
!. @. C%arotherS Of the Presbyterian
after which the remains were
,arried to Odd Fellows Cemetery
where they were deposited to await
he resurrection morn. The Sentinel
bins the community in Sympathizing
With the bereft ones.