The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-06
By the Stage Coach From
South Carolina to Alabama
ny 9. O. HALE.

ny Q. O. HALE.
Early In September my father came
on to Join US. He arrived in Sumter
vile late at night. We visited his aged
mother and other relatives in Darling
ton and then started on the returL
trip to Montgomery. Our little sister
was now twelve months old. She had.
from her birth, been very delicate. She
contracted membraneous Group when
the stage, aboard which we were trav-
cling was u few miles from La Grange.
The driver urged his team forward at
the top of their speed, and soon drew
up in front OF the village hotel, a two
story building. The little sufferer was
carried to an up-stair room and
physician was hastily summoned. Ny
father and mother, Bess and the physi-
clan were admitted to the room. The
three little brothers stood on the stair
way, anxiousiy awaiting results, though
not fully realizing the gravity of the
situation. An hour or two had passed
when Bess opened the door and. with
tears streaming down her cheeks. an
nounced to us. THE baby is dead" 1t
was hard to understand that the little
idol of our house was gone. All were
overcome with grief My father. reared
amid pioneer surroundings, unaccus-
toned TO showing emotions shed tears.
The next morning my father hired
hack and the family. including a little
casket, in which rested our dead, con-
tinued our journey homeward.
During the months we had been ab-
sent, the railroad had been extended to
Auburn. and IL was at that station that
we took the train for Montgomery.
The little one was funeraiized from
our home. Mr.. Finley. my mothers
faithful pastor, and other friends OF
the family, followed the remains to the
cemetery and laid them beside those of
the little Winston who had gone be-
fore.
Shortly after our return from South
Ca,elina, my older brother re-entered
the Montgomery high school To my
delight my father did not require me
to accompany him. The principle rea-
son for my not doing so was because
my mother had learned how badly I
had been frightened by the drunken
man ut that school. previous to our Wis
1t to Carolina. And her knowledge Of
that incident was gained in this way:
A man named Starke, crazed by whis-
key, Drained his wife and four OF I'VE
children early one morning. The
former, at the time, was preparing
breakfast for the family. The murder
was SO brutal that the citizens OF Sum-
ter\ District were Mortified at the re-
eital OF Its details. No one spoke
word of sympathy for the poor man.
The trial jury quickly condemned him
to death. Public opinion had already
condemned him. Sumterville was the
county site. and the hanging was TO
take place in that town. AT an early
hour on the day set apart for that
event, the citizens from the surround
ing country. began to swarm into town.
From the scaffold the doomed man
made q speech to his fellow beings,
who. from morbid curiosity. had fiocked
to see his wretched death. He en-
treated them to take warning from his
fate--told them how happy his family
had been before the demon rum had
taken possession of HIM, and begged
his hearers to shun 1t as they would
viper.
Little heed did that multitude pay TO
the words Of the doomed man. On the
contrary II was said there we're more
drunken men on the streets of sumter
vile that afternoon than had ever been
seen on any occasion In the history Of
that town.
was with my mother at the home
of q relative who resided on one o.
the principal streets OF the town. When
the crowd began to dispense, many of
them sped their horses in front OF IS
-uttering moot fearful oaths and con-
Quoting themselves generally In a most
nOBLll0 MANNER. l Wab AlmO6I IHTOWn
into a spasms despite the fact that l
was with my mother, and she was do
ing all in her power to soothe me.
Fro n my behavior on that occasion she
suspected that had had some previous
experience with a drunken man. She
made inquiry of my older brother and
learned from him my experience with
the zone -year-old boy" at the high
school in Montgomery. For that rea-
son she opposed my re-entering the
school, so strenuouSly that my father
consented for me to remain at home.
Thus. through the hanging of poor
Starke occurred 500 miles from Mont
gomery, 1t had indirectly, a bearing
upon my future life. My father taught
my younger brother and myself at
home and, whereas I had regarded the
high school as a prison and could not
understand for what purpose 1 had
been imprisoned, now learned rapidly
and, at the same time, was permitted
to play out doors most of the time.
In 1S4S Mr.. William Williams and
wife came to board with our family.
They were young couple from Geor-
gia. He associated with Mr. Morse
In the practice of law. He kept horse
and buggy and would drive into and
from Montgomery mornings and even
ings. He loved to hunt, fish and play
marbles. We regarded him as a very
| accomplished man. AS a rule he had
| better luck" fishing than my father
did. but one day, at McCrady's Mill,
the latter caught a number of very
large fish. The former caught a little
perch. The fish were put on the same
string. When the fishermen reached
home my fathers fish were much In
evidence, but Mr.. williams perch
could. not be located. When the SER
want took the fish of the string, she
found the perch concealed in the mouth
of one of the large fish. My father
thought he had the joke on Mr.. VIII
liams that time.