Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-09-05
The Mountain Fiend.
A Tale of Tug River.
BY H. A. COMPTON.

light snow into its natural element.
! MennOw went about procuring shovels
and mattOcks and made their way up
the steep hillside to the little bench or
break in the spur of the mountain over.
looking the village where they began
preparing graves for burial of the dead,
both friends and foes alike.
Carpenters came with saw and plane
and were soon busy preparing coffins in
which to lay away the dead. The work
was hurriedly done. and by four O'Clock
everything was in readiness for the
start to the little cemetery Slowly
and silently the cavslcade wound its
way up the mountain side, bearing the
remains of the dead to their last resting
place.
The grave prepared for the eight out
laws was one long, deep ditch, with the
vaults cut crosswise. IL was sunk in q
neglected part of the cemetery, and
had grown up in briars and weeds. That
of the elderly Randolph was where he
had always wished it to be-by the side
of his wife.
Pete Randolph and his little daughter
sat together weeping, bowling their
heads upon their aged parents coffin.
When the crowd had assembled. "Old
Preacher Blankenship" arose. and after
few sympathetic remarks, started the
hymn:
And shall this body die"
The song was caught up by the crowd
and sung in its highest key. The words
were waited across to the opposite
mountain and echoed reechoed back and
forth through the steep shady glens
about them.
AS the musical notes died away among
the hills, the aged minister knelt beside
the coffin of the elderly Randolph, and
in tones scarcely less loud than the high
est netes of the song, prayed most fer
vently. ending with the words: eff it
be possible, forgive these outlaws and
let them have home in Heaven"
He then arose and after reading a
verse of scripture, which ran thus:
That all might be damned who believed
not the truth, but had pleasure in I'M
righteousness" began his discourse in
deep sonorous tones. He stated that as
to the old mans present state his mind
was easy. but, the ruffians," he said,
81 have no doubt air now payin' the
penalty Nv their onrighteousness.
Jim's ideas were the same, but after
the burial he stated he didn't b'lieye
the preacher had eny rights prayin' fer
en-
When the minister had finished sneak
ing he took seat on the ground and
the crowd started another hymn. Ben
Moore opened the coffin containing the
remains of the aged Randolph and al
lowed the assemblage to gaze upon his
face for the last time. after a time
the lid was replaced, and the coffin
gently lifted bv Jim, Reuben and two
other mountaineers and lowered SLOWLY
into the grave. The ropes were with
drawn and boards carefully placed over
the opening. A few shovels-full of dirt
were placed evenly over the boards. and
then came the rumbling sound of heavi-
ly falling earth, as the grave was filled
and heaped into an oval mound, at either
end of which stones were placed.
This done the crowd made its way to
the collins containing the bodies of the
dead outlaws, and one by one they were
lowered into the grave, while the old
familiar song:
We shall sleep but not forever,,"-
etc, was being sung. Almost by the
time the song was ended the great grave
had been filed and the mountaineers
departed silently towards their various
homes.
Almost reluctantly Pete followed the
crowd out of the little cemetery lust as
the last lingering rays of the sun tipped |
the maidstone of his fathers grave
with a halo of golden light.
Gee Whiliker," said a boy as he |
looked back over his shoulder at the
long mound. ''people'll think that's the |
Giant Dispair's grave, shore"
"Yes, replied another urchin, "er
that Teller King David kilt with a sling.
er that'en that had Jist one eye and hit |
in the middle NV his for'head."
Pete Randolph and his little daughter
together with his three friends were
soon inside his desolste cottage. Night
was fast closing around the lonely
home and the utmost silence reigned
throughout the surrounding forests.
Jim, who had already shown his skill
In the kitchen, was again assigned the
task of cooking another meal. He had
fire burning quickly in the stove, and
soon announced that supper was ready.
Randolph led his companions into the
dining room, and all partook heartily of
the meal set before them, for they had
not tasted food since morning.
1--WE must eat and be cheerful as we
can" said Pete, for tomorrow am
going pursuit of the devils who brought
this ruin and sorrow upon me. Who'll
go with mel"