Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-05-09
Early ReCOIIeCtiOnS
of Old NOxubee
Quitman. Miss, May 4. 1913,

Hess Win Wnlcn the news came caugh'
many people who wanted to take sides
with the Union on Southern soil, and
vice versa. and there was a hurried,
pellmell rush to get back within the
lines Of their choice, for delays were
dangerous.
Along about this time remember
that every stranger was viewed with
suspicion and if he couldn't give good
account of himself was ridden on a
raiP' and ordered to leave the communi-
ty instanter.
remember one night about ten days
after war had been declared, that a
foreigner (an Irishman, l would Judge
from his language) turned up afoot
about eight o'clock in Shuqualak and
not being able to give good account
of himself and it being feared that his
business was to tell the negroes what
the war really meant and urge them to
rise in revolt. rope was placed around
his neck and he was dragged out to AN
old well about quarter of mile north
of the station where a negro church
now stands, the determination being
that if no better account of "who he
was:" "where he was going" and
what was his business" could be CIV
en- than that already told by him, to
throw him in the we'll head-foremost
and then fill the we'll with pile of Old
rails that were living near. This well
was about thirty-five feet deep and had
about ten feet of water in it, though
had been out of use for long time.
When the we'll was reached the cap
tain Of the ''mob." Jack Bledsoe, said
to the man, "Well stranger, we are
going to give you one more chance.
Now if you can give any good reason
why you are still within southern lines,
(after you have had ten days to get
out), and prowling around afoot at
night, then proceed with it and be
quick, as the determination of this mob
is to give you no further showing, since
we gave you every chance to qualify
down in town before bringing you here.
Continuing, Bledsoe said, "These mtn
have elecred6ine their captain and upon
me the rec6il Of tKeir actions, II afters
wards they are found to have been too
hasty, must fall, and I am particularly
anxious that you be given fair show
ing. SO now won't you (if you CAM tell
us the cause of your still being on
Southern soil, and of why you have
chosen the darkness for your perambu-
lations?
Pausing to give the poor fellow a
chance to regain his composure, for he
was thoroughly frightened by the
threats of drowning and the rough
treatment that to this time he had re-
ceived, and at the end of five minutes
not word of excuse or explanation
coming from him-the crowd all the
time hollering "drown him." "hang
him." etc., and Bledsoe still counselling
moderation and asking that the man
have further time, and for half hour
this kind of procedure went on, the
man as stole as an Indian saying
a word finally Bledsoe saying, "Gen-
tlemen, feel that have done all that
! could do in the name of justice. and
it is now with you to deal with the
man as you see fit"
Here rush was made for him, the
verdict of death in the well having al
ready been rendered, and as they were
lifting him above the curbing head
downward to plunge him in, he, in
most pitiahle, choked voice, cried out,
"Gentlemens, yuze murthering er inno-
cent mon. but won't yeeze give the
poor sthrainger er cool thrink O. water
afore 20 kill him?"
This heart-rending plea was just in
time to save him, for stout hearts
melted and dozen voices were heard
ring out, "Don't kill him; don't kill
him." and soon he was back on terra
firma, and kind of court martial held,
the verdict unanimously acquiesced in,
being that the poor fellow had been
punished sufficiently. and to let him go,
with the understanding that if he was
ever caught in the neighborhood again,
day or night. that he would be strung
up to the first limb without the benefit
of trial. He was then told to git
and "be in hurry about it." and the
last seen of the poor fellow he was rum
ming up the railroad at about twelve
mile speed, the moon shining SO that he
could be seen until the second culvert
had been passed.
| Ia boy twelve years of age) was a
locker on at distance of all this affair
and / remember how glad was when
the man was turned loose. for never
had felt that what he did deserved
death, and the fact that be made no re-
sisteHce vhsteFer aro1ced nv lymps--
IhIes II his,Eefs'i I, !, !, .s- ,,,.,,