Year: 1867

From the Enozvine Free Press. sth


Col. i. K Byrd, we understand, made an
effective Conservative speech at Kingston on
on Wednesday last. In the course of his
remarks he found it convenient to pay his
respects to Houk, the same that had with
er5 d at the point of John Williams finger
and under the glance Of his eye the day be-
fore.


Among other things, Byrd said that Houk.
in a sensible mood, having taken It into his
head that the world had no further use for
him, determined to relieve this mundane
sphere of his presence. Having Just re-
turned to his homo at Clinton after an mex
plicable absence, said Byrd, his good wife,
not liking the r c al evidences of disrup-
ton that were too apparent to be mistaken,
Ike good woman as she Is, began to Caude-
lie the trUant husband IN such az intolera-
bic style as only good wife can. Houk
bore it for awhile with heroic patience, but
at length 1t suddenly occurred to him that
the auspicious hour and opportunity had
come. The gods, themselves, would justify
the deed under such circumstances. Seiz-
ing rope he hurriedly and in broken ac-
cents bade the partner Of his bosom a last
farewell Rushing frantically to a shed hard
by, he mounted a sawh0rse with tragic air,
surveyed for moment, with sOrrOwful eve,
the scene of his final dissolutiOn-then cast



humanity at this moment rushed upon him,
and he wondered that 40 voice was heard
imploring him to desist and linger a while
longer in the haunts of men. But no such
sound came from the window from which
his 0Oh-to-be-widOwed wife was looking
complacenty upon the tragic scene. In
deepening despair he then began the adj
justment of the fatal neose to his neck.
Still no entreaty to desist The deadly knot
r a.


" This Is the last of Houk, family escapes
his lips Still, alas no interposition-no
tender cry of Stop, Leonidas T. at this
painfully critical juncture, calf that had
been slumbering In the corner of the shed
in blissful ignorance of the terrible tragedy
about being enacted in It's sleeping presence,
became quickly aroused, and with the quick,
ness Of thought darted for the door, knocking
down In its hurried exit the woodhorse, upon
which our expected victim was standing, and
he was left, before he was aware of it, a
writhing, straggle specimen of Suspended
animation" The drop was not sufficient 70
disjoint the ceryieal column and before the
vital spark became extinct, friendly negro,
who was moving near by, being attracted by
the peculiar sound, ran IN, and with his
scythe cut the almost expiring patriot down
and thus Houk was saved to the world,
and the fame of his deeds secured to pos
Leflly. Ever since Ileut Stlu Dytua =A0uk
has had gratitude enough TO desire the ele-
vation Of the negro over the white man.
The salvation of Houk merits the exaltation
of the negro.


About the time the tumultuous laughter
called forth by this sally was subsiding,
Houk entered the court room and was met
by a gentleman Of the legal profession,
member Of Houk's party, from whom we
have derived the facts Of the case Said he
to Houk:


Judge, that's pretty hard ons Byrds
been telling on you


What's that2 said Houk


Why, about you trying to hang yourself
up here in Clinton"


By Cd that's true" said Houlz; but
what right had Byrd to tell it l told it to
him myself but l wouldn't have done 1t if
we hadn't both been on bust together"