“He was the first man they took; then Moses Parker——I heard them both shot, and knew the voices. Alfred Minton, he got shot too, but they say he an’t dead yet. Oh, that makes me remember (rising). His father came here just before you did, and wanted me to go down there. They wanted somebody to pray; for he can’t live. I suppose I must go, but I tell you I can’t bear to. All these things seem so awful that they make me sick, and I can’t help it. Won’t you go Jesse? Go down and pray with the poor fellow.”
“Where is he?”
“Lying right there on the ground where they shot him, last night; and they say somebody has mommucked him up awfully.”
“Well, Brother Springer, I’ll go, but I want you to go ’long.”
“Do they know who shot him?” asked Uncle Jesse, when they were on their way.
“It is said to be unknown parties that done all the shooting from this “dead ring” they had, but there’s one comfort—the Lord knows who done it; and He knows who started the thing, and put these unarmed victims into the hands of an armed posse big enough to arrest the whole of Aiken County. There,” (as they reached a point between Dan Lemfields’ corner, and the railroad trestle-work), “this is where Moses Parker fell, and laid till an hour ago. You can see the blood.”
Mr. Roome looked, but did not speak. Passing under the trestle-work, and advancing a few steps, they came upon a pool of blood.
“This is where our Town Marshal was shot between nine and ten o’clock last night. I heard him holler, “Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!” twice, before they fired. It was a great volley, several guns, and I wonder they didn’t some of ’em kill him instantly. He begged mighty hard before they shot. I heard him.”
The men resumed their walk, turning down Cook street, and so coming out upon Market street, and then turning down that.
“There, right there was the “dead ring,” they say, where they had twenty-five or thirty prisoners, the Lord knows how long; and finally shot some of ’em, and then swore the rest not to testify against them, and let ’em go, and shot after ’em as they went.”