Garrard County, Kentucky - Chapter 12, 1854

Chapter 12

Sam goes to town - Rencounter with Dr. Hill - Dr. Hill's flight - ITills besiege Sam - Dr. Hill and Sam in Lexington - Hill's besiege Jack May's bouse - Evans boys help May - Hills retreat and Evanses pursue - Hills secure themselves in Fred Hill's house - Evans attack it, and Hills break through the back side and run away - Hills conceal themselves in driftwood on the river - The river overflows and drives them from the covert - Mrs. Fred Hill again appears - The Evans boys begin to cut their oats - Ilills parade and attack the boys - Hills retreat into Bill Hill's house - Evanses storm the house - One of the Hills shot - The council of war - Hills evacuate the house and retreat - Narrow escape of Hill party - Mrs. Dr. Hill's night trip.

The reader will perceive that Dr. Hill and Joe Murphy were left in rather an awkward position in the last chapter, one in the dungeon, and another concealed in an old barn; but from preceding events it could be well supposed that they were tried and readily acquitted.

From the fact that the Hills had been lying pretty close at Dr. Hill's for some time, Dr. Evans thought they had taken up their bivouac at some of the lower forts. Being thus persuaded, he anticipated little danger in sending Sam to town to see about some law-suits that were soon to come up. But to use a little precaution, Sam went late in the evening, with the intention of staying all night with his uncle Jesse,* who lived a few miles on the other side of town. From his uncle's, he could return to town, see his lawyers, and get away before the Hills were in the habit of going in. But as he was going into town that evening, he met Dr. Hill and David Russell walking on the pike a little distance from Hill's gate. As soon a-s Hill recognized Sain, he drew his pistol - Sam jerked his out instantly and fired. Dr. Hill, as if struck by the ball, jumped straight up, ran through the gate, got behind the gate-

* This was the only brother that Dr. Evans had in the country. But the Doctor would not permit him to participate in the fight in any manner whatever, his motto being - '' The fewer the better." post, nnd fired back at Sam. Sam ran his horse up to the post, and Hill ran away toward his house, under Sam's fire. He ran about sixty yards then turned and fired again.

This is a miniature specimen of Dr. Hill's brave running. He was certainly practicing for the future, for these pages will certify that he arrived nearly to perfection in the art. In his youthful day3 he doubtless imbibed and appreciated the sentiment : -

Sara rode on through town, and met Mr. Werret and told him what had happened. As Sam wished to return the next morning, he requested Mr. Werret to keep a look-out and let him know if the Hills made any preparations. He returned to Lancaster soon in the morning and stopped at the tavern, and there learned that the Hills were collecting all their forces. This piece of information was enough for him to know that it would be dangerous to venture homeward alone ; hence, he remained till he could get aid from home. He wrote a letter to his father, requesting him not to come to town, for if he did, he would have to fight his wav through. But notwithstanding this, the Doctor, with three of his sons and William Murphy, set out with their rifles during the night. They returned with Sam and passed Dr. Hill's house about daylight. The Hills saw them and ran to give battle, but from some unknown cause paused and went back.

The next rencounter between Sam and Dr. Hill happened in Lexington. It was on the memorable day of Henry Olay's funeral. Sam went over on Friday and stopped at the Me Go wen House - the funeral did not come off till Saturday. On Friday, Dr. Hill went down to some of the lower forts and learned that Sam had gone. Ho ordered out his picket-guards to watch the river at the crossings for Sam's return, which was expected on the next evening. After making these arrangements, he went back to Lancaster that night and hired a hack to take him to Lexington in the shortest possible time. He arrived there about the middle of the day on Saturday, and took lodging aLo at the McGowen House. Ills friends advised him to put up at some other house, for if he stopped there he might get into a difficulty with

The Hill And Evans Feud

Sara. He replied that he did- not care for that. When he arrived, Sara had gone out to the cemetery, and hot expecting to see an enemy, carried only his famous little revolver, leaving the large pistols in his saddlebags at the tavern. While at the cemetery, Sam was informed that Dr. Hill had arrived with several of his party, and would certainly give him battle. Thi3 did not at all please Sands fancy, for he was not more than anxious to meet two or three well armed men, while he had only a small revolver. But, however, between two and three o'clock he concluded to go back to the tavern, even if it was occupied by a well armed enemy. When he arrived within about half a square of the tavern, he saw Dr. Hill, in company with two or three others, walking on the side-walk, and at the same time drawing his pistol. Sam instantly jerked out the little revolver, ran up and fired at his breast. The ball struck him but would not enter deeper than his clothes, on account, it is supposed, of an iron breast-plate. When Sam fired, Hill staggered back a few paces, then ran around a carriage which stood near by, then back on to the pavement. Sam snapped at him twice as he ran around. Hill ran down the pavement a short distance, but the dense crowd turned him into the more open street. Sam was in hot pursuit. When Dr. Hill got into the street, ho fired a large pistol over his shoulder at Sam. The ball perforated a carriage and passed between a gentlemen and his lady. Dr. Hill made good use of his well trained legs, and according to the testimony of by-standers, ran faster than ever did the world-renowned u Grey Eagle," even in his prime. After running a considerable distance, Sam stopped and went back to the tavern. Hill got into his hack and started for home instantly, perhaps through cowardly motives, or to warn his stationed guards to be on the watch, but more probably to keep clear of the police. Sam got into a carriage with some of his friends and set out too, in a short time. Hill stopped on the road at Brown's to get his supper, but Brown told him that lie expected Sam to be there in a few minutes to take supper. This was enough information for Hill, so he put off in post haste. He had just left, and had scarcely got out of sight when Sam drove up. Sam stopped at Brown's and took supper; then drove on. Hill went as far as Miller's then put up for the night. Though Sam knew he was there, he called at the houses for a drink of water. It; is very likely that the guards were sleeping on their posts, or lying in the ditch drunk, for Sam passed the river and arrived safely at home that night.

Now, reader, you will, doubtless, acquiesce in my former prediction, that Dr. Hill was training his legs at Lancaster for the glories of a future race. He won the race beyond doubt, and acquitted himself with a fame the least enviable. But, can you blame him, reader ? Would you stand before a six shooter, even if it were in the hands of a strippling, and your breast plated over with impenetrable steel ? I am inclined to think .that some of us would feel a palpitation in the neighborhood of the left breast, and be strongly tempted to try the virtue of our legs. * Dr. Hill was a very athletic man, and well knew how far -to depend upon his physical powers. But being so well armed -with large pistols, and protected securely by an impenetrable breastplate, it could have been hoped that -he would have evinced more bravery and stood his ground before such a mere (boy as Sam Evans was, and more so when he went there de rsignedly to make the attack.

Dr.. Evans and his wife were very uneasy about Sam, for they had learned the movements of Dr. Hill. According to an agreement with the boys, he was not to return by the way which he did, but to cross the river at the mouth of Paintlick creek, and stop at Gun's chapel, where a protracted meeting was then being held. The boys were also to meet him at this church, and keep a guard at the river to see if the Hills expected to waylay him there. This was about the time the people were trying to make a compromise between the two parties, for which reason the boys did not carry their rifles, as had been the case for some time. On Sunday morning, Dr. Evans sent a runner to tell the boys where the Hills were concealed in ambush ; but the messenger never found the boys, nor returned, being afraid of the opposite party.

In the evening of the same day, a man went, in post haste, to get the hoys' rifles at Dr. Evans's, and told the Doctor that the Hills had attacked Jack May's house, and dared him out to give them an open field fight. May unfurled a piece of red flannel to the breeze, and replied that he would give them an open field fight, or any other kind of a fight they desired, as soon as he could get ready. The boys, including Sam, were at May's house. When the guns arrived, May mustered his little company and marched out to where the enemy dared them. When the Hills saw the advancing foe, they retreated to a tobacco house at the extremity of the field. As the hindmost were going into the house, the boys got to the fence, whence the party had retreated, and fired upon them. In reply to this fire, some of them ran out and hallooed -

The boys jumped over the fence and ran toward the house. This so frightened the Hills that they broke an opening through the back side of the house, and ran over to Fred Hill's' house, leaving some of their guns. The boys gave them a hot chase and a shower of balls, though the distance was too great to do much execution.

Fred Hill's house was formed into a kind of fort, nailed up closely all round, save some little port holes through which to shoot. When the Hills got into it, they barred the door firmly, fearing the enemy would attempt to break in upon them. The boys approached pretty near the house, but by this time it was too dark for them to see to shoot. They hallooed to the IIill3 -

" You have Evans Bedster in there, and we want him - ive intend to have him ! The good citizens of Garrard have a process against him, and we are going to execute it. If you do n't deliver him up, we will be so polite as to come in after him ! "

A noise was then heard in the back part of the house as if they were breaking open a window and jumping out. The boys supposed they would aim to get to Clouse's house, and ran that way to intercept them. But unfortunately, or rather fortunately, the Hills happened to run the other way. They ran down to the river, waded across to an island, and concealed themselves under some trash or driftwood. The boys went to Clouse's and inquired for the Hills, but they had not been there. They then knew that they must be concealed somewhere under the cliff of the river. Hence, they kept a close watch about that place until noon on Wednesday, at which time a heavy rain fell and thoroughly wet them all, and spoiled their ammunition.

Various Skirmishes

But the Hills laid as close as mice, and did not show themselves during the whole time, nor did they have a morsel of food from Sunday night till noon on Wednesday. When the boys left, the river rose rapidly on account of the heavy rain, and threatened to overflow the island. Thus the proud Kentucky sent her angry tides and disdainfully drove them from her domains. They waded out, went up the river to the mouth of Paintlick creek, up that creek to the mouth of Back creek, up that to the mouth of Longbranch, and up that till they came to the house of one of their relatives, and there stopped late in the night to get something to eat. You may guess they were a pretty hungry set of fellows, having fasted three days and nights, and endured the severest exposure. After they had eaten to their fill and rested, they set out for Lancaster and arrived there about daybreak.

On Monday morning, while both parties were down on the river, Mrs. Fred Hill went to Lancaster and swore out a warrant against the Evanses. She swore that they had shot her nose off - shot into the house, into the skillet while she was parching coffee and broke it, knocked the coffee pot over, and done divers other misdemeanors . She went before the judge with her nose tied up in a bundle of rags, with her eyes brimful of tears, and swore that what she said was true.

In virtue of the warrant, the sheriff* went down to Dr. Evans's to get the boys. The Doctor told him that he had no idea where the boys were ; that they went to church on Sunday and had not been seen since, but that he expected them home every day ; and when they returned they would be at his disposal, or that they would meet him on any day he might choose. On the day appointed, the boys went to town to have their trial, but not a Hill made his appearance, consequently nothing was done. This was a fine joke on the judge ; and the people laughed at him heartily - issuing a warrant for a lost nose! To secure future protection, the judge threatened to prosecute them if they troubled him with any more of their false swearing. In fact, her nose had nothing the matter with it, but she bundled it up to make an impression ; nor had any one shot into the house. Her conscience, if not her nose, was doubtless a fit subject for a government pension.

The Iiill And Evans Feud

UNow, as Dr. Evans and bis party, numbering nine, were at Lancaster, and as the Hills, more than twenty strong, were collected at Fred Hill's house, every person thought they would have a desperate battle before they could get home. The Hills did not make use of this fine opportunity of meeting an unequal foe, but kept pretty close in their barracks. The Doctor kept a spy out to watch their moves till Saturday. The fact that they kept such close quarters induced the boys to believe that thev were completely whipped - hence, on Sunday they scattered out to the different churches, thinking there would be no danger from the cowed enemy.

But the Doctor knew the wiles of the party better than to receive such an opinion. He believed they were waiting quietly only till the boys commenced to cut a certain piece of oats. The oatfield was in the form of a parallelogram, and bounded on three sides by a dense thicket and land belonging to Bill Hill. It was also within a few hundred yards of Hill's house, which rendered it very dangerous for the boys to work there. One morning, some of the boys went to cutting the oats, while the others, thinking there would be no danger, scattered out to different parts of the country. The Doctor stationed himself on one corner of the field where he could plainly see Hill's house and half a mile up and down the creek, and placed a spy at the other corner. The Doctor had not been at bis post long before he saw seven or eight men at Hill's. They were more of the Washington troops, brought up by Bill Hill and Pat Williamson. In a short time, about a dozen of the regulars were seen marching up with their rifles, with Dr. Hill at their head. When they discovered Dr. Evans on guard. Dr. Hill pulled off his hat and waved it in the air, then leveled his gun as if in the act of shooting. They went on to the house and rested themselves under the shade trees. About this time the Doctor heard a loud noise and hallooing on the other side of his house. He turned and saw several men running down the hill from the barn toward the house, and hallooing - run ! run ! He did not understand the meaning of this, for they were strangers to him, but supposed them to be some of the raw recruits of the opposite party coming down to attack the house. The Doctor ran toward the house as fast as he could but they met him and told him that the Hills were preparing to attack the boys in the oatfield. They then ran on to give the boys the information. And the Doctor returned to his post. These men ran two or three miles in breathless haste, fearing the Hills would attack the boys unawares.

After the Hills rested a little time, they marched up the creek to a cornfield beyond the view of Dr. Evans. They had not been out of sight long before the report of a gun was heard, but it was some of the boys shooting as a signal for some of the others to shoot, so that they might know each other's locality, and thus get together. Some of the boys ran down to the creek and got into the old mill, expecting the Hills would pas3 'near by ifc.' But the miller made them go away, for he would have been in great danger had the two parties met there. They went back toward the oatfield into the thicket and discovered the Hills before they got into the cornfield - then the firing commenced. Two rounds were fired in quick succession by each of the parties. The Iiill3 retreated across the creek and concealed themselves behind a clump of trees and the fence, still keeping up a brisk fire. But the fierce balls that came thick and fast from the opposite party made them retreat from behind their covert and run into Bill Hill's house. Some of them ran into the smoke-house , knocked out the chinking , and fired through the apertures between the log3. As soon as the Hills ran into the house the boys ceased firing, and hallooed to the women and children to come out and go away, for they intended to take the house by storm. The women cleared out like a flock of timid sheep, and went over to Mr. Harding's. The boys then went down closer to the creek and told the Hills to - " Come out and make one decisive battle. If you refuse, we will take the house by storm and compel you to fight. Come out and give us a fair fight, we will put our twelve men against your whole crew. If you wont fight , we'll make you do it anyhow ! " This challenge was answered only by a hot fire from the house. Dr. Evans was still watching at his post, hut not hearing the hoys fire, became uneasy with the fear that some, of them were wounded, and started down to where they were, lie met one of his sons who informed him that no one was hurt* he therefore returned.

One of Ihe Hills went out into the yard to hang up a coat on a stick to see if the boys would shoot at it. About the time he succeeded in fastening it to the pole, a gun fired from the enemy's ranks and stretched him on the ground. He laid a moment like a dead man, then crawled slowly into the house. About twelve o'clock the boys ceased firing entirely, but the fire from the house continued with unabated fury.

The Doctor then left his post to the care of two little children, and went to the house to get his dinner. He found about half of his party there - - some eating, others moulding 'bullets, making cartridges and fixing their cartridge boxes, as if they intended to have a general campaign. The Doctor asked where the other boys were. In reply, he was told that they were lying out in the end of the oatfield asleep, waiting for their dinners to be brought to them. When the boys in the field got their basket dinner, they very hospitably asked the Hills over to dine with them. But instead of a note accepting the invitation, they received a shower of harmless balls. After dinner the boys and the Doctor held a council of war. At the conclusion of the consultation, the Doctor told them - "You must not shoot at them any more at this distance, it is only wasting ammunition. We must keep them in the house till night, if possible, and then we'll smoke 'em out . We must divide our company, and one half get on the brow of the hill beyond the house ; and while the movement is inakiug, the party on this side must , keep a big gun and fire at the house to make them keep close that they may not perceive our design. Then if they come out either way we will get them, and give them a miniature Waterloo." According to the Doctor's advice, while those that were to station themselves*on the opposite hill were going around the house, the remaining party fired the Mississippi rifle- into the house to make the Hills keep darky so that they would not perceive the move. The ball fired into the house had more than the desired effect, for it tore through the wall, went entirely through the house, making the splinters and plaster fly, which dreadfully frightened the Hills. They knew the report of the gun, and the desperate strength with which she threw her balls ; and, to use their phraseology, knew that it would be death to stand before the savage mouth of old Mississippi. The second ball did even more execution than the first, and frightened them so much that they ran from the house to seek protection in the distance. Thus, the Doctor's plans were frustrated. He wished to keep them there till night, but the terrible force with which the ounce balls shattered the walls, placed them in as much danger from the splinters as they would have been in an open field before the dreaded fire of the' enemy. They ran out of the house and tried to conceal themselves in the green corn, but .the balls of the foe could too easily search them under that fragile covering. They then ran back behind the house and got over the fence in double-quick time, each fellow taking care of his own head. As they were going up the hill, beyond gunshot, the boys discovered them and gave a close chase. The Hills ran over the hill and got out of sight before the boys could get up there.

The boys then returned toward home and met the Doctor. He told them that they could, yet intercept the Hills, for they would certainly go one of two ways - either cross Davis's creek towrard Mrs. Jenkins's, or down the creek to Mayfield's. He advised them to run across the country and secrete themselves on the way to Mrs. Jenkins's. They did so, and hid behind a log a few rods from the road. Before they started, they ordered two of the little boys to keep up a pretty constant fire to make the Hills believe they were not in pursuit. They also sent Thomas and James to a convenient point on the other road, with instructions to fire their guns if the Hills passed that way. They had not been seated in this, ambush long before the Hill party came marching down the road, about two hundred yards distant. But, at this instant, the boys heard the reports of two guns, in quick succession, which they believed to be signals from Thomas and James, to indicate that the Hills were passing that way, hence, they sprang from their seats, ran in the direction of the reports, thus letting the Hills pass unmolested. This was a most thrilling incident. A gentleman on the adjacent hill side saw the boys concealed and the Hills advancing; he had pictured in his mind the horrors of the almost inevitable bloodshed ; he heard the reports and saw the boys run away, which transported him with joy equal to his intense anxiety. Had the bovs remained there only a few minutes longer, the entire Ilill party would have been slain, for the boys were numbered off so that each one would shoot at the man whose number corresponded with his own ; and, as the Hills were the more numerous, the second round would be fired before they could get ready to shoot, and those that remained then would fall before the small arms. The guns were not fired as signals by Thomas and James, but . by the little boys in the field for the deception of the Hills.

While the boys were firing at the house, a young man was observed to get on his horse and slip slyly up the hill. When ho got beyond the reach of the guns, he industriously applied the whip to his horse arid got away as quick as possible. He proved to be a young man by the name of Comely, who had been drawn into the party, not by a love of battle, but by the love of whisky and women. He was pleased to stay with them as long as he could get plenty to drink, but when the fighting came up, 'he would rather be excused. He went in post haste to Lancaster and informed Mrs. Dr. Hill of the progressing battle. This news threw her into a 'wonderful phrensy ; - - she snorted around a considerable time trying to get some one to accompany her to the battle ground. But, finding none so gallant as to become her escort, she set out alone and unprotected upon the uncertain mission. All nature was wrapt in the sable mantle of night. As she rode along in the invisible gloom, terrible thoughts and hobgoblins of the dreaded enemy preyed upon her mind and chilled her frame with terror. The roadside was studded with hideous fiends, whose hellish eyes glared in the darkness, and from whose throats issued blue flames and dense sulphuric fumes, while their bloody teeth were gnashing with impatience for the human victim. She shuddered and shrieked at the boundings and gnashings of these demons, but the horse did not heed her agonies, and pursued, with steady pace, the well known road. The responsive shrieks of the doleful night hawk she magnified to the war cry of the phantoms, as they engaged, in a hotly contested battle, to decide who should be proprietor of her body. At first, urged on by a feeiing of humanity, to dress the wounds of the living, and console the last moments of the dying, she was now at the mercy of her own imagination and the wiil of her faithful horse. She dwelt in the hell of her own mind. When the horse arrived at Hill's, he stopped at the accustomed block. She knew not where she was; she was lost in her own imagination. The reality of her position gradually displaced the bewilderment and she gained confidence to dismount. She slowly and cautiously approached the wide-spread door, hut the cheerful prattle of innocent babes, as they gamboled before the fire, was hushed - the suppressed whisper of the more sagacious women was no more to be heard, and the clash of arms had long since died aw'ay - all was dark and dreary desolation. She stood a statue in the door ; her heart ceased to beat ; the dead silence seemed to tell a direful tale ; the same fiery demons of her imagination clung to the walls, the ceiling, and stood thick in the impenetrable darkness, and hissed like serpents to augment her fright. She fled to her horse and retraced her ghost-infested journey. A kind negro offered a protecting hand and conducted her back home. When she arrived, she found the heroes of the late defeat standing at her gate.

The Conclusion

Gabriel J. Sanlter and Dr. Evans - Dr Hill proposes to end the Ecnd - Peace declared - Disposal of the arms - Joe Murphy and John Brown ordered to leave the county - The Hill party leave the county - Murphy and Brown return and violate the treaty - Murphy goes to Lancaster and joins Dr. Hill - They arm themselves and search for Dr. Evans - Jack May kills Murphy - A stain upon the Evans party - Hills settle in Washington county - Fears that the Feud will be renewed - The moral.

At Di*. Hill and Joe Murphy's trial for killing May, and before the acquittal had been pronounced, Gabriel J. Saulter, who was standing out in the square, sent for Dr. Evans. The Doctor went and mounted a block, with a crowd of people encircling him.

find abundant ways. Your party can stop it whenever they wish ; all they have to do is to let me and mine alone. They started it, and must end it. At the time of the Lancaster fight, did you not say that you wished to see the Hills to make them quit fighting ? "

" You could have made them quit fighting any time ; you could have prevented the Lancaster fight, but did not want to. You were not in earnest when you said you wished the fight to cease."

" If that is your desire, then say and do nothing more about it, and the whole affair is at an end. You have said everything you could to injure me and my family ; but, henceforth, treat rue as a gentleman, and I will do the same by you and party."

" When, in the name of high heaven, will you and your babbling party quit lying ? You know as well as I do that there is not the shadow of truth in this. You know I never make an attack. But your party will spread any kind of a report that suits your purpose."

" Well, never mind that - let us come to some conclusion. To show you that I am in earnest, I will sign that petition to the Governor to remit Sam's fine, and will take it to Dr. Hill and get him also to sign it."

Saulter was in earnest this time, and it is believed that he did every thing in his power to end the Feud. The next morning after the conversation, Hamilton Duggins, one of Dr. Hill's particular friends, went to see Dr. Evans.

" Dr. Hill sent me over here," said Duggins, " to inform you that he wants to quit fighting. He only wants you to say that you will quit, for he believes you will do what you sav. Ho will dispose of his weapons in any way you may desire." desire, he has nothing more to do than to quit. If he will now declare peace, and observe the stipulations, he and party shall never be disturbed by me and mine. So far as his arms are concerned, those that he stole at the Scott's fork tragedy, must be returned to their owners. The big shot-gun belongs to me, the little rifle to James Lane, who has had no hand in the fight, and the pistol and bowie-knife to the widow Chrismon. Those that he borrowed from his neighbors must be returned ; for, if he is like ine, he has enough of his own to quit fighting with. Those that he has bought and paid for, he is at liberty to do with as he pleases - he can either sell them, wear them, or break them."

The majority of the Hill party immediately left the county, and the others were making preparation to follow the example. But Murphy and Brown soon came back, settled on Paintlick creek, and swore they intended to go where they pleased. In direct violation of the treaty, they drew a boundary line between themselves and the opposite party, and swore that the penalty would be death for any of them to cross the line. They not only made threats, but put them into execution - for they did actually waylay the Doctor, as he went to Teetersville to attend to some business. It is supposed that they did this noton their own account or desire, but because ordered to do so by Dr. Hill. These daring acts emboldened them to rasher deeds, and induced them to take ambuscade even in their old battle ground, on Sugar creek. These facts will serve to show how

On one bright morning, when the sun shone gladly forth, and the azure tints of the sky seemed to grow deeper with joy at the happy peace that had been concluded, Joe Murphy sauntered about his log cabin, with an air that bespoke the contemplation of some dire event. He was the personification of discontent. The sublimity of the high limestone hills, that -embowered hi3 little hut, aided by the unparalleled serenity of the weather, seemed not to have a cheering influence upon his heart. He was feverishly gloomy and morose, and devoured his rude breakfast with an absence of mind and heavy drawn sighs. After hastily swallowing the morning repast, he told his wife that he intended to <10 away and never return. His wife entreated and implored him not to be guilty of so rash and woful a deed. But his reckless heart was dead to all the influences of love and the tender endearments of home; her wailings were answered only by the echo of the surrounding hills and -extended forest; lie tore himself away, never again to see her whom he had loved.

He went immediately to Lancaster in this frenzied mood and joined Dr. Hill. They wildly indulged the maddening fires of intoxicating liquors. Being frantic with the fire that stimulated their giddy brains, they buckled on their oft-worn armor, and sallied forth into the town to seek whom they could devour. As chance would have it, Dr. Evans and some of his friends happened to be in town that day, hut -were soon informed of the -approach of the enemy. The Doctor believed the entire Hill party to be concealed in town, from the actions of Joe Murphy, who attempted, several times, to get a shot at the prime object of the war. This frightened the Doctor, and to prevent any more bloodshed, he thought it advisable to leave for home.

After the Doctor left, Joe Murphy laid away his weapons and seated himself quietly before- the tavern fire. Not many hours had rolled into the forgetful past, when Jack and Bill May, two of the Evans' party, on pretence to get a drink of liquor, went over to the tavern. When Jack May entered the room and saw Murphy sitting before the fire, he drew a revolver, put it against the temple of Murphy's head, and shot two balls through his brain. He fell dead upon the floor !

This oeiUinly was the blackest deed committed by the Evans party. They had hitherto professed too much nobleness of heart to waylay the enemy or sneak up behind them unawares ; but now we see their policy violated, at the conclusion of the contest, and upon an unarmed and defenceless man. Thus we see them do that which they had preached against for years. Prior to this time, they conducted themselves admirably, but this last act was the most cruel of all. Who can divine the hypocritical workings of the human heart ! I do not say that this is an immediate stain upon Dr. Evans's family, for, .perhaps, the Doctor would not have countenanced the deed before committed. Nor do I sav that they were not justifiable in the act; for the Hills had already broken the treaty in returning and attempting to shoot Dr. Evans ; and when an obligation is broken by one of the bound parties, it cannot bind the other. But, having been such advocates of open and fair work, we should have hoped that they would not be guilty of this low trick. Though the Mays went to the tavern, under pretext of getting a drink of liquor, some people are of opinion that the whole affair was preconcerted and advised by Dr. Evans. We have no proof of this, but every one is at liberty to enjoy his own opinion. It is enough to make us doubt that the Evanses were actuated to their honorable course of conduct by principles of honor, and make us believe that they aimed only at public applause. But the misdeed of one individual should not rest upon the entire party, much less upon Dr. Eyans's family, for one might do what the whole would condemn.

When Murphy fell, May ran across the square, got his horse and left immediately. When the news reached Dr. Hill, who was on the opposite side of town, he exclaimed with great excitement -

"By G - d, I'm afraid to do anything with him. I gave the d - d fool money to go oft' on, and now as he has come back, 1 will have nothing to do with him ; and the Evanses would rather kill me than Joe Murphy any day, were they to get a chance." Murphy was taken down to his brother's, and buried the next

Here, reader, end the scenes of this bloody and exciting Feud - and gladly do I end it. You have the facts before you, and can reflect upon them in your own peculiar style. The .Hills all left the neighborhood, and the majority of them moved to Washington county, where they now reside. They were a most distressed party, composed mostly of helpless widows and their numerous families of little, destitute children. They were truly objects of charity. It is uncertain in what land Dr. Hill chose to. make his home, but it is believed he went- into. Tennessee and continued the practice of his profession.

Some people believe that the Feud has not yet ended, but that when the numerous children of these families become a little older, they will rise and avenge the blood of their fathers. But it may be hoped that Kentucky will not meet this horrible fate; for the tomahawk has long since been buried under the tree of peace, and the green grass of forgetfulness has grown .thick over it. The memory of past wrongs may yet cause, in .the surviving Hills, heart-burnings, but the history of the past warns them to value the peace and safety they now enjoy. The .past i3 dark and the future bright to them, and they will be slow to call down again upon themselves the miseries once experienced. The past stands to them a warning and a guide.

This narrative is not devoid of a moral. The reader has before him two parties : the one, acting honorably and on the defensive ; the other, using every unfair means on the offensive. He sees the just come off victorious and with honor, while the unjust is vanquished and compelled to flee the country in disgrace. He can view the one course with admiration, the other with detestation, and can choose between them in his vown affairs. It clearly proves that, he who pursues an honest and honorable course, will, in the end, be triumphant over every obstacle, and rise above every attempt at oppression.

Furrier. The Complete er, H se-D et < >r. A Tre itise on tin > '.souses of Horses; written in plain language, v'lAeh those who can read may easily unner- -tuxd. The whole being the result of seventy *.*ea;V extensive practice of the author. Joux ('. Ivkowlsox. Many of the* recipes in this }).n>k wort'; one hundred dollars each, and tin* wL le are new to the world. £vo, paper cover. Price 2;v) cents.

Life Of dlUireb A History of the Detection, Conviction, Life, and Design-' of John. A. Mured, the Great Western Lund Pirate; together with Ins system of villainy, and phut of exciting a Negro Beheilion. Abo. a Guta-'

the names of 455 of his Mystic Chan F Mod ai I 1 A-.-, ors. and a st at 'meat of il eir ti i for the destruction of Vi rgii A Stew art, the young man who d< -tufted Murid. To which is added ii Biographical! Sketch of V. A. Slewin'!.. Iliu-irated. 8vo, paper cover. Pri ice 25 cesds.

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I One of the 1 ntertaining works of fit Li i The inlereot excited in events narrated is n -\u r j allowed to flag, being sustained by constant , action.

1L rmy of the- ILalce. A Poem' in six canto-,. Pv Sjt< Walt;: Scott. Lust revised ; edition, with an Introduction. Glos-aiy, and ] copious Notes, by the Author. 3 2 mo, cloth j binding. Price 50 Ceiits.

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