You arrived in Dallas just in time to witness the following hanging:

“This evening at 4 o’clock, the three ring leaders Sam, Cato, and Patrick, were escorted from the jail . . . to the place of execution. An immense concourse of citizens and negroes assembled. Patrick remained calm and collected during the whole day. . . . He it was who fired the town, and the night after its destruction glorified himself for the deed, and pronounced it only the commencement of the good work. Sam Smith, so called from name of his master, was an old negro preacher, who had imbibed most of his villainous principles from two abolitionist preacher Blunt [sic] and McKinney, who lived in the country a year before, and had much intercourse with him. Cato had always enjoyed a bad reputation. They met their fate with a composure worthy of a better cause. Patrick, with unparalleled nonchalance [sic], died with a chew of tobacco in his mouth, and refused to make any statement whatever. . . .”¹