There were two versions of the "Ballad of Claude Allen," the most famous of which was by Hobart Smith of Smyth Co, VA (1897 - 1965) He recorded the ditty for Allen Lomax and it sold a lot of the old Gramophone tubular records. Unfortunately, neither version of it (nor the Ballad of Sidney Allen by Vernon Dalhart) had any basis in fact attached to it. The gun battle (which actually occurred on Thursday, March 14th) after two days of the trial that was only one of a scheduled series of trials that was to have taken place regarding Floyd's rescuing his two nephews from deputy sheriff "Pink" Samuels. When he stood up and declared "Gentlemen, I ain't a'goin'," the county clerk pulled a pistol and shot at Floyd. At that point, Floyd's relatives pulled pistols and the battle was on. Killed were; Judge Thornton Lemon Massie, Sheriff Louis Webb, Juror Augustus Fowler, Commonwealth's Attorney William L. Foster and witness/spectator Nancy Elizabeth Ayers. Wounded, in addition to Floyd and Sidna, were juror Christopher Columbus Cain, spectator Stuart Worrell, deputy Elihue Gillespie and spectator Andrew Howlett. In addition there was one dislocated shoulder, numerous wet pants and a couple of accidental bowel movements. The escape of the Allens wasn't like the James gang leaving Northfield; they stayed in town for over an hour after the shooting ended and then simply rode away... separately for the most part. Sidna Allen by himself, Friel by himself, Sidna Edwards by himself (but he came back) and finally Claude Allen and Wesley Edwards. Floyd didn't escape; after lying in Blankenship's Stable Lot for an hour, he was taken to Tom Hall's "Elliott House" hotel and was arrested there next morning (by Baldwin-Felts Detectives Tom Felts and Hugh Lucas) along with his son, Victor, and a friend Burden "Byrd" Marion. The words to the song are; Claude Allen and his dear old pappy, have met their fatal doom at last Their Friends are glad their trouble's ended And hope their souls are now at rest. Claude Allen was that tall and handsome, He still had hopes until the end. That he'll some way or other Escape his death from the Richmond pen Claude Allen had a pretty sweetheart, She mourned the loss of the one she loved She hoped to meet beyond the river Her fair young face in heaven above. Claude's mother's tears was gently flowing All for the one she loved so dear It seemed no one could tell her troubles It seemed no one could tell but her How sad, how sad, to think of killin' A man all in his youthful years, A-leaving his old mother weepin' And all his friends in better tears. Look up on yonder lonely mountain, Claude Allen sleeps beneath the clay No more you'll hear his words of mercy or see his face till Judgement Day. Come all young boys, you may take warning Be careful how you go astray, Or you may be like poor Claude Allen And have this awful debt to pay. Claude's mother never recovered from her son and husband's death, but she lived until 1944 in New Egypt, NJ where she moved with her other son, Victor and his family. She blamed her husband for her son's death. Claude's "pretty sweetheart" (Nellie Ethel Wisler) moved to Bluefield, WV and married. She lived into her eighties. One version of the song talks about the "hard- hearted Governor" (William Hodges Mann) who wouldn't spare Claude's life and didn't care what his friends said. He left office at the end of his term and never ran for re-election. He did, however, "care what Claude's friends said." He received numerous threatening letters from Carroll County and had special guards brought to the Governor's Mansion. He even barred the state's prisoners from doing free work at his estate, which was a "perk" in those days. And finally, Claude isn't buried on a mountain. He's buried in the Wisler Cemetery at the FOOT of Fancy Gap Mountain. Incidentally, Claude spelled his name without the "e" on the end. Philip <phatcher1@cfl. To: VACARROL-L@rootsweb.com rr.com> cc: (bcc: Ronald W. Hall/US-Corporate/3M/US) Subject: [VACARROL] Country Music 09/02/2001 02:05 PM Hey!!! I'LL bet you thought I had dug a hole, and jumped in, NO. NO. I have been working on putting country Music on the Sutphin web Site, some up and see how you like it. If you have a Favorite song let me know and I will look for it and put it on, OK?? You can listen to a song while looking up your Cousins, on Mikes honor roll. Phillip -- -- Saga of Fredia Bolt, The Allen's, Our Vet's Honor Roll, http://pages.zdnet.com/hatchphil/sutphincousinsphotoalbum/ ==== VACARROL Mailing List ==== This list is intended for the exchange of genealogical information or questions concering Carroll Co, VA, families.