The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-07
From the .New York Commercial .9dperf;ser
THE NARROW ESCAPE

From the .New York Commercial .4dvertiser
THE NARROW ESCAPE.
The following narrative of facts is pre-
scented to the public, as exhibiting an OK.
traordiDary instance of pnshaken firmness
and self-possession, (orlpresence of mindl
under circumstances of imminent DANGER
and of hair-brendh escape from assass;na,
ton. The relation was given by the gen.
tleman who was the aotsr in the affair. Soon
after its occurrence and although wears
have elapsed since the recital, vet The scene
was SO peculiarly wild, apd wildly SIX etched,
that it was indelibly impressed upon the
mind.
Our story has its origin shortly after the
close of the late war. Colonel T., of the
United States Army, who, in the "Peace
Establishment" was attashed to the "South-
ern DIVISION" had been Stationed for some
months at New Orleans. In order to check
some hostile movements among he Indians
of the Mississippi, our troops we're concen-
trated near the point of danger and Col. II.
was ordered by the War Department, to as
sumo the command of the Military Post at
Nachitoches. He was chaged with the
conveyance of a large sum Of public meney
from New Orleans; and living made ar
engagements with gentlemn of the army
at Baton Rouge, to accompany him, (whith-
er the Colonel had despatched his servant,)
he set out from the city aiorR and on horse
back. At this early period, ere the genius
of Fulton was proudly triunphing on the
western wave, spurning The mad torrent of
the "father of waters" such journey was
toilsome and dangerous inthe EXTREME
Leaving the rich and fertils valley of the
lower Mississippi, the rout lay through a
wild and almost trackless forest, present
ing at every step, a lurking place for Ban
dts, who were then proving through the
Southern wilds, and practising successfully
their heartless and cruel beds of robbery
and murder. New OrleaB was the chief
rendezvous of these band, as well as of
hordes of pirates and advenurers, who roam
ed upon different element Some 40 or so
miles above the city, the Dad travelled by
Col T. passed through ong and swampy
district for something like 20 miles, the char
acter of which he was rot aware of, until
he had entered it, and right approached
ere he had penetrated five miles of this
dangerous pass. With the design of reach
ing the first house, distant about Is miles,
our benighted traveller was urging for
ward his wearied and faithful steed, when
suddenly the.sagacious animal, with the I'M
erring instinct of his nature, snuffed the
tainted breeze and, alarmed and ungov-
ernable, made desperate bound, discover
ing to the rider, at the same moment, the
cause OF his fright. A rush from the Cane
brake, 10y which the road was girded, pre-
scented the outlines of two men, making a
bold and determined push to intercept him.
But urging forward his horse by the whip
and spurs, he succeeded npassing them at
The mint of cnneanfrntad- attack After
running for some distance, the Colonel sue
ceeded in refining up his horse into mod
crate pace, with the intention of pursuing
his journey for the night
He had not gone far, however, when a
light was seen dimly Pickering through The
forest, in the direction of the river, and he
determined on reaching it, in hopes of find
ing house where shelter and protection
might be afforded. But in such dilemma
he felt much embarrassed. Not doubling
that he was waylaid, the vicinity Of the
light to the late scene of attack, suggested
doubts of its proving a place of safe and
hospltable entertainment. 1t was, hcWev-
er, equally hazardous to proceed on such a
roa6 after nightfall; he therefore diverged
toward the treacherous light, and with much
difficulty, wound devious way, through
the woods, and reached the house. The
appearance of this miserable tenement, ere
he entered it, or received reluctant per-
mission to stay, confirmed his suspicious as
to its character. An aged man, was, ap-
parently, the only inmate, who spoke the
mongrel language of the country, creole
and broken English. Our traveller accost-
ed him, made known his object and wishes,
and asked permission to stay during the
night. After some hesitation, and apparent
confusion Of manner, an assent WAS given,
temarklng at the same time that there was
no accommodation either for himself or
horse.
The Colonel dismounted, resolved to risk
every thing, and remain at this inhospitable
novel. Combining his horse to a swinging
limb of tree in the small enclosure, he
took charge of his baggage and entered.
A scene was very soon presented, which
called forth that admirable GOODNESS, and
self-possession, which alone constitute true
courage; and no degree of firmness, short
OF. this, could have sustained any man I'M
der such circumstances. Mere animal cour-
age would either have quailed, or being ex-
cited to desperation, would only have led
its victim to instant death. But we will de-
scribe the scene, and then let the reader
ask himself, "would / have thus acted ?''
have already remarked, that the Colonel
was convinced on arriving at. the house,
that 1t was the rendezvous and very den Of
robbers-and that he had escaped robbery,
and perhaps murder, on the road, to fall
here victim-for, without some most ex-
traordinary interpositon, death, in some
shape, seemed inevitable. Contrary to the
ColoneFs expectation, the house was dis.
tant from the river nearly mile. A dense
wood intervening, surrounded it in every
direction, every thing wearing a gloomy
and peculiar aspect, gave a presage o
some disastrous termination Of his untmely
and unexpected visit.
But, to return. There were two room.
Of the principal building, into the larges
OF which Col. T. was conducted by "mint
host" the old Creole. A female slave
seemed to have the sole charge of domesti,
affairs, who, at the request of the Colonel
was directed to procure something for sup
per- After a short absence, in attending
TO the comfort of his horse, he returned t,
the room, and found that footman, ap
parently a traveller, had arrived.
In the absence of the old man, a few re
marks were passed between the travellers
in the course Of which, the footman sug
gested to the Colonel the propriety of be
ing on his guard, as appearances about tn
house, were to him, very suspicious. TIL
pegress, also, while arranging the table 70
J supper, seemed to manifest something lik
solicitude, and expressions escaped hel