Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-05-16

der tumbled from his saddle. The victim then
renewed his flight
A mad yell Of grief and rage broke from the
remaining troopers as they witnessed the fate Of
their comrade, and its effect was Immediately
evident in the augmented caution Of their pur.
sut--for they galloped afterwards in one body,
thereby greatly retarding their progress, so that
Neil reached the river before them. He paused
not moment, but plunged headlong down the
steep bank into the current, and struck off for
tile other shore, The dragons discharged their
side arms Intellectually, and gave over their
pursuit
In few minutes, Neil landed, and as soon as
he felt satisfied that he was really saved, burst
into an insuppressibe convulsion of laughter,
exclamng;
VT will kill me! Just to think how asonish-
ed the yellow devils locked when / hauled the
revolvers out Of my boots !"
Such was Col. John Neil possessing fund
humor that no misfortune could ever exhaust,
and a flow of animal spirits which would have
enabled him to dance on the graves Of all his
dearest friends, or TO have sung Yankee Doodle
at his own execution!
At much later period of Texan History, the
writer had the happiness to make the gallant
Colonel's acquaintance. The first time saw
him was at the city of Housan, in the summer
of 1915. lie was standing Oh the ground step
of the flight leading up to the door of the" Star
Hotel" Holding his sides with both hands, and
emitting through his enormous mouth boistrous
explosions, he seemed literally dying with laugh
ter; his face turned purple, and the blue veins
on his forehead swelled out as thick as a mans
thumb, while his eyes, cleaning with savage
mrth, remained fixed on form in porch above
him The latter was layer Seth Allen, gentle
man with the tall, meagre figure of a BARRIERS
pole, a huge moustache, and great profuson OF
ruffles. He had fought duel, mortal to his an
tagonist, the previous day, and was just then
relating to circle of wondering loafers, the his
tory of his prowess. The contrast between his
skeleton figure, foppish dress and narrated ex
poi1s, had struck Neil as transcendanty ludl.
crous; and hence his sudden and ungovernabe
merriment.
"Wbat are you laughing at, fellow Allen
demanded stcrnly, as he measured our Falstah
with his eye.
"At you" followed by another sonorous peal,
was the answer
"PIl teach you how to make sport of gentle
man" shouted Allen, frenzied with rage, as he
fled down the steps and aimed furious kick at
the others face.
Neil caught The foot in his right hand, and
then STOPPING, suddenly thrust his head between
Aliens legs, and fairly raised him on his neck
In that ridiculous position he trotted with the
famous dueist several times around the yard,
ing noisily like an idiot, while Allen voclferated
for his pistols Neil then walked eff esurely
some fifty PAGES, and tossed his burden into a
mud-hole, with roar that was re echoed by the
spectators.
An immediate challenge was the result. Col
Neil accepted, chose lifles Of tie largest size
and fixed the distance at hundred yards.
81 will only wing him." said the laughing
hero, as he took his stand "he's too poor tc
make good bacon!" At the first fire he broke
the others arm, and so the affair ended.
A mele running referance to the remaining
facts of our singular biography must close this
sketch.
COL Neil was born and brought up In PINE
tent, on the banks of the cumberland River, il
Tennessee. At the age of fifteen, he ran ava,
fIom his father, and made his way to the wilder
ness of Texas He there adopted the profession
of arms, which he never mole relinquished. H
has been captain of rangers, a colonel Of MALTA
guerdsman to Mexican traders, and genera
thief catcher for the sheriffs of many counties
and yet all his life had been one long, merr
laugh. And indeed he may be said to have
perfect right to laugh, if ever man had, for
braver, warmer. more generous heart never bea
in human bosom. He deserves to realize hi
lavorite wish ITO die laughing. ."-,S,md0
Times.