Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-06-09
"Reckon ~
you've made a great mistake"
ttn-5A 4l.-r :. ~

| mo no my friend.-that cock won't fight
We amt msdoubting at all, but you're the right
man. You answer all the descriptions, and Jake
Sturgis here has made his affidavy that YOU
chased him, neck and neck, as mad as any
| blind puppy in a dry September, for an hour
| by sun yesterday. We don't want no more
proof"
land where do you mean to carry me 2"
l enquired, with all the coaluess was mas.
ter of.
well, well put you up in pen we've got a
small piece from here; and when the sheriff comes,
he'll take you back to your old quarters at Ham
| ilton Jail, where | reckon they'l fix you little
tighter than they had you before. We've sent
after the sheriff, and his .spose- you-come and.
take us. and l reckon they'll be here about sun
down.
CHAPTER v.
Here was "sitiaton" indeed. Burning with
Indignation, was yet sufficiently master of my
self to see that an ebulliton of rage on my part,
would only confirm the impressions which they
had received of my insanity. l said little there
tore, and that little was confined to an attempt
TO explain the chase of yesterday, which Jake
Sturgis had made the subject of such mischie-
vous ''affidavy." But as could not do this with
out laughter, incurred the danger of the whip.
MY laugh was ominous.-Jake edged off once
more to the roadside; the man beside me got his
bludgeon in readiness, and the potent wagon
whip OF the leader of the party, was uplifted in
threatening significance. Laughter was clearly
out of the question, and it naturally ceased on
my part as got in sight of the .pee" in which
was to be kept secure. This structure is one
well known to the less civilized regions of the
country. 1t is a common place of safe keeping
In the absence of gaols and proper officers. 1t is
called technically a "bull pen,' and consists of
huge logs, roughly put together, crossing at
right angles forming hollow square,-the logs
too massey to be removed, and the structure too
high to be climbed, particularly if the prisoner
should happen to be. like myself, fairly tied up
hand and foot together. I relucted terribly at
being put into this place. I pleaded urgently,
struggled tiercely, and was thrust in neck and
heels without remorse; and, in sheer hopeless :
ness and vexation, lay with my face prone to
the earth, and half buried among the leaves.
weeping, shame to confess it, the bitter tears of
impotence and modification.
Meantime, the news ofmy capture went through
the country;-not ma capture, mark me, but that
OF the famous madman, Archy Dargan, who had
broke Hamilton Jail. This was an event, and
visitors began to collect. My captors, who kept
watch on the outside of my den, had their hands
full IN answering questions Man, woman and
child, Squire and ploughboy, and, finally, danes
and damsels, accumulated around me, and such a
throng of eyes as pierced the crevices of my log,
dungeon, to see the strange monster by whom
they were threatened, now disarmed of his ter.
keepers-"a power to calkilate.". This was not
the smallest part of my annoyance. The logs
were sufficiently far apart to suffer to see and
to be Seen, and crouched closer to my PUSHES,
and buried my face more thoroughly than ever, if
possible, to screen my dishonored visage from
their curious scrutiny. The conduct nightly Of
Tended some of the visitors. i.
81 can't see his face, said one
'Stir him with long pole n'--and was great
~ IN danger of being treated as surly bear, re-
fusing to dance for his keeper; since one of mine
seemed very much disposed to crafty the specta- ri
tor, and had actually begun sharpening the end
OF ten foot hickory, for the purpose of pricking
me into more sociableness. He was prevented
from carrying his generous design into effect by
the suggestion of one or two of his compan-
ions.
''Better don't, Bosh; if ever he should git out
agen, he'd put his ear mark upon you.'' !,
''Reckon you re right was the reply of the
other. as he laid his rod out of sight. .
Meanwhile, the people came and went, each
departing visitor sending othsrs. couple of
hours might have elapsed leaving me in this hu-
initiating situation, chained to the stake, the
beast of bear garden, with fifty greedy and still
dissatisfied eyes upon me. Of these, fully one
fourth were of the tender gender: some pitied
me, some laughed and all Congratulated them
selves that was safely laid by the heels, inca
pable of farther mischief. 1t was not the most
agreeable part of their remarks to find that they
all universally agreed that was a most fright
full looking object. Whether they saw my face, D
or not, they all discovered that I gared fright
fully upon them, and heard one or two of them
ask in under tones, 'did you see his teeth--how
sharp CRASHED them with a vengeance all
the while, you may be sure
CHAPTER VI. ~
The last and worst humiliation was vet to
come-that which put me for long season out of :
humor with all human and woman nature. Con-
sclous of an unusual degree of hustle without, I
was suddenly startled by sounds of voice that
had once been pleasing and familiar. 1t was
that of female, clear, soft, transparent
which, till this moment had never been associa-
ted in my thoughts with any thing but the most
perfect of all mortal melodies. 1t was now
tangled, harsh, like .'sweet bells out of tune''--
The voice was that of Emmene. s'Good hea-
vens ~ | exclaimed to myself-scan she be
here!" In another instant, heard that of Su-
sannah-the meek Susannah,-she too was among
the curious to examine the features of the bed
lamte, Archy Dargan
dear me-" said Emmeline, sis he in that
place !"
.:What horrid place " said Susannah.
'lts the very place for such horrid creature
responded Emmeine.
cant he get out, papa?" said Susannah.
''lsn't mad person very strong2"
''Oh! don't Brighten body, Susannah, before
we have had peep" cried Emmene; II declare
I'm afraid to look-do, Col. Nelson, peep first
and see if there's no danger"
And there was the COMPOUNDED Col. Nelson ad-
dressing his eyes to my person, and assuring his
fair companions, my Emmeline, my Susannah,
that there was no sort of danger,-that was evil
IDENTIFY in one of my fits of apathy"
"The paaroxysm is off for the moment, ladies'
and even If he were violent, it is impossible
that he should break through the pen He seems
quite harmless--you may look with safety"
eyes. he's mighty quiet now, Miss" said one
OF my keepers encouragingly, '.but it's all owing