Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-03-26

while t0ld THIS, Dut tOok Dut ltIie u9tlce
of them only one arrested my attention.
had in my possession a small package Of
placards, which was to deliver to the Sher;;
iff of Jackson, and they we're notices for the
detection of notorious robber named Dick
Hardhead. The bills gave description Of
his person, and the man before me answered
very we'll to it. In fact it was perfect. He
was tall, well-formed man, rather slight in
frame, and had the appearance of gentle
man, save that his face bore those hard, cru
ell marks, which an observing man cannot
mistake for anything but the index of vii
lainous disposition.
"When I went to my chamber [ asked the
landlord who that man was, describing the
suspicious individual He said he did not
know him. He had come there that after
noon and intended to leave the next day
The host asked why I wished to know, and
I simply told him that the mans counten-
ance was familiar, and I merely wished to
know if was ever acquainted with him. |
resolved not to let the landlord into the Sc.
cret, but hurry on to jackson, and there give
information to the sheriff, and, perhaps he
might reach the inn before the villain left
for I had no doubt in regard to his identi.
ty.
ri had an alarm watch, and having set it
to give the alarm at one o'clock, I went to
sleep. l was aroused at the proper time,
and Immediately got up and dressed myself.
When reached the yard, I found the clouds
all passed away and the moon was shining
brightly. The hostler was easily aroused,
and by two o'clock 1 was on the road. The
mud was deep my horse could not travel
very fast-yet it struck me that the beast
made more work than there was any need of
for the cart was nearly empty.
"However, on we went, and in the course
of half an hour was clear of the village
At short distance ahead lay large tract of
forest, mostly of great pines. The road led
directly though this wood, and as near as I
could remember, the distance was twelve
miles. Yet the moon was in the east, and
as the road ran nearly west, I should have
light enough. 1 had entered the woods, and
had gone half mile when my wagon wheels
settled with bump and jerk, into a deep
hole. l uttered an exclamation of astonish-
ment, but that was not ALL Iheard another
exclamation from another source!
"What could it be? I looked quickly
around, but could see nothing. Yet knew
that the sound 1 heard was close to me. AS
the hind wheels came up, felt something
besides the jerk of the wheels. heard
something tumble from one side to the other
of my wagon, and I could also feel the jar
occasioned by the movement. 1t was man
in my cart! I simply knew this on the in
slant. Of course felt puzzled. At first
imagined some poor fellow had taken this
method to obtain ride; but I soon gave
this up, for I knew that any decent man
would have asked me for ride. My next
idea was that somebody had got in to sleep;
but this passed away as quickly as it came,
for no man would have broken into my cart
for that purpose. And that thought, gen.
tlemcn, opened my eyes. Whoever was in
there had broken in
"My next thought were of Dick Hard
head. He had heard me say that my load
was all sold out, and of course he supposed
I had some money with me. In this he was
right, for had over two thousand dollars.
I also thought he meant to leave the cart
when he supposed had reached safe place,
and then either creep over and shoot me, or
knock me down. All this passed through
my mind by the time had got a rod from
the hole.
"Now I never make it point to brag Of
myself, but 1 have seen great deal of the
world, and I am pretty cool and clear head
ed under a difficulty. In very few mo-
ments my resolution was formed. My horse
was now knee deep in the mud, and knew
I could slip off without noise. So I drew my
revolver-I never travel in that country
without one-I drew this, and having twin.
ed the reins about the whip stock, I careful.
ly slid down in the mud, and as the cart
passed on I went behind it and examined
the hasp.
"Thc door of the cart lets down, and is
fastened by hasp, which slides over sta.
pie and is then secured by paddock. The
paddock was gone, and the hasp was secured
in its place by bit of pine-so that slight
force from within could break.it. My wheel
wrench hung in leather bucket on the side
of the cart, and I quickly took it out and
slipped it into the staple, the iron handle
just slidding down.
"Now | had him. My cart was almost
new. made in a stout frame of white oak, and
made on purpose for hard usage. | did not
believe any ordinary man could break out
1 got on to my cart as noiselessly as | got off,
and then urged my horse on, still keeping
my pistol handy. knew that at the dis,
tance of half mile further I should come
to good hard road, and SO I allowed my
horse to pick his own way through the mud
About ten minutes after this [ heard mo.
ton IN the cart, followed by grinding noise.
as though some heavy force were being ap
piled to the door. said nothing, but the
idea struck me that the william might judge
where sat and shoot up through the top Of
the cart at ME, so I sat down on the foot
board.
"Of course, I knew now that my unex