The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-03-04
From the Missouri Democrat
A NIGHT OF PERIL.
oY o. NJ II.


drew up our horses after hard days ride, in
front OF the comfortable inn kept by old Major
L., on .he turnpike road leading from Nash
willie, Tenn, 10 Louisville, Ky. The old Major
is quite celebrity in those parts for he was
one Of tn, carly settlers of Kentucky, and par
tcipatcd in many well contested field with
the red sons Of the iorcst--or, as he classcally
terms them, " the heather yarnints.' He is
free, open hearted, joviol companion, and can
brew tho bist apple.toldy ever drank
Supper being dispatched, we adjourned to the
4" bar ROOM or common sitting room OF the
! inn, where blazing log fire roared aud crackled
before which long row of golden pippns were
roasting, preparatory 10 the expected aud ever
welcome /" toddy."
" Boys" suid the Major as he placed de-
canter Of old rye aud glasses on a little table
by the side OF his great arm chair, "boys, while
them apples is roastin' will tell you little
adventure once had, aud which happened on
the very road you will have TO travel to-mor-
row"
"DJ, Major replied Dick. whose passion
| for hair breadth escapes was second only to
his love of the wimin,"" come let us have it,
! aud he drew his chair closer to the Major.
Afera preparatory cleaning OF the throat. the
Major b,gan;
"Thrty years ogo, boys, Kentucky was not
what it is now Then this part of the country
was comparatively wilderness, with an occa-
sional lnjun scouting about, aud fellows Of all
shades aud casts, wOrst if possible, than the
rad devils themselves. done good business
them days, in the horsc-trading line, and early
one morning--a cold, snowy Dc mher morn
ing it was, tool left Nashville with several
thousand dollars in a leathern belt around my
body. The horse | rode was splendid animal,
dark bay full sixteen ami half hands high
and he carried me on my road ri hit lively until
the evening began to gather in. | had ridden
about forty miles, and was looking out for some
stopping place, w en- the road entered a dark
narrow pass between two high spurs Of the
mountain. In fact it was rs dcsolate a lookiI &
place rs one would wish to see, and felt chilled
the moment entered it. We'll, | had not ad-
vanccd far before sudden turning of the road
revealed large, double log cabin, two stories
high, which looked more like a fort than dwell
ling However, it was my only chance. aud
determined to make the best of il So riding up
to the fence, | gave loud holoa.' A coarse
featured, slatIernly looking woman came to the
door and told me to light did So and after
tlclng my horse IN llttle shed, led him, aud
entered the house.
The room lentcrcd was used both as b,d-
, room and sitting-room. A log fire blazed up the
large chimney, aud before it were seated with u
bottle Of whshcy between them, two OF the
most viluinous looking chaps ever saw. They
were playing old sledge with greesy deck OF
cards, and, with the exception OF a long stare
took no notice whatever of my entrance.
"The woman busted herself in the kitchen
and presently We sat down to Il toerable sup
per, for which my hard days ride had given me
a keen appetite. My two companions also, ate
! soraciOusy, more like bru es than men-dnd
% had frequent recourse to the whisky bottle
. drink Of which, however, they never offered tC
II me. Immediately after supper they both "i
:, the room together b ckoning the woman to fol
> low which she mmadiatey y did, was more thar
y once tempted to leave the house, ,formy suspicious
II were aroused, but the darkness deferred me-
u Presently the woman returned, and as | hat
y finished my pipe | desired to be shown to M
e bed. She took light and followed her int,
- the kitchen and showing me ladder, she tol'
+, me would fad place TO sleep over head,
y ascended the ladder, closed the trap door at TIN
!, heud of it, unl found myself in small loft
10 containing two beds, but no carpet, and Lighted
by single hole, cut in the logs Finding M
1t means OF fastening the trap door, placed tw
Z chairs over it, SO that they would fall the mo
1t m'nt the trap was raised. | also examined
Y nm, Darreed pistol and placed it together wit
is my knife under the pillow. determined 4
guard against surprise, looked under my bed
and saclng long, nerrow-ooking box, tried Il
draw it oit, bat failed. | then took the Candl
- aud lifted the lid. Boys (Ond the majo
;" visibly sAuddercd as he spoke,) 81 hav
n never sceun sight that sckcned me as that did
Id There lay in that box, IA man With his throa
" cut from ear to ear--Cud and ghastly, and ap
el parently not long dead. dropped the lid an
ii jumped t1 the window to get fresh air, for i
- nearly took away my breath, 1t was all up ther
~ was certuin that was trapped, and that m
|" own death was being fixed upon by the Cut
e. taroats below. must try to escape, but hov
49, that was to be done was more than could tell
nI If peDuhl ,lntNruinpl IN self lIN do ri
is as possible slid into my clothes secured m
- money, aud took another look at the ilinl-iocl
Su jdenly the idea struck me that might eS
cape by the window, 1t was not very far irol
the ground about fourteen feet ; aud | dete
te mined to try. took down the sash, stuck m
v head ont aud listened. All was still Now
us never thought l. AS squeezed myself throus
lv the narrow hole aud droppsd to the g'ouud.
!; LIT on my back as always do when fall, SO
-, did not hurt me, and rising CROPPED my way
w the she where my horse was. saddled hi
rather rapidly and was just mounting when Il
door OF the house opened and the light blazAd q
me, The rascals saw me, and rushing out. vii
80, an oath tried to head me from the bars. toe
~, a coupl' OF digs with my heels at The bay al
~ pushed him at tho tcncc. q, er he went takiI
" or the top rail aud bulc, sung along BY n
! head as started OF II was an uncommon
-, -, active ride had that night, aud though d
=, hot fear their oyertaking me, yet hal preSe
.ro tlmant it was better to hurry along kno
Go you'll not believe me when say il, but its
,'1 positive fact, did not stop until gNllopel
W, to the tavern door in the town OF ScottSvil
49, twenty miles it il was an inch. When | q
down found my brooches Were on hind part
ne tore. 80 you may Judge what an uncomorlab
w. time had. Boys that's the yarn aul its tru
V" every word as | tell you"
w "Btt, MAJOR exclaimed the excited Die
T." ,"' "diln'l YOU so back the next day and arr,
-! them 2
,M .,, "Nolexlctly my friend replied the old m
.a ior, with a lowquie, laugh. Ill is hard matt
,'', even now to bring man to Justice in Kenlucl
w, rhen, thu idea was rilicuhus However h
)ut NV ,, " hS'"''e I'm Wv,
~, either had to leave the country TO save his sea-
III Prohahl, you have read of them, They we