Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-12-17


She brought me food and medicine and I
temporary light My wounds had alread,
been dressed. OF course l was eager t
| question her.
MY good woman said ], very pleasant
ly, I should like to know where am
will you tell me p
She shook her head negatively, and ia
all / could say or do l got no answer. ]
inquired about Andy, and other matters
but received no satisfaction. Finally. |
gave up in despair, and let the old hag 90.
"A week passed, and | was comparative
y well. About the expiration of that
time, the old squaw came to me one day
and beckoned me to follow her. Having
no reason to refuse obedience, 1 complied
with her directions, and after traversing a
number of dark passages, l found myself
in the open air. 1t was a bright. sunny
day, and despite my situation, l inhaled
the pure atmosphere with delight.
Assembled on the spot beheld gang
of score or more of tie worst looking
men l had ever encountered, and in the
midst of them my friend and comrade An.
dy Huff Andy looked frightrully pale
and emaciated, and appeared to have suf-
fered much worse than myself. We had
barely time to greet each other, and say
God bless you, comrade = when we were
suddenly and roughly seized and gagged.
At the same time one of the outlaws
whom | at once recognized as the leader of
the party which we had at first encounter
ed, stepped forward and addressed us.
Now, cuss yer = cried be, passionately
well make you pay fur yer handy work
Pother night. Strip 'em =
In few moments we we're stripped to
the skin, and had neither the power to re-
sist or expostulate.
Out with the plank, hosSes = yelled the
same fellow. Fust show 'em the way
they're going to travel.'
we were separately led to the brink of
chaSm near, and made to look down into
almost the unfathomable depths. A stream
Of water dashed along over the rocks at
the bottom. 1t made me dizzy to look
down. We were then stationed q few feet
from the brink, with guard over us. 4
began to comprehend that some frightful
death awaited us, and my feelings were
dreadful.
"A plank about dosen feet long and a
foot wide was then brought forward and
placed half way over the precipice My
blood ran cold at the preparations.
'On one end of the plank two men sta
toned themselves.
Now, drive the chap for'ard ? shouted
the leader, pointing to Andy. 'Tother fell
low shall see him drop, and then he follows
arter him. Drive him on thar, hosses p
Every effort was made to move Andy
but the poor fellow continued obstinate.
The outlaws pricked him with their knives
and beat him with their rifles, but he re-
fused to STIR
Garry him = shouted the leader madly. |
Despite the struggles, Andy was picked
mp and carried to the plank AS the out
avs let him down they gave him violent
push which sent him forward to the other
end of the plank over the precipice. Andy
'wayed from side to side, and struggled
wildly to regain his balance. He failed
however, and fell over, in his fall desperate
y clutchng at the plank. There he held
With his finger nails buried in the wood
It was horrid scene, and my blood runs
,old at the bare recollection of it.
Let him go ? shouted the fendish leader
The men who were standing on the 9th
r end of the plank jumped off, and plank
nd Andy whirled down into the seetbing
lepths below. Despite the gag in his
Mouth, the poor fellow uttered loud and
certifying shrek before he disappeared from
ight forever. The cry rings in my ear
ow Though years have passed since then,
shall never forget it,
The outlaws sprang to the edge of the
liff, and with savage exultation watched
Andy's descent.
Now, fur t'other one = shouted the
,ader, after the lapse of few minutes.
AT that instant a loud report of fire.
rms suddenly reverberated far snd near,
nd half of the brandits at least fell dead
0 the earth. The balls whistled around
lie as thick as hail, but 1 escaped unhurt.
instantly afterwards a party Of trappers
lshed upon the scene and charged at the
utlaws. The fight was short but desper-
te. In the end not an outlaw of them re-
lained alive, though they fought like in
arnate devils.
In the few first moments of the melee
got away out of the reach of HARM
'inioned and gagged, l would have been
no use to myself or anybody. After
ne conflict was over l made my appear
nee and gave statement of all that had
'anspired. From the trappers learned
lat the cry of Andy had directed them
} the spot but, poor fellow, they came
% late to save him.
i thanked God and the mountaineers
" my preservation, and quilted the scene
18th sense of relief mingled with feel
lg of sadness
Gentlemen, that was about the worst
tuatcn ever was placed in, and may
ou never have similar experience
POtatOes-Neyy Varieties.