New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-08-27
A MARROW ESCAPE.

+ A NARROW ESCAPE,
Come, Joe, tell lis what made you turn pal
awhile ago when Jack told US that he had seen
' grave and asked whose it was ~
t Bah, boys turn pale, did II There are cn
/. cumstances IN the lives of most men Who I'VE q
the frontier, which, to have them recalled, WI
:, make them turn pale. And mentioning that grave
! and asking whose it was, recalled a fearful even
in my experience. But as the night is young yet
7 will tell you about it; and perhaps it will be
warning TO you never to trust too much to stran
ger, or throw temptation in his way
Thus spoke your humble servant some month
I ago, to party of prospectors, Of whom he Wa
, one. The following is the story to which allude
above:
t Several years ago, was out with party pros
pecting for silver, high up the ella river We has
! been some time without meeting with any success
and were returning to Fort Yuma, disguised witt
the country. We had left the Pimos village day
: journey behind u.s. when we fell IN with a maj
travelling the same way that we were. He wa
, was without grub or blankets, and said he wa:
going to California Aswe had some spare mules
we told him that if he could ride pack saddle ht
could so with us as far as Fort Yuma. None OF III
liked the looks of the fellow. He had such thor
oughly villainous expression. But as he seemed
SO badly used up, we took pity on him and madt
him the offer that we did. He accepted without
any hesitation We found him taciturn, never
speaking unless he was spoken to. When we
camped, he would take the saddle Oft his mule and
go off by himself, never helping to get the gruf
ready; and when it was ready he would come anG
pitch in with the rest of us.
However. though we did not like him or his ae
tions, said nothing, thinking he might have some
secret sorrow that we had no right TO pry into
i we had travelled two days when what am about
70 tell you occurred. We had camped at noon, and
as the weather was very warm, some one proposed
| that we should all take a bath. All had felt that
it would be a deliciousy cool amusement, bathing
in the shade of the cottonwood trees which hung
over the banks of the river. We stripped nstanter
IT
/ had belt around me with several tWentles IN 1t,
and took it of to give me free play in the water.
/ | laid it down on my clothes earelessly, never
| thinking of hiding it from any of the company, as
4 they all knew that | had the money, and had no
| idea that the stranger whould be tempted to take
/ it. As / came out of the water. noticed the
stranger looking very longingly at my belt, but
4 thought no more about it.
| That night, from some cause, could not sleep
4 we'll, and when would fall into state of uncon-
| seriousness was troubled with such wildtlike
| dreams, that would rather had remained broad
| awake. At last, about midnight, went to sleep
| souudly; how long j lay | do not know but wax
| ened suddenly to find some one kneeling over me
and very carefully cutting my shirt open. Now /
have always had the power (call it presence of
| mind, or anything else) Of comprehending in an
instant all that is going on around me. no matter
from how sound sleep may be walked. 1t is
anything but pleasant to wake and find ones self
in the power OF desperate who will have no hes
itation in plunging knife into your heart. felt
ing that the slightest indication on my part, of be
ing awake would cause the villain to give me be-
tween the ribs the length Of his bowie the CON
tents Of his pistol For, although could not see
his pistol, felt sure that he had it handy.
10 secure my pistol without letting him know
that was awake, was a very delicate operation,
and attempted to accomplish it in the following
manner: my pistol and bowie knife were both
under my saddle, which used for pillow. Threw
my right arm up over my head, taking care not to
touch the robber, and yawned as if l was half
awake, but ready with my left hand to catch his
arm in the event Of his attempting to stab me. |
had my eyes partly shut, that he could not easily
see them glsten, but sufficiently open to see his
every move, which could easily do, as it was a
clear starlight night. On the instant that moved
he raised his arm to strike, and was nearly be-
traying him my being awake by throwing off my
left hand, but some strong impulse prevented me
from doing it, and he held his knife suspended to
give the blow had made another move. When
threw my hand over my head, with the same move
ment placed it under the saddle and ON the butt
of my pistol, which was cooked ready for use.
lay in that position for about half minute, but
it seemed like an hour. By that time had power
over my breathing, which on first waking came
very quick. As soon as he thought that was
sound asleep again, he lowered his hand and com
menced operating on my shirt, clearing it away
from the belt. Then thought my opportunity had
come, and tried to jerk my six shooter, but it was
foul some way, and it would not come. thought |
that my time had arrived, for as quick as thought,
he drew and struck with his knife He struck at
my throat. My eyes were broad open then, and |
saw where the knife was coming. By a quick in
voluntary movement, ] threw myself aside, and he
must have overreached himself for the knife stuck
into the saddle, aud tight that he could not get
it out. In trying to get my pistol my hand touched
the fessal steam fag iu, II ifilt of my bowie.
o. 4s4 --bfopt b took hold of it, abandoning the |
Dew nerying my arm for the blow, when |
muzzle Of his pistol against my fore |
7aS3 ok out blindly, and, as did SO, there |
--- ship manning report Of his pistol. How es-
gas t,h Anot know my face was blackened with |
eaned dSs Ssaaiald my whiskers nearly burned off,
III nowder, al thn damage done to me- My blow,
but that was all qle, Eobser I'm Rnatan Nlahdatara
though struck at random, had proved sepelo
Nv knife had gone into the left side Of his neck,
inside Of the collar bone. The knife must have
reached his heart, for as drew out to strike again.
he fell on me with his whole weight, and his blood
| spirting all over my face. He gave one quver
and stretched out his length and lay perfectly still
stone dead The whole transaction did not take
three.quarters Of minute.
Thereport of the pistol had aroused the company,
every man sprung to his arms. Some were looking
for the mules, while others were asking who fired
| the shot, and where the Indians We're. called to
| the boys to take the dead man off me- for | was
| as weak as child. A couple of them did as re-
| quested while others threw fresh sage brush on
the halfsmoulderfng campfire, and we soon had
| plenty of light to see what had happened. | told
| the boys all about what had occurred We found
| all the mules in their places but mine, which was
stakea off about twenty yards from the camp, with
| one of the other boys saddle and bride on her.
| went into the river and. cleaned myself from his
blood, and then sat down by the campfire, where
] remained till morning, unable to sleep,
/