The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-09-22
A Narrow Escape.


cumsiances in the lives Of men who live on the
frontier, which, to have them recalled, win max
them turn pale and mentioning that grave an,
asking whose.it Was, recalled fearful event il
my experience But as the night is young yet
will tell you all about it; perhaps it viii be ;
warning TO you never TO trust too much 20 ;
stranger or to throw temptations in his way
Thus spoke your humble servant some months
ago, to neutrality-suspicious. ofwhom he was one
Tho following is the story to which alluded to
above:
Several years ago was ont with party pros
pccting for silver high upthe ella river. We had
been sometime without meeting with any success,
and were returning to Fort Yuma, Disguised with
the country, We had left the l'mos village a
days journey behind us, wfrn we fell in with a
man travelling the same way that we were. He
was without grub or blankets, aud said he was
going TO California. AS we had some spare mules,
we told him if he could ride pack saddle he could
go with us as far as Fort Yuma. None Of us
liked the looks of the fellow. lie had such
thoroughly villsinous expression. But as he
seemed so badly used mp. we took pity on him
aud made him the offer we did. He accepted
without any hesitation. We found him tacitnrn,
never speaking without he was spoken TO. When
we campcd, he would take the saddle off his mule
and 60 off by himself, never helping TO get the
/ grub ready; and when it was ready h. would
come and pitch in with the rest Of us.
However, though did not like him or his ac-
| ti"ns, we said nothing, thinking he might have
som" secret SORROW that we had no right TO pry
into. We had Travelled two days when what an
about to 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 dcciously cool anusc-
meut, bathing in the shade Of the cottonwood
trees which hung over the banks of the river.
We stripped ins,autcr, and was soon enjoying our
selves gloriously. had belt around me with
several twenty pieces in it, and took il off to
give me free play in the water. ] laid it down
on my clothes carclrSsly, u',cr thinking 81
hiding il from amy of the company, as they all
knew ! had Tho mucy and had no idea that the
stranger would b. tcinpted 70 take it. As came
out of the water noticed the stranger looking
very longingly at my bclt. hut thought no moro
about 1t.
That night irom some cause, could not sleep
II. and when wonld fall into state of uncon-
sci"usncss ] was troubled with such wiIl-likc /,
dreams, thai ] wah rather hal remained vide /
awake. At last. ,bout midnight, went 10 sleep |
soundly; how long ! lay do not know, but i
awakened suddenly To find some one kncclilg
,,, ,,,,. ,-, ,,r, "a, N
Now | have ALWAYS h1d the power (call it prs
cnr, ~ mind, ~ anytlin~ clsr) comprchcI,!iug
in an instant all that is going on around n", no
matter from how sound sleep may lee Walked
II is auyj'ig, hut Tl'aSa' o" wake afrl Hnf '''cN
s,lf in ihr power of a dcsp, ralo who will have no
hesitation IN plunring knit, into your heart
felt mrs,B in ANYTHING hut an crviahc situation,
know my that thu slightest Indication on my part
/, being awake would cause the villain to give m"
between the ribs tbr length Of his bowie, or the
rnutcuts of his pistol For, although could
no; see his pistol felt sun that h" had it HANDY.
To- SECURE my pistol without letting him know
Ina, was awake vas u very dc..icate operation,
and attempted to accc.np!ioh it in the following
manner: my i .od and bowie kniic were both
under my saddle, which used for a pillow. ]
lew my right arm up over my head, taking care
not To touch the robhcr, and yawncd rs if were
half awake but ready with my left hand 10 catch
hi, arm i'm the event of his attempting TO stab me
had my eyes partly shut, so that he could not
,asily see them glistrn but suIiciu ty 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 brtraying him by throwing or my left hand,
but some strong impulse prevented me from do
ing it, and lac hr held his knife suspended to give
the blow had | made another move. When |
threw my hand over my head, with the same
movement placed it under the saddle and on the /
but Of my pistol, which was cooked and ready for
use l.
lay in that position for about half a minute,
put it seemed like an hour. by that time / had
,owcr over my breathing, which ON first waking ,
'anc very quick. AS soou as he Thought that |
vas sound asleep again, he lowered his hand and
commenced operating ON my shirt clearing it
,way from the belt Then thought my oppor-
unity had came, and tried to jerk my six shooter,
,ut II was foul some way, and il would not come.
=
thought my time had arrived for, az quick as
hought, he drew and struck with his knife. He
truck at my throat. My eyes were broad open .
hen, and / saw where the knife was coming.
By quick involuntary movement L threw myself
side. and then he must have overrcaChcd himself, ,
or the knife stuck into the saddle, and so tight,
hat he could not get it ont. In trying to get my
,stol my hand touched the cold silver hilt Of my
,awic.
Instinctively took hold of it, abandoning the G
istol, and was nerving my arm for the blow.
when felt the cold muzzle Of his pistol against :
ny forehead struck out blindly, and as I did ;
o, there was the stunning report of his pistol
low escaped do not know; my face was black
ned with the powder, and my whiskcrs nearly
uned Off but that all the damage done to
ne. My blow, though struck at random, had J
roved severe one.-My knife had gone into the c
1T side Of his neck, inside the collar bone. The
nife must have reached his heart, for as i drew
ut To strike again, he fell OH with his whole +
eight, and his blood spirting all over my face =
L. gave one culver aud streatchrd out his length