The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1860-04-25

Assembled on the spot, | beheld gang
of score or more of the worst looking
men ] ever encountered, and in the
midst of them my friend and comrade,
Andy Huff Andy looked frightfully
pale and emaciated, and appeared to have
suffered much worse than myself. We
barely had time to greet each other, and
/ say: God bless you, comrade y when we
We're suddenly and roughly seized and gag
( ged. At the same time one of the out
/ laws, whom | at once recognized as the
/ leader Of the party which we had at first
! encountered, stepped forward and thus
! addressed us:
Now cuss yer" cried he passionately
well make yer pay for yer handy work
! tother night Strip en-
| IN few moments, we were stripped to
the skin, and we had neither the power to
resist nor expostulate.
out with the plank hosses." yelled
the same fellow. "Fust show 'em the
way they're goin to travel
We were separately led to the brink Of
a chasm near, and made to look down in
TO the almost unfathomable depth A
stream OF water dashed along over the
rocks at the bottom. 1t made me dizzy to
look down. We were then stationed o
few feet from the brink. with "a guard
over us. begun to apprehend that some
trightful death awaitedus, and my ieehng5
were dreadful.
A plank about a dozen feet long, and a
foot wide, was then brought forward. and
! placed half way over the precipice. Ny
blood ran cold at the preparations.
On one end of the plank two men sta
toned themselves.
Now drive the chap forard," shouted
the leader, pointing TO Andy. "Tother
fellow shall see him drop, an then follow
artcr him. Drive on thar hosses."
Every effort was made to move Andy,
but the poor fellow remained obstinate
| The outlaws pricked him with theil
knives, and beat him with their rifles
but ne refused TO stir.
Despite his struggles. Andy was picked
up and carried to the plank As the out.
laws let him down they gave him a VIC
lent push. which sent him forward to the
end Of the plank over the precipice. Andy
swayed from side to side and struggled
wildly to regain his balance. He failed
however. in his fall clutching desperate
ly at the plank There he held, his fin
ger nails buried in the plank. 1t was q
horrid scene, and my blood runs cold al
the mere recollection of it.
"Let him go" shouted the tiendish
leader
The men who were standing at the
other end of the plank Jumped off oft
and Andy went into the seething depth.
below. Despite the gag in his mouth, the
poor fellow uttered a wild and terrific
shrek before he disappeared from SIGH
forever. The cry rings in my ears now
though years have passed since then,
shall never forget it.
The outlaws sprang to the edge of tn,
cliff, and with savage exultation watched
| Andy's descent.
Now for the t,other onew shoute,
the leader, after a few minutes.
At that instant, a loud report of fire
arms reverberated far and near, and tn,
half of the bandits, at least, fell dead t
the earth. The balls Whistled'around m,
thick as hail, but | escaped unhurt. In
stantly afterward party OF trappers rush
ed upon the scene, and charged upon th'
outlaws The fight was short but desper
ate. In the end not an outlaw Remained
alive though they fought like incarnat
devils
In the very first moments of the mele
got out of harm. Pinioned and gagged
| would have been of no use to myself 0
anybody. After the conflict was over,
made my appearance and gave a state
ment of what transpired. From the traI
pers | learned that that the cry of And
had directed them to the spot, bu
poor fellow, they came too late to saw
him.
| thanked God and the mountaineel
Tor my preservation, and dquitted the seen
Of relief, mingled with a feeling Of SAT
ness.
Gentlemen that was about the wor'
situation | was ever placed in, and ma
YOU never have a similar experience.