Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-02-08

two rufians gazing down. Ono
grasped in his hand a long pole,
armed with a sharp point, and di-
rectly opposite me, in the well,
within a few ieet of my face, was
IA bloated, livid face of swollen
corpse, that had, unknown to me,
served to obstruct my rising to the
surface. In the Pickering light
and disturbed waters, it appeared
to mock and jeer, moving nearer
and nearer. Just then one OF the
men said to the other:
Split his bead and jab him I'M
der, or he will sing out
And down came the sharp
spear, touching my arm, slightly
injuring me. He then drew it up
to throw it again with more dead
ly purpose. The despair Of death
was upon me, and from my lips
the name of her far away arose III
a choking cry of anguish.
At that instant of time, the re-
port of pistols, shrieks of pain,
mingled with the varied sounds Of
deadly conflict, came to my ear;
the desperate above me in haste
cast the spear, and then with his
companion, rushed to the scene OF
other murders, doubtless feeling
secure of the victim left in the
well. The lantern hung on a nail
about six feet above me, and a
piece ofrope had been carelessly
dropped from what appeared to be
vertical trap, opening outward on
the tide water.
Bodies were found in the bay SO
frequently in those days, that they
excited little curiosity or comment.
At a glance l could see all | have
described, and although wounded
in my left arm by the spear, still,
with the desperate energy OF des-
pair, l pushed the swollen body
under my feet, and sprang to grasp
the rope. Twice | failed, and big
drops of perspiration fell from my
forehead, as l thought the murder
ers would return instantly. The
third attempt was more success
full, for | seized the rope-whlch
luckily, had knot att the end
with degree of strength l could
not have used under any other
circumstances, and raised myself
toward the floor above, which !
found, on one side ofthe well, there
was space between the boards
and floor, Of about eight inches
high, perhaps twenty wide. How
l forced myself through this mar
row space, encountered as | was, |
do not know, for all the events l
have described passed i'll o few mo-
ments, although it seemed an age
to me.
/ dropped myself down on the
outside into the ripping waters.
and passing as quickly as possible
from pile to pile, under the street
and many houses, | scarcely stop
ped to breathe until ] found my
self far from the spot. Once l
thought l heard smothered voices
and the sound of muffled oars, but
if SO, they could not find me, and
/ made my way cautiously to land
a long distance off, for | well knew
they would use every means to stop
a victim who had discovered their
crimes. Exhausted and very
weak from loss of blood from my
wounded arm, | crept to my gar
ret. Late the next morning when
| awoke, could not believe the
above evenst, except as q troubled
dream. until, reaching out my hand
[ felt the weight Of the money IN
the pocket of my wet coat.
Mynarrative was here interrupt
ed by a hesitating voice from the
little head that was nestled SO
closely to my bosom. Looking
down in the cllild's face, two big
tears were lingering on hereyelids,
for she had listened to the long
story with the childish wonder
she might have listened to a sto-
ry from the Arabian Nights.
But, flther, what became OF
the wicked men, and what did
you do with all that money"
q will tell you, my dear, | re-
piled, after binding up my
wounded arm as well as possible, |
,,,o,+ o,,t o,d took tho first rood