The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-06-23
MISSED E1Is MARK.
True story OrkentueIsy in OIden Tim

torney here, l heard a witness asked,
NV hat is your age, and what has been
your occupation for the pas; forty five
years % And the answer to this elected
narrative of one of the most interesting
adventures and hair~breadrh escapes char
acteristic of the first part Of the present
century In this section Of the commons
wealth.
The question was asked by Judge Du.
laney, and Robert Davis, the witness an.
swered that his age was seventy>two
years land, for The purpose of answering
the balance of the question, turned 10 an
old acquaintance in the room, and asked
him, ''W hat year was it that fellow shot
at me near The Tripping Springs for
That was my first yeal S experience in the
tobacco trade When the witness had
been released from his examination. we
desired TO know the particulars of the in
cident referred 10, and lac favoled US with
the following
SIN the year l8- l was agent in the
Green river country for large tobacco
house in New Orleans. There was no
express companies through this country
then, and | had just returned from New
Orleans, bringing with me large amount
OF money for the purpose of paying for
the tobacco had purchased and shipped,
ard TO make future purchases for the
same house. l stopped one night at the
Dripping Springs about fifteen miles north
OF bowling Green, on The Louisville and
Nashville turnpike. This was the stop
ping place then for travellers going over TO
the Mammoth Cave. From this point
was desirous of reaching farmers who
resided not far from the cave, and, accord
ingly, after settling my bill! with the hotel
keeper at the springs, left early The next
morning for that point.
''ln those days, at almost every hotel
IN tins section Of lie country, there was
certain 10 be found a class of rnen pecu,
liar 10 those times and this part of The
country men tf good address and manly
appearance, and who, without labor OF
any kind, lived upon the fat of the land,
as found at the old stage stands and couu
try iaverns, but of whose previous history
nothing could ever be learned, and who
yet seemed never to be Withholding any
secret from their associates, and even cas-
ual acquaintances. Such was man bv
the name of Potter, then living at The
Dripping Springs.
''After leaving there, | rode over on
The rugged and almost mountainous road
leading from The springs TO the cave, un-
III | reached the branch that crosses the
road, about two miles beyond the springs.
1t was warm, sultry day. and stopped
here, as Lad been suffering from head
ache, to battle my head III the stream !
dlsmounted from my horse, and held the
bride while / Suelt ON a rock and at he
very instant | stopped over, | heard the
sharp crack of rifl', and, in luokiu. up.
L saw tins man Potter coming ;.lmD ST on
a run from out Of some bushes toward
me and | aiterward remembered the cx-
ceedingly ferpIcxed lock OF surprise upon
his cuunienailce wlcn | askt d.. ~ hat
was lie shooting at !! II. said, y TURKEY,
and commenced 10 load his gun again
| mounted my horse and rode off. hol
doubling his word y few yards from
tins point the road turned, and OH my
looking around trom here, saw ;hat he
WAS loading very eXcitcdiy, ana there was
a perullar something in the manner in
which he turned up his charger TO pour
in the powder that caused my first susp,
ciun oi the truth. 1t has been upward OF
Is years, but there is no IN, nIory more
/ distinct in my mind than the s5raii.,. IN
accountable loUk of that man, as lle ap
! peared at thar moment. / then lemeIn
/ bered that he had SEN me open nay
/ pocket book 10 settle v.i,h the landlord al
( the springs that morning aud scarcely
! had Thought OF this when my horse
/ staggered and fell in the road On ex-
auiining hir found lis whole bteas.
/ covered with blood thai was Ucz.Ig out #
a small bullet hole in his Shoulder. Ny
suslicidns wcIc ihcn proven, and getting
llm up again, ! huriicd5n Ia tie Mans
muIh Ga, c as iasI aa hls-cGn. .IIion wouid
allow There had been Lis field ios,
4 ter thelc tha! day, aud ou hearn. n,
! story, the uoiunc! IN command Mr. IL III.
! Claypuoi) STATED wl;ll six men bach "a,
me spot. Potter had s,ine liiel.ds So
ent, aud particularly a Dr Sto,,e, l.u
were IiieiIBtd 10 lliiieule ulY story as "a
she intention of Potter, even if ya- cer
rect about his being The man. On :rriv
iHg at the branch No trace OF Potter could
be found, nor could we fer some tine
find any marks or circumstances lending
in any way ioconiirnim my report Final,
I ly. however, Col Claypole found. on /;
little hill and behind large tree, The im
print of rife stock, and also OF a mdr'
knee upon The ground. Pie co!one! II, I
placed me whercI stood when lear,i II,
shot, and with his own gun he. look an
at me irum the posiinn by lie tree, aa,
: he then Ioid The doctor lEat th,ck d.
E wood husIi was directly in the line, ane
that bali could not have ueneIrateds j
, -withon' eating ieaf or twis GA cx-
, animation IA i,af was found with ilr
smooth cut hole of "a fih ball in it, an'
the line of sight Showed that il must hav