The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-11-22


Rubeok was passing along this road. on
his way home from Harrisonviile. al
about IL O'Clock at night. The nigh,
was quite dark, and it was with conside
rable difficulty that he could keep in the
road, or prevent his horse from stumbling
over the stones that obstructed the high.
way. He finally, however, reached the
top OF the hill. and. when about twenty
rods from the tree, he heard O noise over
in the old waste field above described.
which he took to be- two dogs engaged in
o desperate fight. Their gr rowling, bark.
ing, swapping and scratching was fear.
fui. 1t was, apparently, the most SAN
culinary dog fight he had ever heard. At
the moment, it created little or no sur.
prise. He only wondered that two dogs
should meet ct chat time of night 80 dis.
tant from any human habitation, (for
there was no farmhouse within d mile OF
this field, but, on second thought, how.
ever, he concluded TINT they had been
out on sheep-hunting expedition, and.
having accidentally met there, got into
fight.
he had not long to consider upon this,
however, for soon the olanking Of chains
attracted his attention in another direc-
tion, and, looking toward the tree, to his
aestonishment, he beheld large broken
links of what seemed to be boat chain.
red-hot, falling around the tree sizzinp
and scorching. There seemed to be at
least twenty of these links falling at the
same time, and continued to fall about a
minute, when Mr. Rubeck was startled
almost out OF his wits by heavy groan,
which seemed to como from the earth
beneath him. Strange as it may appear,
up to this time the horse had not mani
tested the least uneasiness, and Mr.. Ru-
beck himself had not imagined anything
connected with what he had seen or
heard but what could be accounted for
upon rational theory. The falling of
red hot chains, he admits, he thought q
little extraordinary, but had concluded,
within his own mind, to revisit the spot
the next morning and gather them up,
believing, as he did, that they were me-
teors that had fallen from the sky in that
peculiar shape. At the groan, his horse
reared and curvetted, plurged forward
and started to run. Now Game the most
trying time to MIR. Rubeck's nerves, for
Just in front of him he heard the plung-
ing. rattllng noise of runaway team
coming toward him, and the noise mani
tested every indication that their course
would be directly over him. He tried
to rein his horse out of the course it was
taking, but his efforts were to no pur-
pose. On, on came the frightened team !;
on, on toward it plunged the ungovern-
able horse. Twas moment of terrible
suspense. All the deeds of an honest
life came crowding upon his mind. He
offered ono short prayer for safety, and
gave himself up for lost, when, more
astonlshed than ever, the noises as sud
denly ceased as they had commenced.
His horse still fretted and tried to run.
but Mr.. Rubeck held him steadily in the
road.
An exchange calculates that since the
surrender of Lee, Grant, in 'sswinging
round the circle," has wandered a dis.
tanoe OF "a, O58 miles, not counting mum.
berless drives, horse back excursions,
and little trips that have escaped tele-
graphic mention.
At this moment Mr.. Rubeck heard
voice calling for help, and then the cry
OF murder fell upon his ear, and as he
was getting out Of the way, he was more
than ever startled by the exclamation,
the voice coming apparently directly
from the old field, "For Gods sake, Jim,
don't murder mel''
Having by this time passed the old
held, he made his way home without
seenig or hearing anything further, but
In state OF mind better imagined than
described. He spent q very restless
night, and the next morning rode over
the country, telling his experience of
the night before, and requesting the aid
OF his neighbors to assist him in solving
the mystery. He gathered some eight
or ten, who attended him tho following
night. when the same scenes were re-
peeted. The dogs barked. the red-hot
chains fell, the unearthly groans rose up
from the ground, the frightened team
came laundering down upon them, the
voice was again heard in the waste
field calling for help and begging Jim
not to murder.
Most OF the witnesses to this second
demonstration of the unearthly visitants,
If such they may be called, became
anic-strioken, and preoipitately fed.
Those who remained oould find no rea.
sonable solution of the mystery, though
one or two, who knew intimately and
distinctly remembered the missing ped
dier. are willing to swear that it was his
voice chat called for help.
The next day more citizens gathered
upon the hill, and dug as close to the
spot where the barking dogs wero heard
as they could, and what was their sur
prise when they unearthed skeleton.
Some parts OF the clothing were still
preserved, which corresponded with that
usually worn by the peddler. Upon q
close examination fracture was found
in the akull, which looked as though it
was made with heavy instrument, suoh
as an axe or hatchet.
These latest discoveries have created
considerable excitement in the neighbor-
hood, and some think it explains the
mystery which surrounds the disappear
ance OF tho peddler, and will ultimately
lead to the discovery of his murderer, II