The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-17

w bAo ouBsAo = 4ta4 CUxdEO uOWu HuU
wind HoR BioSi6gIii oben. !Ths rear
ventilntor left open, the little six by
sir hole, guarded by three iron bars
giving the vent ntDatiop. Neat this T had
slnug my; hammock and then, with nv
revolver In boz close to my. hand, and
with the beltfope running just over my
head, surely Yas in safety, and &c T
dropped saslsefs How, long, Iy>slept I
could not tell before awakened with q
start as something passed over my mouth.
It seemed bike RFmouse or rat, but it left
an overwhelming smell, close, suffo-
oating feeling, and before could open
my eyes to see CLEARLY, or could come to
awoke-1al&s Hmp oo~pipteiy, bdt With With 1 1
fearful weight Of oppression over nv
eyes. My head aohed, and strove to
placa my hand upon it. My hand woild
not obey my wish; must be paralyzed;
is seemed as if T was yet dreaming; 1
other .edoIt T Would make 4 Is s shake of off
this deadly feeling, but as stroye to
turn IN my. hammock. or to lift myselG,'
something cold touches. my forehead
with o. refreshing coolness, and q gruff
yoioe bids me lie quiet. I turn my head,
With .intens4 difficulty and pain, and
see o b!ack-visaged man: standing over
me!l'He repeatg the Injunction to Be
quiet. I trace his arm down towards
my head, and see, that i is o revolver
which is tonohing my forehead. In o
hali.sleep, haif-foolish manner, Z glance
at the deadly instrument, and wonder
what it cost; and whether. It will. shoot
straight. and into my brain should it be
hred. The a9ectsiof some drug are still
working. upon me, and as I come more
to life. as it were, / recognize the fumes
Of chlofofbtm. III, Iii7tF IHI.i re-
Two other black:visaged men are are buei-
y sorting out my valuables, and are
throwing all dangerous bonds and pa
pern. into one, corner, Of the car while
they are Placing in bags the currency
and notes. The man watching me
speaks, and. says: .No. 1, he is come
to-" No. 1comes close and looks at me:
he also is black-visaged, made so, now
ses, by Grape veil or mask. Without
speaking, he returns to his work of sort
ing the money. Havifg nothing else to
do, I look more closely to myself. Small,
thin cords, which cut deeply into my
flesh, are tied around my wrists and
ankles, while others tie me tightly to the
hammock. I must. indeed, have been
far gone in sleep and deeply drugged TO
have allowed this; The robbers evil
IDENTIFY mean me no harm, but how can
face the company. after this robbery?
How account for the absence Of Joe,
without bringing about his immediate
dismissal? As for myself, it will be the
old story. The papers will say was
Willing confederate, aud submitted to
being tied and robbed. ] shall be i'm
prisoned for life. My poor wife and
children will be worse than fatherleas.
No. 1. who is hard at work yet with
his companion. opening the bundles and
sorting ont their contents, here for the
drst time speaks. ''We'fe nearing the
hog tunnel, No. e." he SAYS, in q iicht.
lisping voice. Even in nv half.stnpor'
know That voice. II it is who I think
it is. his left arm is slightly crooked. the
palm Of the. hand turning nearly out
wards. :As he' moves into the light of
the solitary lamp to glance at some
bonds. plainly see the turned hand.
'Bill Lane" I call, "won't you free my
hands? this cord hurts me-" With q
horrible oath he springs forward.
You've sealed your DOOM" he saws:
"you must, die now" plead for life;
for he has caat aside the Grape, and i see
the devil in his eye. Bill used to be on
our run as messenger, but q robbery oo-
Cured OF which he was suspected OF as
sisting in, or at least of allowing him
self to be robbed, and was discharged.
But plead in vain. The oonspirators
confer among themselves for few mo-
ments,s and them my hammock is mn
hooked and thrown upon the floor and I
am rolled up in it, and into an incredibly
small space. The bundle is then tied up
tightly, and one of the robbers tries its
weight l ana -eiight Of form, md he can
ee,asiiy Lift the living bundle up, and
throw it on his shoulder. How can they
get me from the car7 How they got in
Is as yet Q mystery to me. The doors
are locked On the outside. and. could not
be brokens open, with the train OF full
speed, from without. AS I lie upon the
floor, nearly suffocated and in fearful
pam from my cramped position and the
tightness OF the ropes, Bill Kisses in nv
ear, I've are going to throw you over
the Rocky Run"
Even death. in the form OF being cos,
living bundle from the cars into the
waters OF the run, which wo cross in =
| shOrb time. at an ifnmanee ha;ohk ),