Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-01

All luis, cOupleQ Win the TACT that
these people had for some time time pre-
yious suffered severely from the yillsinies
of band of counterfeiters who had
ravaged the western country, but thus
far had eluded the authorities, occasioned
positive belief in the minds of the en-
tire community of Prices guilt, and that
he was leading spirit of this counter
fehing band. Indeed. excitement had
SO worked on the creduIity of some that
they were ready to indemnity him with a
noted desperate. who. some years be-
fore, had been convicted 10 neighbor
ing county and asterward effected his es
cape.
The excitement throughout the settle
ment was intense; the people demanded
the immediate trial aud conviction of the
prisoner on the alarming threat that, if
their demand was not listened to, they
would take Justice in their own hands -
They were only Quoted by the assurance
that he would speedily be arraigned be-
fore the court, then in session.
| learned Of these events nearly three
"VOno dtbO' AuCH tHTOugU X
letter from Price. We did not have the
Telegraph then.and even mails were slow.
irregular and unsafe means of comrnuni
cation. He had written me at once but
his letter had been delayed by storms on
the stage roads, bad been sent to two
other places through mistake, and in
each of them delivered, opened, and re
turned, and then il came into its rightful
owners possession.
price wrote cheerfuly; he did not
think that his condition was one to excite
alarm, and believed that ut most. il
would only occasion him q few weeks
incarceration and some annoyance. He
begged me to come on mt once To his re
lief, as all depended on my speedy pres
ence.
l had scarcely finished reading tais,
when anorher letter from him, written
two weeks later. was placed in my hand.
1t was tear stained. and full of hopeless
despair and pleading. In few days
from its date he would be arraigned for
trial. He did me the justice to believe
that would have gone to him at once
if had received his other letter.
AS you love me William come to
me- he pleaded. Only you can save
me, and YOU may possibly reach me in
time. These people are infatuated, and
il l am adjudged guilty. l fear they will
not be satisfied with the penalty of the
law. My life IS az your keeping
%, the terrible agony of that mo.
ment, as these words scared themselves
into my very soul. o, how | cursed
fate for keeping that letter from me. /
was mad. | rushed from the office. coat
less and hatiess. sped through the streets
like one frcnzed, rs | was, and reached
western-6ound train in time 10 leap
upon il as it was in motion.
L knew nothing but that a life was
in my keeping hung upon the brittle
thread of my reaching that place, which
was seven days journey from me. in
time to place my own between it and
that horrible death. Il only thought
that if aught befeI him 1 was his muir
derer.
Il had no Judgment of passing time
minutes were endless days of horror
to me. | reached the end of the rail
road, and then had to depend on the
stage routes. bribed the drivers, but
they would not make their animals fly,
and less would not have fed my needs.
could not hire animals for their own.
ers would not intrust me with them and
l bought the fastest.
The roads were declared impossible
for man or beast, but never hesitated
nor would then if l hal foreseen death
would be my fate. For three DAYS and
nights dashed over muddy roads, through
the wilderness, through swollen streams,
through rain and sleet, snow, and frost
never stopping moment but TO battle
my fevered mouth in some stream-nev
er resting nor closing my eyes.
In the first village | came 10 they
tried to secure me, believing me mad, but
would have killed any, who dared to
stop me then, and the people fled in ter
ror from me. avoided tho settlements
after that; three horses fell under me,
and | secured others from the nearest
settlers, and still fed onward through
flood and storm, praying to Heaven to
stay its vengeance and in the next breath.
railing at the slowness of my poor All
mails, that we're goaded to madness by
whip and spur.
On the morning of the fourth day,
came to that settlement and dashed,
through its streets with madness in my
face and movements. AT first every one
men, women, and children fed from me,
but in few moments they gathered
around me in wonier.
| could only utter his name. a. d
went with them where they led. not no.
ticiog their frightened faces and looks of
alarm. Thought they wero taking me
to his prison. but following their ges~
tures-oh Heaven! there. before me,
dangling from a tree Nth rope around
the neck, 'cas the fiteless body Of James
Price!
did not lose my reason then. / was
frozen into cslmness; | heard everything
they said to me. He had been found
guilty the day previous, and in lie night
just passed. when l was so nea. and
rushing on with life and safety to him,
an infuriated mob of wretches had drag
o.oI L.. f.o.~, L.. 81 h,,.~. H.