The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-03-09
A? A?FRov1DMNTIAL ESCAPE:
= sAi'i {Cs RY BILL soUIB., Boz .'n"

| might interest some of the numerous
readers Of The Fiseside Compaaion.
so I place It before them as near as
| I can remember in his own words 'L''
"Undoubtedly you have observed,
be commenced, ."that it is, impossible
for me to walk without the aid of
crutches, which is occaiicned 10y my
whole left side being paralized:"
SIT, occurred in the following man
nor: =, l~,-...
As 5ou , see, I have a very large farm,
and every fall after the crops are oil
gathered in and sold, it was my GUS
tom, tin I was Crippled, to take The
money-the proceeds Of the sales-aud
deposite it at the bank in the neighbor>;
ing city. :.,..,, .,.,,,,.;, ,-.,,-
that the hand of Providence interviewed,
and, saved my life but, leftSme disabled.
att was nov nearly six years ago
since it happened, but it is vlVedly
stamped, on my memory, that 1t seems ms
ii had an unusual ii large crop that
summer, aud consequently derived q
large sum Of money. -.,', ~
$50 one fne morning aear the latter
part Of October, 1 started as usua! with
the money to deposit at B a dis.
tance Of twenty. .6vs miles; huff the
road was nothing but a mere COW path
which led threugh|a dark, dismal wood.
It never entered my mind before
that I would make an excellent prize
for highwaymen, but this morning
had. a. Find of an, Underlined feeling .of,
some hidden evil which was going to.
happen. .,,,.,,. ,.,..., {,
urged my horse 5iuto quick trot,
and tried to laugh myself out it, but it
was useless, -aaA continued to take
stronger il, i,a hold Of me every minute.
And as if to:bc 'ia unison with my
feelings the sun that had been shining
brightly ali morning, now hid himself
behind banks Of black sombre>looking
clouds, that were rapidly spreading in
every direction. t.
This sudden change IN the weather
did not tend to cheer my spirits, but on
tho contrary, caused me to imagine
that in every bush there vas a man
waiting to raylay and rob mo ofmy
money. -. .......,.rt.- .'. ;
had nov, now entered the woods! which,
were dark and gloomy, causing an
indcscribable shuddcr OIL could hard
IL tell what, to run through MY frame,
leaving. me ,bathed in cold perspira-
ton. ...,...i
The storm torn was swiftly approaching,
the thunder rolled and rumbled in the
distance, aud the wind gradually, in
creased from gentle -zepher to q per-
feet whir.wind. ;" ',.'
At this juncture the storm broke
overhead, the rain fell in torrents, the
thund,r rolled and crashed through
the mighty vaults above me, and the
lightning darted its forked tongues
here and there, illuminating the inky
biackness for an instant, aud" then
leaving it, if possible, darker than be-
fore. .,....., -.
MY horse stumbled blindiy forward,
and I expected every moment to be
swept off his back by a liu,b Of some Of
the, trees, which momeutarily went
crashing to the earth before the fury Of
the tempest. ~
rode on in this way for some time,
when ; he suddenly SHE'D and ! vas
violently thrown to the earth ; at the
same Instant another electric discharge
Ii" up the scene with noon day bright
| ness, aud I, saw "a nau rushing to-
| wards where I Jay partially stunned !;
he undoubtedly meant to rob, and
| perhaps murder me. - :. ~ ..
So Jumping up I grappled with him
| he Was 4 a powerful fellow, and BY far
the stronger Of the two! 50 after a
brief struggle he threw me, aud pla'
cling both Knees on my chest he grasp,
ed my throat, and attempted to stran.
u ! M struggled and fought with des.
p,eration, and used every endeavor to
regain my feet, but with no success: and
still tho, fingers continued to tighten
like vice around my throat. D'..' .
Up to this time my assailant had
not uttered ono word, but maddened
at my persistent struggles, he growle9d
out 80 .,,.. ...f'..,I., ~ ;,
steel, aad that will quietyou. -
Again, heaven and earth seemed one
sea of FIRE, and saw he had drawn q
large murderous looking kaife, and was
4 about to drive it into me. ''. J.,
I could DO nothing to prevent it, ald
was fast losing all consciousness; ny
respiration was nearly stopped by hi
hold around my throat; o dull hummine
noise sounded in my ears / gave up al
hope of life, when suddenly q peal 9 9
thunder followed, which fairly shool
the earth under me, quick sharp pau
in my side; +; and the grasp around m!
throat was loosened. .,ti ..
After lying some time, tho rain ro
vived me aud l was able to assume
sitting position. =. - ..,',,,..'5' :, :,
| And there lay byImy side the would