The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-11-24

a long hall runs through tho Jail, upon
each side of which are located the cells.
Check occupied the third one from the
outer door on the right-hand side. The
cell doors were open, as is the custom, in
order to give the prisoners opportunities
for exercise in the hall. @ >
With the first blow upon the solid outer
doors Check reused from his slumber, and
knew intuitively that the hour for which
darkness of his cell, knowing that there
was but little probability of the arrival of
aid, he made preparation for defence, de-
termined, at least, to sell his life as dearly
as he could. Wrenching post from the
low bedstead from which he had just risen,
he took his station near the door and
awaited the coming struggle. In spite OF
the awful crime that brought him to muir
ders,'s cell one cannot repress q senti.
ment Of admiration for the GOODNESS and
courage with which he prepared to meet
what seemed his inevitable doom.
After word or two among themselves
they proceeded direct to Cheeks cell,
knocked at the door, which was about half
opened, and inquired, "Who's here?"
Cheek replied, "Harry"-the name OF a
felIow.prisoner.
"Come out and show yourself"
He remained motionless,
They asked again, $ Who's In here?"
and be replied as before, /" Harry"
A member Of the party cried "That's
Cheek. now!" One Of them, raising the
side of dark lantern, looked within the
cell, and seeing the desperate man standing
drew with the cry, "He gas got club J."
"Shoot himl shoot himp' yelled several
OF the mob.
"No, no; don't shoot him. Here is q
rope-let's hang him." said one who ap-
peared to exercise authority. z @8
Said another, "Shoot him, II you can't
get him."
At this moment Cheek made movement,
and one OF the party lunged at him with 8
crowbar, bruising his side, but intlicting no
serious injury.
Another, who did not believe in incom-
pleed work. drew navy revolver from his
comrades who was flourishing small pls-
tol, said, "Here, take my revolver don't
shoot him with that little one 1t won't
kill him."
Thut man would have been capital
executive officer Of the Paris Commune.
The speaker then thrust his weapon in-
side the door and fired. The muzzle Of the
revolver pressed against Cheeks side, but
! at the moment it was discharged he dashed
It aside, and the bullet glanced across his
knuckles, inflicting slight wound. The
! man who had fired then put his head inside
the cell to see If the shot had killed the
| prisoner, but as he did so the bludeeon
with which Cheek had armed himself
crashed down upon his unprotected head,
and he dropped to the floor like felled OK.
His revolver dropped from his hand, and
was at once seized by the prisoner.
AS they saw the senseless form of their
| comrade, and heard the crashing blow, one
of their number cried, "My God he has
killed Snyder and has got his revolver"
| Thon these seventy-five courageous men
| held an impromptu convention to decide as
to the next step to be taken. No doubt, az
they stood there in the CHASTITY light of the
| dark lantern, with one OF their number
lying senseless and apparently dead at M thelI
| feet, they experienced the peculiar sensa-
tons so graphically described In the nara
| tive of Bob Acres.
| After few moments Of irresolute sus-
pense, eyeing the gloomy cell from which
came such deadly check upon their opera.
tions, one of the gang, standing securely
behind the half-opened door, pointed bis
revolver around the corner, but before he
could fire the weapon was stricken from his
| hand by Cheek, and he subslded.
Another consultation was had. Some.
body said, Let us get out Of here" and
| they "got." Picking up the PROSTATE form
/ of their fallen comrade they marched out,
each one repeating as he stepped out Of the
battered entrance-Way, "One, two, three,
out goes he" very thankful that, notwith.
standing the failure Of the enterprise, they
had come of with such slight loss IN this
weIl-matched encounter between one to
Cheek. with his bed.post In one hand and
the captured revolver In the other, harassed
the rear OF the retreatlpg column out into
the iail-yard, where he met the sheriff and
a patty OF citizens, who had been aroused
By an alarm from the jailor.
When the sheriff saw them coming out OF
the building carrying the body OF the VIC.
tim he halIooed to them, thinking they
were bearing off his prisoner. The only
reply ne received was: "Fre fire shoot
tho"
When the regulators reached the street,
and saw the commotion caused by their at
tempt, they broke and ran in every direc.
ton. Several of them lost their way In the
timber and corn.delds, and were seen Dy
farmers residing in the vicinity at dayilsht,
with scared faces and soiled garments, not
In the least resembling the fearless dare
devil sort of fellows they imagined them
selves few hours before.
Cheek surrendered himself to the sheriff
with the remark, "John, they hain't got
me yet.u gave up his trusty bed-post and
revolver and vent back to his cell. -
ON the way back he said to the sheriff,
.s.Tobn. get me q horse and posse, and ]
win follow them and show where every
- Of them lives before morning. don't
want YOU to 90 into danger. I'll co..
When asked, afterward, why he did not
attempt to escape, be replied: 81 am not
going away from here until 1 go tree or ON
my way to the scaifold. This Is three Times
they have tried to mob me and failed. :.
After daylight the sheriff went to the
place where the horses of the party had
been left, and found two or three h.ss;hi1g. y
Thess articles. wifi, the captured revolver.
dark lantern, o sled ge-fammer, and 9 Crow,
bar, are in the sheriff g hands, and are said
to have been identified g =,
TWO attempts nave previously been made
To lynch Cheek, both st LaWreneeo1rg-
sne seon after t6s q his m alberta. s,i
90 ~ S.a2sssE - $SssS lisgss-s aa.s~