The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-10-02
A Night tm the Hands OF The KuaIux.


To the Editors ofthe Boston Daily Adver.
hScr:
/ see IN your issue OF to-day the contents
Of the telegram announcing my capture
and escape from the Kentucky kukluX.
AS the account is somewhat defective in
detail, give you herewith the affair as it
occurred: I visited my native State in be-
half of "The National Association for the
Spread Of Temperance and Night Schools
among the Freedmen" and had spoken to
large numbers of them at Louisville aud
other places, ana was on my way to speak
ut Pleasurcvillc depot, half way between
Louisville and Lexington. ! arrived Mt
Plcasurcville little alter in the evening,
and was met by Il colOred man who informed
me That the meeting was TO take place five
miles in the country. After waiting some
little time for team which was expected,
we started on foot, thinking we would meet
the vehicle. We walked on until dark
overlook us, aud meeting no team began
To feel appreheEsive that all was not right.
The man with me, however, assured me
that there was no danger, and we went on.
But VIC shortly after heard the trotting OF
horses both in front and in the rear, and
before / could determine what to do we
were surrounded by some eight Or ten
men, three of whom dismounted, bound
my arms behind me with a cord,
rcmounted their horses and started
on in the direction l had been travelling.
The man who was with me disappeared
while was being tied. The men were not
disguised, and talked freely amongst them
selves. After going mile or more they
stopped, and consulted moment or two,
the purport of which / could not hear, eX-
cept one of them saying: "Lawrence
10
place." They started again. | was on
foot; rope had been attached to my
arms, and the other end to one Of the
horses. had to hasten my steps to keep
from being dragged along by the animal.
Soon they turned to the right and followed
up what appeared to be Il coW-path.
While on this road my hat fell off, and l
called out to the man behind and said, "I'ye
lost INV hat" you'll need no hat in half
an hours time," he replied. As we Were
passing lighthouse on this road a man
came out, and said, In trembling voice,
"Jim's dying!" All of the men now dis
mounted, and with the exception of two,
they went into the building. l distinctly
heard the cries, groans and rawlings OF the
sick man, which satisfied me ut once that it
was an extreme case of delirium tremens;
and as had treated that maladY successful.
ly Dy the ny nypOueTutC Temcuy, auu uaf1uS
with me the little instrument, the thought
flashed upon my mind that might save
my life by the trial. Consequently, l said
to one of the men, 81 know what's the mat
ter with that man, and I can relieve him in
ten minutes" One of the men went into
the house, related what j bad said, and
the company come out. The leader, whom
they all addressed as "Cap.," began to ques-
tion me with regard to my skill in such
He soon became satisfied, un.
tied me, and we entered the sick mans
chamber. My hands were so numb from the
tightness of the cord which bound my
arms, that I walked up and down the
room for some minutes, rubbing my hands
and contemplating the situation. The man.
lay upon O bed of straw, his arms and legs
bound to the bedstead to keep him from
iDjuring himself and others. He had, in
his agony, bitten his tongue and lips, and
his mouth was covered with bloody froth,
while the glare Of his eyes was feirful. His
wife, the only woman in the house, sat
near the bed with an infant upon her lap,
her countenance pale and anxious. while
the company of men seemed to be the
most desperate set I had ever seen.
! determined from the first to try and Inn.