Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-04-03
A DASH FOR LIFE.

wild times that they had there
number of years ago. Their
must, | think, have been five 0
six hundred Of us in and abou
s.. We were surrounded Oh
all sides by bushrangerS. Odtra
yes of every possible kind wer
OF daily occurrence, and many
brave fellow met his death in at
tempting, with others, to breal
up the camps Of these daring out
laws. Did | come near losing m,
life? Yes, more than once. AnC
. partic ularly recall one time OF
which | will tell you.
We had small, resolute com
pany of men with us, made des
perate by repeated wrongs, anc
they hardly cared what they dig
or what risks they ran, in tryins
to exterminate those fierce bush
rangers. IA
Almost every movement OF our
was watched ; but Sheldric Day
our captain, was as keen as th'
sharpest of the outlaws So wher
an old farmer came in with hi
wagon filled with green stuff anC
covered with straw, Day watched
bis chance and succeeded in start
ing him homeN ard with a load Of
rifles under the straw.
Toward nightfall one man stag
gered Of, whistling in one drec
tion, with his hands in his pock-
ets; another went another way;
another, and another; and so on,
Our rendezvous was Dury's Forks,
lonely track OF country, where
the roads branehed of in many
directions.
When we had once got fairly be.
yond the limits haunted by spies,
we mended our pace, and the
men were soon coming in from all
directions under the run ready to
seize their weapons and 60 whith.
er Captain Day might lead.
Shaping our course in south
westerly direction, we made what
speed the tall, tangled, bother.
some prairie grass would allow, and
crept on stealthily. The camp of
the bushrangers was at supper ;
we surprised it, and a fierce hand.
to hand fight ensued. The fel-
lows were finally routed but
somehow | became separated from
The rest, and two or three of the
rulians, discovering my situation.
bore down upon me. In spite Of
my frantic efforts. they captured
me, an6 bore me with them on
the retreat. My company prob:
ally did not at first discover my
absence, as it was quite dark, and
SO was left to the mercies of q
gang of cut-throats. s'
With no delicate touch they
seized upon ME, securely bound
my hands, and advised me, with
the cool lips of revolver, to keep
quiet. They then dashed away
towards @ village some miles dis
tant, where their headquarsters
We're, or rather where the prison
was located. 2 b ''t-
Without a word, | WAS thrust
into damp, dark, underground
apartment, whose only aperture
for light and air was a grated
hole which just rose above the
ground level. / gathered myself
up, and looked my station in the
face. KNEW these outlaws we'll.
I had nothing to expect but to be
dragged forth during the night,
and hanged upon the first pr9jec'
tion which afforded sufficient sup.
port for my weight. ! was toe
we'll known as FIRST lieutenant Of
the K Regulars to hope fol
mercy. My companions would
doubtless think that | had fall.
en-, and leave me to my fate.
Worn out with hard work and
care, 1 fell ssleep-though ! have
wondered since at it, from which
delightful rest was awakened BY
a soft rasping noise close by.
Rats mentally commented
and turned over. e.
"Hist!" said q voice at the win
dow, or the grated opening thai
served for one. care you swake!'
"Awake, and more than .
wake T. ] answered, and imme
diateIy brought my face to the
aperture.
"Be quiet" said the voice
"Their guard is passing not ter
yards from here, but the darkness
is favorable. Get this iron .ba
between the rods and wrench
carefully towards you. / hav'
Strengthened out the ends tina
were clenched upon this side. -
Carefully seizing upon the irol
bar thrust in to- me, l inserted