The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-08-15

NOW L nau MIN MY caIJ was hl
most new, made of a stout frame Of
white oak, and made on purpose fol
hard usage. l did not believe any or
dinary man could get out. ] got intC
my cart as noiselesly as ! got of, and
then urged my horse on, still keeping
my pistol handy. / knew that dis
tahce of half a mile or further | SHOULD
come to a hard road, and SO | allowed
my horse to pick his own way through
the mud.
"About ten minutes after this
heard a motion in the cart, followed
by a grinding noise, as though som'
heavy force was being applied to th'
door, / said nothing, but the idei
struck me that the villain might judge
where I sat and shoot up through tie
top of the cart at me; SO | sat on Tie
foot-board ~
"Of course | knew my unexpected
passenger was a william, TOR he mus
have been awake ever since started
and nothing in the world but absolute
villainy would haye caused him to re-
main quiet so long, and then start up
in this particular place. The thump,
ing and pushing grew louder, and
pretty soon / heard human voice.
"'Let me out of this' and he yelled
pretty loud.
lifted my head SO as to make him
think was in my usual place, and
Il then asked hiF that he was doing
"Let me out and Twill tell YOU
he replied.
"Tell me what you are in there
for, I said.
a"T got in here to sleep on rags he
answered.
"How did you get in ? Iasked.
wLet me out, or I'll shoot you
through the head =
At that moment my horses feet
struck the hard road, and | knew that
therest of the route to jackson would
be good going; the distance was twelve
miles l slipped back on the foot
board and took the whip. In fifteen
minutes we cleared the woods, and
we went at keen jump, the chap in
side yelling to be let out. Finally he
stopped, and in few minutes came
the report Of pistol-one-two-
three--four- right after the other,
and heard the balls whiz over my
head. If Ihad been on my seat, one of
these balls, if not two of them, would
have gone through me. popped my
head up and gave yell, and then said,
'Ohl God save me I'm dead man
Then l made shufiing noise as
though 1 was falling off, and finally
settled down on the foot-board again.
l now urged up the mare by giving
her an occasional poke with the whip
stock, and she peeled it faster than
ever
"The man called out to me twice
more pretty soon after this, and as he
got no reply, be made some tremen-
sdous efforts to break the door open,
and as this failed him he made several
attempts at tho top. But | had no
fears Of his doing anything there, for
the top of the cart is framed with
dovetails, and each sleeper bolted to
the posts with iron bolts. / had it
made so I could carry loads there,
By-and,by, after all else had failed,
the scamp commenced to holler
whoa to the horse, and kept it up
until he became hoarse All this time
l kept quiet, holding the reins firmly
and kept poking the mare with the
stock. We.were not an hour going
that dozen miles-not bit of IT.
hadn't much fear; perhaps might tell
the truth and say ] had none, for !
had good pistol, and more than that,
my passenger was safe; yet was
glad when | came to the flour barrel
factory that stands at the edge Of
Jacksbn village, and in ten minutes
more hauled up in front Of the tavern,
and found couple of men in the barn
cleaning down some horses, '1,
s'Well old fellow, said l, as / got
down and went to the back of the
wagon you have had a good ride,
haven't your
"'Who are you?' he cried; and he
swore as he asked the question.
~ am the man you tried to shoot,
was my reply. aI
MWhere am r. Let me out
"Look here, we've come to safe
stopping place, and mindl my pistol
is ready for you themoment you show
yourself. Now lay quiet
aBy this time the hostlershad come
to see what was the matter, and l ex-
planned the case. After this l got
one of them to run and rout the Sher-
if, and tell him what ! believed I'd
got for him. The first streaks o.
light were just coming, and in an hour
il would be broad daylight, In less
than that time the Sheriff came, and
two men with him. / told him the
whole affair in few words, and then
made for the cart. He told the chap
inside who he was aud if he made the
least resistance he'd be a dead man
/ then slipped the iron wrench out
and as let the door down, the fellow
made spring. ! caught him by the
ankle and he came down on his face,
and the moment saw the chap ]
recognized him. He was marched to
the lookup, and ] told the Sheriff !
should remain in town all day.
"After breakfast the Sheriff came
down to the tavern and told me that
/ had caught the very bird, and if
would remain until the next morning
] should have the reward Of two hum
dred dollars that had been offered.
II found my goods all safe, paid
the express agent for bringing them
from Indianapolis aud then went to
stow them away in my cart. The
hulIet holea were found In the ton al