The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-01-09
A DASH FOR LIFE.


all sides by bushrangers. Outrages of
every possible kind were of daily occur
renee, and many brave fellow met his
death in attempting, with others, to
break up the camps of these daring out
laws. Did come near losing my life,
you ask? Yes, more than once. And
l particularly recall one time of which
l will tell you.
We had a small, resolute company of
men under us, made desperate by re-
peated wrongs, and they hardly cared
what they did or what risk they ran, in
trying to exterminate those fierce BUSH
rangers.
Almost every movement of ours was
watched but Sheldric Day, our captain
was as keen as the sharpest of the out
laws. So when an old farmer came in
with his wagon filed with green stuff
and covered with straw, Day watched
his chance and succeeded in starting
him homeward with load of rifles un-
der the straw.
Toward mghtfall one man struggled
of, whistling in one direction, with his
hands i'll his pockets another one an
other way; another, another; and SO
! on. Our rendezvous was Dury's Forks,
a lonely track of country, where the
roads branched off in many directions.
When we got fairly beyond the linn
its haunted by spies, we mended our
pace, and the men were soon coming i'll
from all directions upon the run, ready
to seize their weapons and go whittier
Captain Day might lead.
Shaping our course i'll southwesterly
direction, we made what speed the
tall tangled, bothersome prairie-grass
would allow, and crept on stealthily.
The camp of the bushrangers was at
supper; we surprised it, and fierce
hand -to-hand fight ensued. The fellows
were finally routed but somehow be-
came separated from the rest, and two
or three of the ruffians, discovering my
situation, bore'down upon me. In spite
of my frantic efforts they captured me,
and bore me with them on the retreat.
My company probably did not at first
discover my absence, as it was quite
dark, and so l was left to the mercies of
gang of cut-throats.
With no delicate touch they seized
upon me- securely bound my hands, and
advised me, with the cold lips of re-
volver, to keep quiet. They then dash
ed away toward village some miles dis
tant, where their headquarters were, or
rather where the prison was located.
Without word was thrust into a
damp, dark, underground apartment,
whose only aperture for light and air
was grated hole which just rose above
the ground level. gathered myself up,
and looked my situation in the face l
Knew these outlaws well. L had moth
ing to expect but to be dragged forth
during the night and hanged upon the
first projection which offered sufficient
support for my weight. was too well
known as first lieutenant of the H.
Regulator to hope for mercy. My COM
panions would doubtless think that |
had fallen, and leave me to my fate.
Worn out with hard work and care, 1
fell asleep though 1 have often won
dered since at it---from which delightful
rest L was awakened by a soft, rasping
noise close by.
Rats" mentally commented, and
turned over
Hist" said voice at the window,
on the gated opening that served for
one. Are you awake %
| Awake and more than awake" I
answered, and Immediately brought my
face to the aperture.
BE quiet" said the voice. "Their
guard is pacing not ten yards from here,
but the darkness is favorable. Get this
iron bar between the rods and wrench
carefully toward you. 1 have straight
ened out the ends that were clenched
upon this side"
Carfully seizing upon the iron bar
thrust in to me, l inserted the end I'M
der the first rod, and gradually started
it.
Hist! the guard is coming this way;
wait until he returns to the front"
breathed my helper. q" Hist"
The guard clanked by, starting the
sweat from every pore of my body; for
| expected him to stumble upon my
friend and deliverer outside.
"Be quick" resumed the voice at
the grating again. " He will return in
just twenty minutes, for 1 have marked
his beats; and---quick.
One after the other each of the bars
was dropped from its place; and then,
by reaching my hands out through the
aperture, and by dint of using my shoe
less feet against the wall, struggled,
and was drawn through. Fortunately,
| was slim and slight; large man must
have hopelessly strangled himself. Not
too soon, either, for the guard turned
the corner at the moment and came to-
ward us. We crouched behind in the
shade of the projecting wall.
He heard nothing; saw nothing; paced
his beat, and went back. Once out of
sight, be very sure we did not lose any
time. Springing up, and catching by
the top of the high fence, we swung our
selves outside.
" The only thing that I could get,"
said Davis, leading me to an old mule,
and cautioning me in whisper to be-
ware of the vicious old animals heels.
Now, look sharp; don't take the Red
Forks, mind you, nor the main route
that leads to the courthouse. There
are four roads by the Live Oaks, all
running west; you know them; be sure
don't take the third one, that leads right
into the camp of the outlaws, but the
fourth takes you down among our boys
1.-The Regs. Mind well my directions,
and ride softly, while try to take up
the attention of the sentinel"
mounted in heterogeneous man.
ner, the old mule refusing to remain
sufficiently stationary for me to seat my
self according to the fashions of ciyili-
zation.
Ride softly Davis must have been
joking. For the heels of that vicious
brute beat the sod as though he were a
drum-major beating the devils tattoo,
and with considerable more force and
effect But at last persuaded him with