American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-08-15
A "SHOCKING" INCIDENT.

Southern States, and having business at
several points in North Alabama and
Southern Tennes- which would detain
me in that section several weeks, l made
my headquarters" at the pleasant town
of Tuscumbia, Ala.
1t was spring time. The early part OF
the season had been favorable for work
on the plantations until the cotton-fields
were nearly all seeded, when cold, heavy
rains set in, which continued SO long
that much anxiety was felt in all quar-
tiers lest the seed should rot in the ground
and render second planting necessary,
besides otherwise putting in jeopardy
the yield, that year, of the great Southern
staple.
l had frequent occasion to use the tele-
graph lines, and having myself manipu-
lated key" some years previously was
soon on term, of familiarity with the OPP
orators.
One evening desired to send tele-
gram to Eastport, Miss, point some
distance below Tuscumbia, on the Ten
nessee River, but was informed at the
telegraph office that the line had been
down all day; furthermore, that brief
note Just received from the operator at
Eastport brought information that wild
lightning" during the preceding night
had left his office instruments in cha
otto condition, and that before he could
resume business a new outfit was neces-
sary.
1t was still raining, but the business
had to transact was urgent, and although
it was nearly dark determined to start
for EaStpOrt as soon as a conveyance
could be procured. The roads were in
bad condition, but with pair of splen-
did bays and stout vehicle l had no
doubt of going through safely. The man.
ager of the telegraph office thanked me
for the offer of seat to anyone going to
Eastport with the new outfit for the Of
fee at that point, and when, half AN hour
afterward, l drove around, one of the
operators (whom l will call jones' was
ready to accompany me. Provided with
a hamper of refreshments, feed for the
horses, a brace of six-shooters" and a
lantern, in case any mishap might befall
US, We started on our journey.
The night came on. Darkness as inky
and profound as that in the tabled CHM
merriam caverns fell upon the earth, but
horses aided feebly by the light of the
lantern, enabled them to keep the road
and maintain fair rate of speed.
After awhile the rain ceased, and al
though he roads were heavy we made
good progress until about midnight, be-
quilting the time me awhile with CONVEX
sation.
1t was in this region that some of the
most daring exploits of that noted vii
lain, John A. Murrcll, were enacted, and
as Jones was familiar with their details
he related them for my edification. The
time of night, the darkness, and the wild
and broken character of some portions
of the country through which we were
passing were not calculated to produce
very quiet frame of mind or inspire a
feeling of indifference to our surround
ings, and when, in the midst of a narra-
ton of one of Murrelrs most atrocious
acts, we were greeted suddenly with a
command in loud and peremptory tone
of voice to Halt !" candor cOmpels me
to say that both myself and my CON-
panion were, for the moment, considera-
bly, excited. Without waiting for a sec
ond order l stopped the horses while
Jones raised the lantern high enough to
distinguish objects little way in ad-
vance of US, thus discovering a couple of
.Who are you and what do you want? ?"
/ asked
In a moment the response came
It's of no particular account to you,
/ reckon, who we are, but it does con-
Germ you to turn the heads of them horses
t'other way"
Now this was quite plain in one sense
but very indefinite and unsatisfactory in
another. Were these parties friends or
foes? We're we confronted by men who
meant to do us friendly act, or were
they thieves and desperadoes whose mo-
tives were plumber, no matter at what
sacrifice? The manner of the salutatiOn
was not encouraging, but perhaps owing
TO the fact that we had been canvassing
the villainies of noted highwayman
we were more ready than we should 9th
erwise have been to color with q sinister
purpose the words addressed to us. In
stinctively both Jones and myself drew
our revo1vers. Disgusting any trepida-
ton might have felt | replied:
g You speak in riddles, my friend; be
kind enough to explain why you have
stopped u.s."
"Because it's of no use to go further
the bridge across the creek yonder is
gone and you'd be mad to try to ford it
now"
The explanation was as satisfactory as
brief. We could go no further that
night. 1 thanked the men for their
kindness, and, our excitement having
subsidized, we inquired if either of them
could get accommodations for ourselves
and horses until morning.
One of them lived about half mile of
the main road, and as his was the nearest
house he "reckoned ~ he could take us
in Gas he expressed it), if we would put
up with such fare as he could offer
Gladly accepting his hospitality, we re
traced our steps few rods, and then
following our pilot, turned into new
road full of ruts, and an army of stumps
that disputed our passage at almost every
step.
The man proposed to take the Lantern
and keep in advance of us, as in this way
we could better see the way. j have
never quite brought myself to the conclu
sion that Jones was not suspicious of him
for he hesitated little about relinquish
ing the light, but finally did so, and the
mans explanation of being out at thai
time of night in search of runaways'
(negrOes) entirely quoted Jones fears.
At last we arrived at the house. Ne
groes were aroused who took care of oul
horses, and we followed our host into tn,
house. We were shown into an uppe
room, where we retired Immediately an,
slept soundly until morning.
We were awake with the first glimps
of daylight, as also was our host. w
arose, saw that our horses were fed, att
our breakfast, offered to compensate tn
planter (Which proposition, with the pro
verbal hospitality of Southern planters
he declined), and were again on GU
journey.
The creek was found to be yet nue.
swollen, but we determined to ford il
How we got out of it without acciden
have never been able fully to undel