The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-05-12

Inc lWO dearest to US OF our whole par
ty were, we believed,at the mercy Of the
most iphuman band of wrctches in the
whole country Was it strange that we
were anxious for their safety, Or that til
broad noon next day we continued our
fruitless search f'
To cope with our muscular enemies in
a handtto hand contest, it was necessary
for US to get some sleep,so at twelve next
day | ordered half our force to camp
where the hooftracks ended ,and get what
sleep they could,a sufficient guard to pre-
vent a surprise having first been thrown
ont. Apassword was agreed upon, and
the rest of US continued the search.
At dark nothing new had been dis
covered, and the two parties changed
places. Tired as / was and full of anx-
Iiety. soon fell into troubled slumber.
| woke every few minutes, but / knew
that at midnight | must again go to
work, so lay still and got what rest
could. had, before this, sent mes
senger 10 our ranch for reinforcements,
and another 10 our late camping ground
to bring things Of the result of our
fight, the number Of killed, wounded
and missirg, and also to inform the rest
Of our men where We were so,. !, b..
Just before midnight I was startled to
see a rock near me roll over and the
next minute hear Fred say, r,.
f"Give me your hand .r a,-f
| Sprinsiag to nv feet I was quickly
at the spot, helping my comrade out OF
hole. II. r.; -. .,... 7.,.--.....
where have von been all this time 2
l demanded, hastily, ls, qr5 4ar,
"a prisoner to the Terror, he re-
piled, at the same time STOPPING down,
and drawing rope ladder, some fifty
feet long, out of the hole. ,,., ,....s..
This done,he cut it into several pieces,
and hid it under small boulder near
by. 70 - osi.a,,e nh ,.o.,,
Fred told his story as follows: s.-h
After leaving camp, being frantic and
almost crazy at the loss of Inez, he had
dashed right into the robber- band, and
tried to snatch her from the chieftain' 8
arms, but before he succeeded he was
struck on the head with the butt of q
revolver, and captured. Just as his
captors left the road he returned to con-
sciousness, and realized his situation
but knowing he could not help himself,
had lain still, thus keeping them in the
dark as to his true condition. They
| had taken him to their cave, and left
him in cell, in charge of a guard
The guard discovered a flask of brandy
in Fred's pocket, drank it, and was
searching his clothing for plunder, when
Fred dealt him blow that rendered
him unconscious. Quickly rising, lie
stabbed the PROSTATE robber to the
heart, and left the cell, the door having
been left open by the unsuspicious
guard. Locking this door, and taking
the key with him, he followed one Of
the passages Of the cave down a long
grade, and around various turnings,
until he found the rope ladder All this
journey of his had been accomplished
in the dark, and the way found by the
sense of touch, not by sight. He had
not hesitated to ascend this ladder, the
end of the passage having been reached.
When near the top of the rude stairway
be was climbing, he had heard some OF
our men conversing. and having ,recog
nized the voices, had quickly pushed
away the rock, and found himself once
more near the earth surface He knew
that was not far off, and 80 called for
assistance in getting out -. ~
This was his story, and just as. he fin.
ishec telling it our reinforcements ar.
rived Giving the signal agreed upon,
l called in our whole band, and prepar-
ed to follow Fred into the ''lion's dem
Having armed himself once more, he
led off, and we followed. Before going,
however, we left our horses in charge OF
a strong guard, who were to remain he.
hind, and capture such of the robbers
as should attempt to enter the cave
Walking straight up the face of the
precipice in our front, Fred bent down,
and moved a certain rock that lay at his
feet. This disclosed small ring at
tached to rod of iron, which seemed
to 60 down. into the ground, Fred
lpuiled this three times, and then, push
ing it back to its first position, placed
ftbe rock over it. Alter this. he wen,
directly ahead to the precipice Cali
ing upon some of us to assist him. he
Ipusheda mass of rock out of sight, ,and
disclosed hole in the mountain. We
all entered this, andJ closing the aper.
ture once more,9 followed /. our guide
noisclessly along the main passage In
perfect darkness we went on thus, no,
making a sound, for the distance of a
quarter of mile, before we came to
the principal cave, and here we beheld
the robber band wrapped in deep slum.
Der. We had passed the stalls where
their horses were stabbed on our way
and not sentinel had we found, they
supposing their retreat too secure te
need it. @ s3i iael
At the threshold of the robbers mair
chamber we paused one short momen
TO inspect our arms and await Fred:
signal for the charge Torches lighted
the scene, so we would have no lack o
lights; and beside these, great fire
burned on one side, near which .Burly
Joe was sleeping on a luxurious couch
The cave was everywhere rich ii: ore
and a glance told that only indolenc,
and the brand of "outlawism" made
these robbers follow their present mode
4 Of living rather than gain wealth BY
hard and honest mining labor. iFa
With the yells of demons we burs
intoothe place, and the work of deatl
began Though our force was not &c
large as theirs, we had the advantage o
having surprised them, and in one shor
moment our numbers were about equal
Then the fight began in earnest, Will
more than their habitual fierceness dit
these desperate men fight. For tel
minutes this bloody work went on, ant
then, with the butt Of his pistol, Free
dashed out their leaders brains. Thi
was the decisive point Of the conflict
When they saw their chief fall, the.
broke for the back entrance to their re
|. treat We followed them, all Of us bu
Fred, who remained to search for Ine2
and after driving them to the plac
, where Fred escaped, killed them one b
one. till none remained. They woul