The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-11-29
TIED TO A TREE.

The following is told by the Sedal1a
| (Mo.) Bazo0:
| Saturday morning Mr.. Able Knight, a
respectable farmer of this county residing
twelve miles southeast from Sadella was
hunting his cattle in the Lamine Bottom,
when he suddenly came upon camp fire,
near which were hitched two unsaddled
horses. Surprised at this circumstance,
he drew up his horse, and was in the
act of getting down to see what
was up, when he was confronted by
two armed men, one of whom presented a
revolver at his breast and told him to dis
mount.
Mr.. Knight replied: That is just what
I was going to do. But what does all this
mean"
"Ask us no questions and we will tell
you no lies" answered one Of the ruff
fans.
1t was evident to Mr.. eKnight by this
| time that the men he had encountered
were either horse thieves or robbers.
| The spot was admirably suited for hid
ing place. It was in thick growth OF
bottom timber mile from any road, and
over two miles from naturalization. The
horses looked as if they had been ridden
all night and the men in manner and ap-
pearance indicated that they were des-
perate characters. Under these circum-
stances he thought it best to comply with
their demands, and get into as little
trouble as possible. Besides, they were
armed and we was not. Having dis
mounted, one of the strangers proceeded
in not unfriendly way, to lnterrogate
him regarding the lay OF the country
and wihsed to know what was their best
rout to Boonville without passing through
any towns This information Mr.. Knight
gave as we'll as he was able. He ever
went so far as to make rough chart fol
them on piece of paper which one of the
men had in his pocket This done, Mr.
Knight said he was in a hurry, and woulC
have to leave them. At this the man who
chiefly addressed him. and who had acted
the part of leader, told him he would
have to stay with them until they were
ready to leave; that they didn't care
about him telling what he had seen, ano
to prevent his doing this they proposed
to keep him with them.
1t was useless to argue, and so he sub
mitted with the best grace possible
About two o'clock in the afternoon the
men got ready to start, and, to MIR
Knights infinite surprise, told him thai
they wanted his money. This demand
however, he was disposed to resist unit
the persuasive revolver was again brough
into use. He had sic in his pocket, anc
this he gave them. The leader then pro
duced piece of rope, and while his com
panion held pistol against MIR. Knight:
head, he proceeded to tie his hands be
hind him. This done, he was pushed W
against tree and securely fastened to II
All this was done without word. Whe1
Mr. Knight was firmly dashed to tree, IL
way that it was utterly impossible TO
him to release himself, the man made
halfway apology, saying that 1t wa
matter of life and death with them
and that they could not offord to be over
taken.
But YOU are leaving me here TO die
You surely do not wish to do that"
.'Somebody will come along after
while. If they don't you must holler I'm
til they hear you"
With that they rode of, taking Mr.
Knights horse with them. % course, b
, tried to get loose, but the rope resiste'
all his effort. to unloose it. He took tn
, robbers advice, and yelled until he wa
: hoarse But it did no good. he wa
left alone in desoate bottom and nigh
E was falling fast Then it began to ram
In the meantime Knights family ha
q become alarmed, and by daybreak h
: wife had aroused several of their neigh
: bors, who began to search for him. 81
!. knew that he had gone to the bottom
hunt cattle Her fears were that he ha
been thrown from his horse, and VS.
killed OF desperately Injured. The an
! NAL he had ridden was young and Will
;, and that fact intensified her apprehel
sions. So his neighbors began to hui
for him through the rain of that to N
:, Knight ever-memorable Sunday. de hs
yelled himself hoarse, and his loude
; halo could not be heard over one hui
! dred wards distant. Fortunately, hoy
:, ever. toward nightfall they found HI
more than half dead from want and G
> posture.