The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-09-07
Il NAKEOjT ESCIFE.

My old friend and schoolmate, Philip
Colcord. when he went into the army. left
his diary i'll my possession, at tie same
time telling me that if | found anything
therein worth using, L might put it ill
shape and give 1t to the world l have
just opened said diary, and almost the first
thing that attracted tny attsnuon was the
record from which | make tie following
sketch
Svme years ago my physician told me
mus; leave the counting house and travel
fuI my health. Let it not be thought from
this that | was Il weak, runy man. Far
from it, IN fact, was too stout and strong
for so much confinement, the result OF
which WAS a morbid state of the liver, and
d veakening Uf the digestive organs, with
accompanying dyspepsia aud constipa ion
| knew tue physician was Ilght, ano at
once planned IA voyage to Europe; but my
parents were anxious to Know u Il horse
back ride through the Southern States
would not be full as good for me. The
doctor said it would be better. Then,
cried old Lattitat, the Head oi our hrm,
You will kill two birds with one stone
The meaning of which was that | c"hld
visit n thousand aud one correspondents III
the Cotton States. and square up thous-
al
lost health. had no objections 10 this |
steamed it by rail as far as Cincinnati;
theLca by water to New Orleans. Then |
took the river back to Nicksburg. where |
bought a horse and started across the
country to the eastward, intending 10 strike
The Atlantic GCast at Savannah.
Late one evening I arrived at a small set
dement, near the Combgbee, in Alabama,
where I found quite comfortable Inn.
Arter skinner sat down in the bar-EoOni,
and soon f,iscage,e ed that among the guests
nreseut were the Sheriff of the district ana
two OF his deputies ; and by listening I" 'he
conversation ] leaned that they were oAt
ON impogt2IA l,1ssiuess. IaSer, wieh alone
with lae landlord, | was informed of the
particulars. That section OF the country
lao for a long time been infested by Il gang
nr dcs,erate villains --river-prstesa aud horse
thieves-who had robbed and murdered
hotb travellers and citizens, ana VINO hau
fins far succeeded i'll eluding the vigilance
of the officers sent afier them. ihere was
something wonderful in ihis, for the most
expert detec ives had been upon tue trdch
Of the marauders many times, ana YET ho'
even a clue had been gained To their hldlhS-
nI,ca That they had hiding place was
verv evident and, further, 1t was place
where both men and horses could pe eUec-
,u,Iiv concealed The host declared tbat
II was very mysterious; 1T was past MS
onnnrahe,sjop. For mare than year
nlantatious have been robbed; travellers
have been robbed boats upon the ilver
have been robbed, aud even large settle
ments have been Invaded, by these bold
outJaws The publican's idea was, that
they had big cave somewhere uhoer
orouud for if their rendezvous had peen
above ground the officers would have SoQho
il before this, -
On the following morning we ate oreaK-
fast at ar early hour, and shorty aiter
Ids tbe Sheriff and his depsties s-t2-Sea
off to the southward, towards bend III the
r;yer o.Lerethe ere Of = batboat had been
r,,hbed only a few days before. Ny course
iav ,n the eastward, as ] had business at
YOU'D - made it BETTER" said my host
ssf yon'd crossed the river at Bluff-rost
Tn that case you'd ~ had direct road TO
C.bawh,. but now you We got to take near,
l., haIf the distance in wildcat road ana
IL na,;,. IIowsumever, if you've got
rood hoss. you III make out, reckon-'ha'
is if YOU don't get picked up-by tue pi-
rates. IF tho
had been aware Of the character OF the
road that lay before ne, and had father
,referred it to the better rout to tGe LQIfh-
ward. had plenty Of time, ana hKed 70
gee these out of the way plantations' ana as
f,r hospitality, it was all alike. was a'
nome anywhere With one or sw0 excep-
ems II seemed to he the chief aim oi the
nlanters TO make my stay with tne"i as
pp,..a.,hle as possible and ] found more
difficulty in getting away from 'net "'oi'
than did IN gaining e"ua'ice'