Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-02-28
c., THURSDAY. FEBRUARY %, 1878.

family of, the, wife seem to have
taken no part in the matter. The
Eold man Southern and his sons.
however,, left their firms in Gilmer
county and came over to Pickens
and put their lives and fortunes a:
the disposal of the husband and
the wife. They were all desperate
men, and soon succeeded in getting
Kate in their company, when they
fled from the county. They travelled
in such force that they were able
to prevent any searching inquiry
into their affairs by the people OF
the rural districts through which
they passed. They succeeded, there
fore, in dropping ont of sight, and
nothing was heard OF. them until a
short time ago. II ed ..iii~
PURSUIT, ,.is ~
1t then came to the knowledge of
Mr.. w. w. Findley, OF Fauhin
county, a gentleman of great energy
and nerve, that party of people
answering the description Of the
fugitivcs from Pickens had settled
npon farm near Franklin, N. G.
He at once determined to 90 IL
quest Of them. He secured four
assistants and started. They reached
Haysville, n. c., and there received
information that convinced them
they were on the hight track. Get
ting positive information as to the
locality of the farm on which the
fugitives had settled, they hurried
on, riding down the Western Caro-
lima turnpike, between the Nauta
hala and the Valley River noun
tains. They reached the farm at
nearly dark, and found it deserted.
They were Informed upon inquiry
flat the parties occupying it for the
year past had given it up the day
before and had gone off with all
their provisions up the turnpike. 1t
was believed that they were making
for Tennessee, their policy being
evidently to crop only one year in
one locality aud gradually reach
the West. It was demonstrated
to the perfect satisfaction of Find
ley by the testimony of the neigh.
bors that the Souiherns had occu-
pied the deserted farm. They
pushed ont, therefore, in hot pnr-
suit, riding day and night. They
were enabled hy occasional inquiry
to track the fngitives with certainty,
and, arriving at Murphy, N. G.,
discovered that they were only an
hour or so ahead. They had passed
through Murphy, evidently intend
ing, as is the custom with wagon
travellers, to get into the woods
and camp out.
SURROUNDING THE FUGTTIvEs.
1t was discovered in Murphy,
also, that the fugitivcs had pushed
through the turnpike gate just out
side Of the town without paying
toll, and after an insulting alterca-
ton with the gatekeeper. This
official reported that they were very
heavily armed, having several guns
and pistols, and that they were
very insolent and defiant He was
just organizing a party to go in
pursuit of them and collect the
pikeagc, when Findley, fearing that
this might interfere with his plans,
took him to one side and confincd
his story to him. He asked the
gatekeeper to suspend operations
for awhile, promising to bring the
men back to him. He then dis
guised himself thoroughly and
started out on horseback TO locate
the camp and identify the people.
1t was a dark and rainy night, and
he had considerable difficulty in
progressing at all. He had oniy
gone about two miles when he saw
ii camp fire cleaning. Riding
boldly up to it, he was halted by q
man who seemed to be doing patro
duty. Findley made some com
monplace remark and rode mp to
the fire. After inquiring as to the
road, he departed. He remained
at the fire long enough to recognize
tie whole party and 20 even get, !
glimpse of Kate Southern as she
peered ont from the wagon cover
After riding a. short distance ht
made detour ard returned tC
Murphy. He there secuted few
additional men, headed by Detec
, tive Howell, who lived in Murphy
and was perfectly familiar with the
: country, and at four O'Clock in the
, morning started out TO make the
captures. It had been Determined
, TO completely: surround the camp
and close in simultaneously from
all sides and demand surrender
This plan was carried into effect
but it was found thatthe Soutaerns
. for some reason tor'othef, had pm
ont their fire little after midnigh
and moved ahead. The party ther
set out in fresh pursuit and sooI