The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-05-27

others nave COIO tucu stoIieS VI
escape-of adventures by sea and
laud-will you not listen to mine?
We had no sooner leaped from the
train than We ran rapidly into the
heavy woods which skirted the road
and knowing pursuit to be certain.
that thought intensified the excite
ment. BY this time the evening had
grown quite dark and q heavy rain
began to fall. An hour later We
heard from our covert in the heart Of
Q dense swamp the deep baying of
bloodhounds and the hOarse voices of
our baffled pursuers. Being unable
to find suitable place to lie down We
leaned against the bushes, standing
most of the time in water and mud
more than knee-deep, maintaining
that tiresome attitude all night and
next day. 1t was . novel way of
resting, but We could do no better and
we're thankful for that morsel Of
comfort. The second night came at
last and xrming ourselves with clubs.
We made our way, with difficulty. out
of the swamp and pushed forward in
our fight toward the North.
THROUGH THE SWAMP AND NOUN.
For several hours after our start
the new moon shone Brightly, guiding
us on our lonely and perilous way.
By daylight We had accomplished a
distance Of twenty miles. not, how
ever, without experiencing a new
alarm from the ever-dreaded hounds.
which again got on our track; but BY
wading . number of small streams We
managed to elude our pursuers, and
ct dawn sought cover in q heavy
cypress swamp. We had taken the
precaution before leaving Charleston
to place pieces of raw onions in our
boots and shoes in order to deprive
the dogs of the usual scent, and no
doubt this ruse aided to perplex them.
We Travelled by day as best We could
| in the swamps and timber land, and
1t night made rapid progress across
the open fields, devoting but little
time to rest, our great desire being to
reach the mountains of the "Old
North State" where we confidently
lexpected to meet friends. Before 9
week had elapsed our rations were
exhausted, and We had to meet with our
frst misfortune. We had halted ar
hour or two before daylight to boil cofet
Q quantity of which We had provided
ourselves with before leaving. Thu
breakfast" was scarcely concluded
when We were horri6ed to see party
of armed men running up the slopt
toward us. Selfpeservatioh being
the first law of nature, and having nc
weapons with which to defend our
selves, We sprang to our feet ant
darted of in an opposite direction
speedily entering a swamp in which
We Aoundered about for several hOurs
We now discovered our irreparabl'
loss-that of our cooking utensils
knives and forks, a towel, severa
boxes of matches, &c. These indis
. pensable articles had been left behint
|, in our fight, and the discovery made
us wretched indeed. The question o
substance began to grow unpleasant!
urgent, and with all our efforts VI
found that nothing could be obtainet
unless We visited the houses of tn
planters, but this We had determines
never to do, for we knew well how littl
sympathy was to be experienced il
that quarter. For several days VI
wandered along in the corn-6elds
looking intently for corn and berries
occasionally finding both, and these
spurred BY appetite, we managed t
masticate- NEARLY breaking our teeth
in the process. In camp We ha'
many q time mathematical Govern
ment "tack" and detained agains
CONTRACTOR beef, but DOW, crouchint
lin these dismal swamps through tn
: long days, We would nave relished tn
. substantial fare which. in hours o
plenty We had 90 execrated! Blu
With all our troubles, We continue.
to press on through the dreary days
, oftentimes hiding, but determined t
reach our homes again, though We hat
to 90 through FIRE to do so.
TIE SHELTER OF NEGRO CABIN.
i Having reached . point about tw'
hundred and fifty miles from tn
coast, We one day made our presenc
; known to some negroes at work in ,
Geld. We had no difficulty in per
suading them that We were Yanke'
officers escaping from rebel bondage
land they received us at once to tn,
shelter Of their cabins, displaying
great delight at our, presence. Their
Was something almost royal in theil
cheerfully-rendered service; they
T seemed to look upon rs as in some way
sufferers for their sake. and they
fairly loaded US with kindness. They
procured us corn.bread, meal, sal
and other articles, gave us explicit
information as to the best route tt
the mouptains, and when at last VI
departed rained down blessings and
fervent "God-speed" on our heads
I'VE never besitAted to trust ths
negroes, for We knew they would moi
betray us. They never did! Ons
night. when near Dallas, North
Carolina, We accidently met a white
man. Probably you can picture tt
yourself how We felt and looked when
suddenly, We came upon him! Wa
be friend Or foe? Necessarily VI
resorted to conversational strategy
putting and answering questions with
variness. We were not long In dis
covering the status of the stranger,
and probably be had never beer
tembraced before with the vehement