The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-01-09
A Narrow Escape.

Several years ago l was out with a
party prospecting for silver, high up
the Gila River. We had been some
time without meeting with any sue
cess, and were returning to Fort Yuma,
disguised with the country. We had
left the Pimos village a days journey
behind us, when we fell in with man
travelling the same way that we were.
He was without grub or blankets, and
said he was going to California. As we
had some spare mules, we told him that
if he could ride a pack saddle, he
could go on with us as far as Fort
Yuma. None of us liked the looks of
the fellow, he had such a thoroughly
villainous expression. But as he seemed
so badly used up, we took pity on him,
and made him the offer that we did.
He accepted without any hesitation.
We found him very taciturn, never
speaking unless he was spoken to.
When we camped, he would take the
saddle from his mule and 60 off by
himself, never helping to get the grub
ready; and when it was rea ly, he
would come and pitch in with the rest
of US. However, though we did not
like him or his actions, we said nothing,
thinking he might have some secret sor-
row that we had no right to pry into.
We had travelled two days, when what
l am about to tell you occurred. We
had camped at noon, and as the weather
was very warm, some one proposed that
we should all take a bath. All hands
felt that it would be deliciously cool
amusement, bathing in the shade of the
cottonwood trees which hung over the
banks of the river. We stripped in
stantly, and were soon enjoying our
selves gloriously. had belt around
me with several twenties in it, and
took it off to give me full play in the
water. I laid it down on my clothes
carelessly, never thinking of hiding it
from any of the company, as they all
knew that had the money, and had
no Mea that the stranger would be
tempted to take it. AS 1 came out of
the water, I noticed the stranger look
ing very solemnly at my belt, but
thought no more about it. That night,
from some cause, could not sleep well,
and when l would fall into state of
unconsciousness I was troubled with
such wild-like dreams, that would
rather | had remained broad awake.
At last, about midnight, | went to sleep
soundly; how long | lay I do not know,
but 1 wakened suddenly to find some
one kneeling over me and very carefully
cutting my shirt open. Now 1 have
always had the power (call it presence
of mind or anything else) of compre-
nending in an instant all that is going
on around me, no matter from how
sound sleep 1 may be walked. 1t is
anything but pleasant to wake and find
oneself in the power of desperate
who will have no hesitation in plunging
a knife into your heart. l felt myself
in anything but an enviable situation,
knowing that the slightest indication on
my part of being awake would cause
the villain to give me between the ribs
the length of his bowie, or the contents
of his pistol. For, although l could not
see his pistol, / felt sure that he had it
handy. To secure my pistol without
letting him know that was awake, was
a very delicate operation, and ! at
tempted to accomplish it in the follow
Ing manner; my pistol and bowie were
both under my saddle, which l used for
a pillow. 1 threw my right arm up
over my head, taking care not to touch
the robber, and yawned as if | was half
awake, but ready with my left hand to
catch his arm in the event of his at
tempting to stab me. 1 had my eyes
partly shut, so that he could not easily
see them glisten, but sufficiently open
to see his every move, which l could
easily do, as it was clear starlight
night. On the instant that moved he
raised his arm to strike, and 1 was
nearly betraying to him my being awake
by throwing up my left hand, but some
strong impulse prevented me from doing
it, and he held the knife suspended te
give the blow had made another move
When I threw my hand over my head
with the same movement l placed i
under the saddle and on the butt O
my pistol, which was cooked ready TO-
use. 1 lay in that position for abou
half a minute, but it seemed like al
hour. By that time 1 had power owe
my breathing, which on first waking
came very quick. As soon as he though
that was sound asleep again, ne low
cred his hand and commenced opera
tions on my shirt, clearing it away fron
the belt. Than I thought my oppor
tunity had come, and tried to jerk m,
six-shoCter, but it was foul some way
and it would not come. | thought m
time had arrived, for, as quick a
thought. he drew and struck with hi
knife. He struck at my throat. M
eyes were broad open then. and l sa'
where the knife was coming. By
quick involuntary movement L thre'
myself aside, and he must have owe
reached himself, for the knife struc
into the saddle, and so tight that b
could not get it out. in trying to g
my pistol, my hand touched the coli
silver hilt of my bowie. Instructive
took hold of it, abandoning the pisto
when felt the cold muzzle of his pist
} against my forehead. I struck OF
blindly, and as 1 did SO, there was tt
: stunning report of his pistol. How
, escaped I do not know; my face w
blackened with the powder and n
whiskers nearly burned off: but tn
was all the damage done to me. N
blow, though struck at random, b:
: proved a severe one. My knife h;
, gore into the left side of his neck,
, side of the collar-bone. The knife mu
! have reached his heart, for as l drew
! out to strike again he fell on me wi
!. his whole weight, and his blood squirt
all over my face. He gave one quiv'
= and stretched out his whole length a
lay perfectly still : stone dead. T
y whole transaction did not take thr,
quarters of minute. The report
q the pistol had aroused the company
3 every man sprung to his arms. Sol
q were looking for the mules, while Sol
were asking who fired the shot, a
where the Indians were. called
n the boys to take the dead man off n
for was as weak as a child. A cou]
of them did as requested. while 9th
. threw fresh sage brush on the hs
/ smouldering campfire, and we soon b
Il plenty of light to see what had hi
). pened. l told the boys all about wi
= had occurred. We found all the mu
~ y in their places but mine, which v
" staked off about twenty yards from
: camp, with one of the other boys s
q q die and bride on her. went into