The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-11-01

tain aim. Despair was in my heart, but
/ watched his hand. At that instant of
time the reports of pistols, shrieks of
pain, mingled with the varied sounds of
deadly conflict, came to my ears: the
desperate above me, IN haste, cast his
spear, missing me again, and then with
his companion rushed TO the scene Of
other murders, doubtless feeling per-
fectly secure OF his victim in the we'll.
The lantern hung on o nail about ten
feet above, and piece of rope had been
carelessly dropped. in their confusion,
from what appeared to be vertical trap
In the side OF the well and opening out
wards on the tide waters.
Bodies were found in the bay SO fre-
quently in those days that they excited
no great curiosity or comment. At a
glance saw all have described. and.
although wounded in my left arm by the
spear, there was yet small chance to
save my life. With the desperate
strength Of despair, I pushed the dead
mans swollen body under my feet and
sprang to grasp the rope. Twice failed,
and the big drops Of perspiration fell
from my forehead as thought the MUIR
derers were returning. The third at
rope-which, luckily, had knot at its
end-with q degrees of strength ] could
not have used under any other circum-
stances 1 raised myself toward the
floor above, where / found on one side
OF the well the vertical trap, a space of
about twelve inches wide, and perhaps
two feet long, where the bodies were cast
out ON the side. How forced myself
throngh this narrow space as quickly as
| did and encumbered as I was, do not
know, Tor my escape occupied but short
time, and the events / have described
passed IN q few moments, although it
seemed an oge to me.
dropped myself down on the outside
into the tide water, and, passing quickly
as possible from pile to pile, under the
street and houses, / scarcely stopped to
breathe until found myself far away
from the vicinity of the murderers and
their house. Once I thought I heard
smothered voices and the sound of muf-
fled oars, but if so they could not find
1 me, and made my way to the solid land
very cautiously, which was near by, for
knew every means would be employed
to stop q victim who had escaped and
discovered their crimes. Exhausted and
weak by loss of blood from my wounded
arm crept to my garret.
1t was late the next morning when ]
awcke, and could not believe the events
OF the past night except as troubled
dream until, reaching out my hand, / fell
the weight of the bag of gold in the
pocket of my wet coat.
Arising, bound up my wounded arm
and went out. I then took good meal
and purchased good suit Of clothes
also going to barber. who materially
changed and improved my personal ap
pearance. After this renovation many
would not have recognized me. In com
| pany with policeman I visited the
scene of my past nights adventure. As
we carelessly saunteIed through the
gambling room not a single face met
mine that could in the least degree rec
| ognize.
They had evidently+those implicated
as actors in crime fled away until all
| possible investigations should cease
The very dark passage IN the back part
of the room, which / had such fearful
| reason to remember, was so cunningIy
built up and altered that it was difficult
to suppose any such place ever existed
In the afternoon OF the same day.
unexpectedly met an old acquaintance
from the States, who persuaded me to ge
with him to the northern mines, and il
was some length of time before I return
ed. As for the gold I had so fearfully
won, it was invested, mostly, in build
ing on Jackson street, which was after
wards burnt; but, nevertheless, from
that time fortune dealt more kindly with
me; as some atonement, perhaps, for hel
| past frowns.