Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-06

ton patch Scarcely had they got there when
they heard the white leagurcs returning for
the purpose Gas she learned from their con-
versation) of taking her body and throwing
it into the bayou with stone attached To it,
to cover up their dark deed. They expressed
great astonisment at finding the body gone,
accused some of the niggers on the plantation
of taking it, and rode Off saying that they
would come back at day break and hunt for
it in the quarters, land give the ID niggers
who stole it lively turn"
Daylight was now rapidly approaching and
no time was to be lost in getting away. With
the help of the child she crawled on her hands
and knees to the swamp where she lay until
the next night. She knew that there was
camp of federal soldiers ten miles away, and
she determined to make an effort to reach it.
She Law concealed during daylight. only ven
turing out at night and crouching or rather
dragging herself almost prone on the earth
she slow ly made her way towards that Mecca
of the hunted blacks, the Union Camp.
Though the distance was short the time
she consumed in getting there was nccessari-
ly long-two weeks-I believe. She obtained
food from the colored people, who never be-
trayed her
The white men mistrusted when they were
not able to find her body that she alive.
dogs. Frequently they were close to where
she lay in the swamp with only her face out
of water; but she euied them until she had
almost reached the soldiers. when she became
so weak through suffering loss of blood and
food that she thought she was going to die.
Reaching a black mans cabin she implored
him, for the love of God, to let her die in his
house. She told him who she was and that
she had been trying to reach the soldiers, but
she could go no further. He was very much
frightened, and at first refused to take her in.
saying that they were riding after her and if
she was found in his cabin he and his family
would all be murdered Bnt finally she per
suaded him to let her in. She had been there
only few minutes when he exclaimed I'VE
are lost! We are lost They are coming.
see the dust down the road" CONSERVATION
took possession of the family. There WAS no
place where she could hide. \ rude bed with
a trundle bed beneath it was in the room
Eliza saw the trundle bed and throwing her
self upon it and pulling the clothes over her
told him to shove it under the bed. He said
he couldn't do itwithout Jamming herto death
as there only room for the trundle To 60
under. But she ordered him to push il under
as it was her only hope; and under it went
nearly squeezing the life from her body
The old darkey then went out doors. and as
the whites rode up he was all politeness
They inquired if he had N the woman they
were after. and he said he had not. They
at first doubted his word. but he very emphat
ically assured them that no such person had
passed that way; that il would have been
impossible for her to have done so without
his seeing her. He said to them that if they
did not believe what he said they might search
his house and premises, knowing that the only
chance for escape was to put on bold face
Al. ~ l..
gether with fright. They cntcrsd the house
and examined it, saw the bed all open. but it
seemed not to have entered their heads that
she could be there. They said it was very
strange where the woman was, they were
hard upon her track and she could certainly
not be far away. The colOred man suggested
that she might be hiding near by and offered
to get his mule and help them search for her
They accepted his profered aid and he went
out, got his old mule and away they all started
on the false scent. They were gone about
half an hour, when not finding any traces of
her, they returned to the cabin and held a
council, the result of which was that they con-
cluded to turn back, supposing they had passed
her in their hot haste. They left. admonish-
ing the old fellow to keep sharp lookout,
which he faithfully promised to do.
As soon as they were out of sight he got
Eliza upon his mule at her request, tied her
on, gave the animal whack and off she
started for the camp. She had not got far
when she heard her pursuers coming, and
then began as exciting a race as ever was
known. They saw her and urged their ami
mails at the top of their speed and she did
the same thing, kicking the mule with her
heels and pounding him with her fists. She
described the scene by saving 81 loped and
Hoped and loped, and they Hoped and Hoped
and loped." They gained on her rapidly
commanded her to halt; but her only reply
was to pound her mule harder and harder to
make him lope faster. They fired at her re-
peatedly, but, though her scanty clothing
was rddled, not bullet touched her. She
seemed like Washington and Napoleon. to
be bullet proof; to have a charmed life
They were now within sight of the camp, and
the soldiers saw the race without understand
ing it. When she got to them they closed
around her and ordered the leaguers. whose
hands were stretched out to grasp her, to stop.
They demanded her, saying that she was an
escaped criminal. The soldiers told them
that they could not have her until they showed
their authority and brought some evidence.
She in the meantime, was telling her own
story. Finding they could not bulldozc the
boys in blue they tried to induce Eliza to 90
with them, one man offering her a bag of
gold and promising her the best of care. But
she could not be induced to trust them. As
soon as she was able to go she was shipped to
New Orleans under guard, and the world then
learned through the Senate Investigating
Committee her wonderful story.
CHANNING.