The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-08-27
FROM JET BLACK TO SNOW WHITE.
THE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE WHICH CHANG
Ed THE COLOR OF A MANS
HAIR II 4 NIGHT.

Mr. Slocum, of Slocumville yesterday at
tTacted the attention Of Gazette man. Mr.,
Slocum seemed to be gentleman. He was
a young man and only one thing distinguish
ed him in any special manner from nu-
merous other young men on the street. His
hair was white as the driven snow Viva
cious and intelligent in appearance, the con-
trast between his youthful looks and snowy
locks was startling. Feeling that some story
of terrible strain on Mr.. Slocum's nervous
system was partially revealed in this manner,
the Gazette man inquired the cause of change
of color in his hair. n strange expression
fitted across his features at the question, as
if no very pleasant recolections were ava
kened, but forcing smile lie said
GA terrible experience caused my hair to
change its color, and l cannot yet speak Of
it without shuddering. However 1 have no
objection to relating the circumstances.
''What was the original color Of your hair,
1Ir SlOcum?''
''Get black. l viii give you my experience.
l have Deen revenue collector for several
years. Eight years ago, in the summer Of
1872, I was obliged to take a trip through
. Western Arkansas. There were rough char
acters out there. Men who would steal the
shoes Off your horses feet when they could
/ get nothing else. Outlaws who were stepped
/ in crime and hesitated at nothing. In the
/ course Of my trip Ireacheda district in which
| were several characters who for doing deeds
Of crime had attracted the attention of the
! whole State, but the authorities were unable
/ to appTchend them. had quite a large sum
Of money with me. | feared nothing in those
days. After being one morning in small
village near Little River, and receiving $50,
/ | started out on horseback north towards
Fort Smith. | had about SS1, 100 in my sad
dle-bags and was a little bit nervous to get in
} safe to that place. / had seen nothing to
make me suspect that was not safe. The
sun shone brightly and the heat was some
I what oppressive. As it grew later in the day
! it became so warm that l thought 1 should
I rest. Coming to the banks of Little River I
forded it and clambe1ed mp the steep north
ern bank. Jumping of my horse l tied him
under clump of trees and sought the CRATE
/ ful shade Of an elm that grew near the river
bank. I had carried my saddle-bags with
me, and making pillow of them, lay down
+ Two revolvers were in the holster. I fell
asleep, aud do not know how long slept,
but suddenly awo1e to find three men stand
seized one of my revolvers and pegged away,
hitting one Of them i'm the shoulder and dIsa-
{ bling him. The other two gTappled me-
/ One Of them made pass at me with knife,
but lodged it and hit him in the head with
my pistol, knocking him senseless. The 9TH
er closed with me and we had a - Of
struggle. Biting, scratching and kicking, we
: tried in vain to throw each other down.
had dropped my pistol. Ny horse whinned
from fright, and it began to grow dark. To
my dying day L will not forget that fight. 1t
was death to one or the other l had recOg-
niZed in my aSsailant Bill Buckle. a notorious
. character. Desperately we fought, edging
nearer the river. The bank crumbled sud
denly behind me, and L tOppled over back
wards, dragging Buckle with me His head
hit root in the fall, and he was stunned for
. moment. Scrambing rs well as 1 could to
my horse, l got my sadde-bags and rode
away, the disabled rascal shaking his fist at
me as | went ] ran across 4 darkey hut be-
fore it got dark, and remained ali night, ex-
pecting an attack but resolving to sell my
life as dearly as possible. None came. In
the morning the darkey woman living in the
cabin said 'Massa, your hair is white .
And SuIe enough it was, and has been ever
since. The shock to my nervous system had
been more than l imagined. / never heard
Of the men afterwards, and was more than
glad that 1 escaped as luckily as did. Lit
tie Rock Gazette.