Connecticut western news., 1880-09-01
A Change of Color.
WHY A MANS HAIR TURNED WHITE IN 4
 SINGLE NIGHT.

MT, Slocum attracted the attention of Little Rock Gasette man. He was 8 young man, and only one thing dis tinguished him in any special manner from many other young men on the street. His hair was white as the driven snow. The reporter inquired the caus e of the color, and he said
 GA terrible experience caused my hair to change it's color, and I cannot yet speak of it without shuddering. However, I have no objection to relating the circumstances.
 "What was the original color of your hair, MT. Slocum?" ..
 "Jet black. will give you my ex- perience. I have been revenue collec- tor for several years. Eight years ago, in the summer of 1872, I was obliged to make trip through Western Arkansas. There were rough characters out there, men who would steal the shoes off your horses feet when they could get nothing else; outlaws who were steeped in crime and hesitated at nothing. In the course of my trip I reached district in which were several characters who for deeds of crime had attracted the attention of the whole State, but the authorities were un- able to apprehend them. I had quite 8 large sum of money with me. I feared nothing in those days. After being one morning in 8 small village near Little River, and receiving $15O, I started out on horseback north toward Fort Smith. I had about $1, 700 in my saddle-bags and was little bit nervous to get 1t to that place. I had seen nothing to make me suspect that was not safe. The sun shone brightly and the heat was some what oppressive. As it grew later in the day it became so warm that thought should rest.
 "Coming to the banks of the Little River forded it and clambered up the steep northern bank. Jumping off my horse tied him under a clump of trees and sought the grateful shade of an elm that grew near the river bank. had carried my saddle-bags with me, and making pillow of them lay down. Two revolvers were in the holster. I fell asleep, and donot know how longI slept, but suddenly awoke to find three men standing near me. Regardless of con- sequences, I seized one of my revolvers and begged away, hitting one of them in the shoulder and disabling him. The other two grappled me. One of them made pass at me with knife, but I dodged it and hit him in the head with my pistol, knocking him senseless. The other closed with me and we had strug gle. Biting, scratching and kicking, we tried in vain to throw each other down. I had dropped my pistol. My horse whined from fright and it began to grow dark. To my dying day I will not for get that fight. Itwas death to one or the other. had recognized in my assailant Bill Buckle, a notorious character. Des- perately we fought, edging nearer the river. The bank crumbled suddenly be- hind me and I toppled over backward, dragging Buckle with me. His headhit root in the fall, and he was stunned for moment. Scrambling as well as I could to my horse, I got my saddle-bags and rode away, the disabled rascal shaking his fist at me as I went I ran across a negro's hut before it got dark, and re- mained all night, expecting an attack, but resolved to sell my life as dearly as TY, %1o the darkey woman living in the cabin said: Massa, your hair is white. " And sure enough it was and has been ever since. The shock to my nervous system had been more than imagined. Ineve1 heard of the men afterward, and was more than glad that escaped as luckily as I did"