Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-09
A Terrible Experience.

attracted the attention OF Little Rock
Gazette man. Mr.. Slocum seemed to be
gentleman. He was young man,
and only one thing distinguished him
In any special manner from numerous
other young men on the street. His
hair was white as the driven snow.
Vivacious and intelligent In appearance,
the contrast between his youthful looks
and snowy locks was startling. Feeling
that some story of terrible strain on
MIR. Slocum's nervous system was par
TALLY revealed in this manner, the Ga
zekc man inquired the cause of the
change of color in his hair. A strange
expression fitted across his features at
the question, as If no very pleasant recol-
lections were awakened, but forcing a
smile, he said:
"a terrible experience caused my
hair to change its color, and cannot
yet speak of it without shuddering.
However. I have no objection to relat-
ng the circumstances"
"What was the original color of your
hairP"
"Jet black. 1 will give you my ex-
perience. / have been n revenue col
lector for several years. Eight years
ago, in the summer of 1872, was
obliged to take trip through Western
Arkansas. There were rough charac-
ters out there. Men who would steal
the shoes off your horses feet, whe
they could get nothing else. Outlaws
who were stepped in crime and hesti-
tated at nothing. In the course of my
trip reached 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 10 apprehend them. had
quite large sum of money with me. /
feared nothing in those days. After be-
ing one morning in a small village near
Little river, and receiving $50 started
out on horseback north toward Fort
Smith. l had about Sl,7O0 in my sad
dle-bags and was little bit nervous TO
get IL safe TO that place. i had seen
nothing 10 make me suspect that was
not safe. The sun shone brightly and
the heat was somewhat oppressive. AS
it grew later in the day it became so
warm that I thought | should rest.
Coming TO the banks of Little river /
forded IL and clambered up the steep
northern bank. jumping off my horse
/ tied him under clump of trees and
sought the grateful shade OF an elm that
grew near the river bank. / had car
ried my saddle-bags with me, and max
ing pillow OF them, lay down. Two
revolvers were in the holster. fell
asleep. and do not know low long I
slept, but suddenly awoke TO find
three men standing near me. Regard
less of consequences / seized one of
my revolvers and pegged away,
hitting one OF them in the
shoulder and disabling him. The
other two grappled me. One of
them made pass at me with a knife,
but lodged 1t and hit him in the head
with my pistol, knocking him senseless.
The other closed in with me. and we
had terrible struggle. Biting. scratch
ing and kicking, we tried in vain TO
throw each other down. / had drop
ped my pistol. My horse whinnied
from fright. and it began to grow dark.
To my dying day will not forget that
fight. II was death TO one or the other.
/ had recognized in my assailant Bill
Buckle, n notorious character. Des-
perately we fought, edging nearer the
river. The bank crumplsd suddenly
behind me, and toppled over back
ward, dragging Buckle with me. His
head hit root in the fall and he was
stunned for a moment. Scrambling as
well as could TO my horse, got my
saddle-bags and rode away, the dis
abled rascal shaking his fist atsme as
went. / ran across colored mans
hut before IL got dark, land remained
all night, expecting. an attack, but re-
solving to sell my life as dearly ms possi-
BILE. None came. In the morning the
colored woman living in the cabin said:
Massa, your hair is white And sure
enough IL was, and has been ever since.
The shock to my nervous system had been
more than imagined. | never heard of
the men afterward, and was more than
glad that / escaped rs lucky as did"