The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-08

LVDiSV'LLs tkf.) DOCTORS EXPERIENCES on
NuLE-cHAsED ny oURmfIAs.
louisville courier-Jourasi.,
Although sixteen years have elanscd
since the close OF the late. unplcasantness
The events which occurred during that time
are yet fresh In the memory Of those who
participated In them. Although these
stories have trace OF age about them. they
nave lost none OF their interest, and are
stu very interesting. Yesterday afternoon
eisJo,Tndi reporter was in CONVEX
sation with wcll-known physician of this
city, when this subject was brought up:
An interesting event occurred 10 me in
my lifetime" remarked the Doctor, (which
might do TO write up. In 1864, when the
gucrillas were very numerous in Ken
lucky, / was living with my father In one
OF the mountain counties In the northern
part OF the State. One morning started
10 go from my fathers farm 70 that OF q
neighbor, about four miles distant, / was
dressed IN grayish-blue suit with a close
htting cap.and had much the appearance OF
beng Federal soldier. To make the pic
ture complete was mounted upon large,
raw-boned gray mule, that was one OF the
strongest and widest animals in that part
OF the country. | trotted along the road
80 - t0N Eafts anu III u SNORT time l1sl0
reached the summit OF hill about two
miles from home. The country around
was very rough and broken, and directly
below me was a large rayine, at the end
OF which was a broad valley, In which
there was farmhouse. was sitting on
my mule, looking down into the valley,
when l saw three men step out Of the
farmhouse below me. A glance Sufiiced
TO show that they were gucrillas. They saw
me about the same time / did them, and,
taking me for Federal soldier, started to
get their horses. | knew was i'm for il,
and determined TO try them for q two-milc
race. The ravine runs so that they could
ride up through it without my seeing them
and come out on the road directly behind
me. | determined TO dodge them, and,
turning my mule short around, | laid on
whip and spur, and started him down the
road. and il ever mule did his duty that
one did. | had gotten about three hun
dred yards away when | heard yell be-
hind me, and knew that the gucrllas
were in not pursuit. The race con-
tinued this way for about half 4 mile,
the mule going at a break-neck rate Of
speed over rocks and stumpS, and
my pursuers following close in the
rear. About fifty yards in front OF
me the road made sharp turn, and by
striking across the country / could cut
off about half mile to my fathers
house, but to do this would have to Jump
high fence. resolved 10 try the expert
ment, and, running toward the fence,
struck the mule with the whip. lie made
terrific bound, and in going over caught
his hind-foot on the fence, throwing him
violently on the ground on The other side,
while | was sent over his head about
twenty feet. l fell on the broad OF my
back i'm the mud, and was not hurt by the
fall. ] gathered myself up, and looking
around saw the mule walking away. !
instantly went to him, and jumping on
him again galloped of. BY this time,
however, my pursuers were close on me,
and when they saw me ride away second
time, opened fire. one bullet struck me
on the shoulder, and another glanced along
the mules back, making a slight wound.
The pain produced made the animal per-
fcctly wild, and he struck out, making q
direct line for home. Just ahead OF us
was n farmhouse, on the other side OF
which two roads forked, one leading in a
roundabout way TO my fathers house, and
the other and broader one leading across
the country. The mule made straight
leap, dashed through the yard and out on
to the road. He turned down the narrow
road, and we were soon out Of sight OF
pursuit in strip Of woods. The guerillas
also came through the farm-yard, but
took the wrong road. The frightened
mule still continued to run, and / was
powerless 20 stop him. In few moments
he halted in my fathers yard. The next
day made inquiries about the matter and
found out who the gentlemen were. All
Of them turned ont to be men living close
around. l did not venture out for week
afterwards, and when / did took care not
TO dress as n Federal soldier. Since have
been practicing medicine here have met a
couple of the gucIillas who chased me,
and am now treating one Of them. We
often get together and laugh over the mat
ter, but it was no laughing matter for
me that day. As for the mule. kept him
until he died, which occurred few weeks
ago"