Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-12-22
BOOK LOB PRINTING
ALL KINDS OF JOB PRINTING
EXECUTED IN THE
LATEST AND BEST STYLE
AND AT THE
LOWEST LIVING RATES.
We GUARANTEE FIRST CLASS woRK.
A WILD RIDE.
A We1l-Known Physician of Louisville.
KY, Gives the Story of His Experience
With Guerrillas.

In the year 1864 when the guerril-
las were very numerous in Kentucky,
I was living with my father in one
of the mountain counties in the north
ern part of the State. One morning
I started to 60 to neighbor's house
about four miles distant. I was
dressed in q grayish blue suit, with
close-ftting blue cap, and had much
the appearance OF being . federal sol
dier. To make the picture complete,
l was mounted upon large, raw
boned gray mule, that was one of the
strongest and widest animals in that
part of the country. I trotted along
the road at brisk gait, and in a
short time had reached the smmit of
hill about two miles from home.
The country was very rough and
broken, and directly below was a
large ravine, at the end Of broad
valley, in which was . farm house.
A glance sufficed to show that they
we're guerrillas. They saw me about
the same time, and taking me for
federal soldier, started to get their
horses. knew I was in for it, and
determined to try them for a two
mile race. The ravine runs so that
they could ride up through it without
me seeing them and come out on the
road directly behind me. I deter
mined to dodge them, and turning my
mule short around, l laid on whip
and spur and started him down the
road. I got about 800 yards away
when / heard yell behind me and
knew that the guerrillas were in hot
pursuit. The race continued this
way for about half mile, the mule
going at break-neck rate of speed
over rocks and stumps, and my pur-
suers following close. About so
yards in front of me the road made a
short turn, and by striking across the
country I could cut off about half
mile to my fathers house, but to do
this would have to jump high
fence. 1 resolved to try, and run
ming toward the fence struck the
mule with the whip. He made ter
rible bound, and in going over caught
his hind foot on the fence, throwing
him violently to the ground on the
other side, while I was sent over his
head about 20 feet. l fell on the
broad of my back in the mud, and
was not hurt in the fall. 1 gathered
myself up, and, looking around, saw
the mule walking. away. 1 instantly
went to him and jumping on him again
galloped off. By this time, however,
my pursuers we're 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, max
ing slight wound. The pain made
the animal perfectly wild, and he
struck out, striking direct line for
home. Just ahead of US was farm
house, on the other side of which two
roads forked, one leading in = round
about way to my fathers house, and
the other and broader one leading
across the country. The mule made
straight for the house, dashed through
the yard and out on the road. He
turned down the narrow road and we
were soon out Of sight of pursuit in q
strip of woods. The guerrillas also
came through the farm-yard, but took
the wrong road. The frightened mule
still continued to run, and l was pow
erless to stop him. In few minutes
he halted me in my fathers yard.
The next day l made inquiries about
the matter, and found out who the
gentlemen were. All Of them turned
out to be men living close around. l
did not venture out for week after
ward, and when did took care not
to dress like a federal soldier. Since
I have been practicing medicine here
have met couple Of guerrillas who
chased me, and 1 am now treating
one of them. We often get together
and laugh over the matter, but it was
no laughing matter for me that day.
As for the mule, kept him until he
died, which occurred q few days ago.