Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-03-09
NEARLY HANGED.
How Drummer was Mistaken for Quite
Another Man.
Arkansas State Gazette.


Last night a sad looking drummer arrived
in the city. He had just made a tour OF
several of the northwestern counties, and, as
he expressed it, had enough experience in
one house toward the shank" of his trip
te serve for years of adventurous reminis-
cence
Several days ago. said the drummer to a
party Of acquaintance last night at the Cap
ital HOTEL Il was riding along through the
woods, wet, weary, and hungry. / had hired
horse at a farm house, and was accompanied
! by c0lored boy on another horse, who was
sent to take my horse back when l reached
the railroad. Well, as | was riding along
through a country where the road was a
mere path, and where the woods were SO
thick that they reminded me of perpetual
evening" was suddenly confronted by two
men who, with leveled guns, told me to hold
up my hands would like to have had an
explanation, but my hands went up. Several
other men advanced, and two of them
searched me. They found Il borrowed re-
volver and watch. They did not take the
watch, but relieved me of the pistol"
whats the nigger doing with you ~ one
of them asked. replied that he had been
sent along to take my horse back when |
reached the railroad E".s"
'Yes, when You reach the railroad y one
of them said | asked for an explanation,
but they cursed me- I didn't know what to
do, and it didn't seem that they desired me
to do anything. They tied a rope around
my neck. ..
Lets swing him up here, said one tes-
tive Young fellow whom | took to be in
something of hurry. Then they began a
debate. The colored boy was frightened out
of his wits. Pretty soon they told him to
90 back and to take my horse with him.
TO this he readily assented, and in minute
more l was Oh the ground. | begged for an
explanation One man solemnly pointed to
the rope | wore.
"Fellers," remarked thoughtful looking
man. we'd better take him over and see il
he is the right man." This motion seemed
to prevail. They threw me onto horse be-
hind little fellow, and | started off through
the woods. It seemed to me that we had
travelled an age, when we reached clearing,
in the centre of which stood a small house
Several men were gathered in the yard, and
| noticed excited women moving around.
Our arrival was greeted with loud shout
where's Abram?' asked the thoughtful
man OF our party when we reached the gate.
'Abram' would be out in q few minutes. He
came; an old man with gray hair and hick-
ory shirt
We've got him, Uncle Abe" said the man
who had proposed to hang me, and we're on
ly waitin' for the word. The old man re-
garded me for moment, and said, boys. he
amt the man. Turn him loose
The rope was taken from my neck. What
was | seized for?' | asked of Abram.
Wall, you see,' he said, "a feller came
along here this mornin' an tried to steal my
dog You amt the man. You can GO [
turned and walked away. had gone about
two miles when man on horse overlook
me- THE old man must see you," he said ;
hurry back" | " trudged' back to the farm
house The old man was at the gate. What
do you want?" I asked. Il want to say,
young feller, that it would be a good idea for
you never, never to steal dog" Then
walked ten miles to the railroad. l have
thought the matter over since, and blamed
if 1 intend to steal a dog. What''ll you all
have?"