The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-15
NEARLY HANGED.
How DEummer Was mistaken for quite Ano.

How Drummer Was Mistaken for Quite another
| Man.
Last night sad-looking drummer ar
rived in the city He had just made a
tour of several of the northwestern coun-
ties, and, as he expressed it, had enough
experience in one house toward the
s'shank'' of his trip to serve for years of
adventurous Renaissance.
Several days ago." said the drum
mer to party of acquaintance last
night at the Capital hotel, 81 was riding
along through the woods, wet, weary,
and hungry. / had hired horse at q
farmhouse, and was accompanied by a
colored boy on another horse, who was
sent to take the horse back when /
reached the railroad. Well, as I was
riding along through country where
the road was mere path, aud where
the woods Were SO thick that they re-
minded me of a perpetual evening, /
was suddenly confronted by two men,
who, with leveled guns, told me to hold
up my hands. I would like to have had
an explanation, but my hands went up.
Several other men advanced, and two of
them searched me. They found bor-
rowed revolver and a watch. They did
not take the watch, but relieved me of
the pistol
"sWhat's the niger doing with you?'
one of them asked. / replied that he
had been sent along to take back my
horse when | reached the railroad.
IS Yes; when you reach the railroadn
one of them said. asked for an expla-
nation, but they cursed me. / didn't
know what to do, and it didn't seem
that they desired me to do anything.
They tied rope around my neck.
'' Let's swing him up here said one
festive young fellow, whom took to be
in something of a hurry. Then they be-
gan debate. The colored boy was
they told him to 90 back, and to take
my horse with him. To this he readily
assented, and in minute more Twas on
the ground. I begged for an explana-
ton. One man solemnly pointed to the
rope wore.
IS 'Fcllers,' remarked thoughtful
looking man, we'd better take him over
and see if he is, the right man. This
motion seemed to prevail. They threw
me onto horse behind little fellow,
and started off through the woods. 1t
seemed to me that we had travelled an
age when we reached clearing, in the
center of which stood a small house.
Several men were gathered in the yard,
and I noticed excited women moving
around. Our arrival was greeted with
loud shout.
''Where's Abram? asked the thought
full man of our party when we reached
the gate. EAbran' would be out in q
few minutes. He came; an old man
with gray hair and hickory shirt.
We've got him, Uncle Abe said the
man who had proposed to hang me-
and we're only waitin' for the word
The old man regarded me for a mo-
ment, and said: Boys, he amt the
man. Turn him loose
1.-The rope was taken from my neck.
What was seized for?' [ asked of
Abram.
:. Wall, you see,' he said, "a teller
came along here this mornin' an tried
to steal my dog. You amt the man.
You can GO l turned and walked
away. had gone about two miles when
man on n horse overlook Tie. The
old man must see you,' he said; hurry
back 1 'trudged' back to the farm
house The old man was at the gate
What do you want?' / asked. 4 want
ed to say, young fellow, that it would
be good idea for you never, never to
steal dog. Then l walked ten miles
to the railroad. / have thought the
matter over since, and blamed if I in
tend to steal a dog. What'n you all
ve?"-LtttLe Rock Gazette.