San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-03-16
BARELY SAVED.
Nan Drummer Was Mistaken For Another Man
and Came Nearly Being Hanged.

aud Came Nearly beihs hanged.
Recently sad looking drummer ar
.ired in Little Rock. He had Just made
,onr of severa! of the Northwestern
sonpties, and, as he expressed it, had
snough experience in one house TOWARD
tbe SHANK" of his trip to serve foi
years of adventurous Renaissance.
sSeyeral days ago." said the drum
mar TO a party of acquaintance last
n;gbt at the Capital hotel, Il was rid
inc along through the woods, wet an6
weary and hungry. had hired horse
at a farm house, and was accompanied
Inv a colored boy on another horse, who
was sent to take my horse back when
reached the railroad. Well, as 1 was
riding along through the country where
the road was mere path, and where
fine woods were so thick that they re.
minded me of perpetual evening, ]
was suddenly confronted by two men,
who, with leveled guns, told me to hold
ND 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 a
borrowed revolver and watch. They
did not take the watch, but relieved me
of the pistol.
"What's the niger doing with you p
one of them asked.
Il replied that he had been sent
along to take my horse back when /
reached the railroad.
ayes; when you reach the railroad ?
one OF them said.
81 asked for an explanation. but they
cursed me. l 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 I took to be
in something of a hurry.
"Then they began a debate. The
colored boy was frightened out of his
wits. Pretty soon they told him to go
back, and to take my horse with him.
To this he readily assented, and in a
minute more I was on the ground. I
begged for an explanation. One man
solemnly pointed to the rope I wore.
"Fellers,' remarked a 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 a
little fellow, and we started off through
the woods. It seemed to me that we
had travelled an age when we reached a
clearing, in the center of which stood a
small house. Several men were gath
cred in the yard, and I noticed excited
women moving around. Our arrival
was greeted with loud shouts.
"'Where's Abram p asked the
thoughtful man of our party when we
reached the gate.
"Abram' would be out in few min
utes. 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 mo-
ment and then said:
"'Boys, he amt the man. Turn him
loose
"The rope was taken from my neck.
what was 1 seized for p L asked of Alb
ram.
@'Wall, you see,' he. said, "a Teller
came along here this morning an tried
to steal my dog. You amt the man !;
you can co.
IL turned and walked away, and had
gone about two miles when man on
horse overlook me.
""The old man must see you,' he
said; hurry back
81 trudged back to the farm house !;
the old man was at the gate.
What do you want p asked.
VI wanted to say, young Teller, that
1t would be good idea for you never,
never to steal dog -
"Then I walked ten miles to the rail-
road. 1 have thought the matter over
since, and blamed if L inteno to steal a
dog. Whatll You all have?"