The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-01-04
CHASED BY GREASERs.


cigar, and think my last adventure
may tend to interest you. 1t was .
pretty tight squeeze, and at one time
Thought sure should lose the number
of my mess, but touch and go is a
a good pilot, you know, and here I am
to-day, as good as ever. I viii give you
the details, if you care to listen"
1t was the occasion of dinner party,
given on board the vessel to which the
II Lieutenant was attached His immedi-
ate friends were ON either side of him,
and it is needless to state that the Off
GERS proposition for an after-dinner
yarn was eagerly accepted.
''Some of you remember-it is not so
long ago-when received orders to Join
the gun-boat fitted out specially to pa
troll the Rio Grande, with view of pro-
tecting the interests of our citizens on
the Mexican frontier.
20 I never did like the race AL of their
i characteristics are repugnhnt to our
! broad and enlightened Ideas Of ciziliza-
tion. They are Prostitution, supersti-
tious, ignorant, bigoted, freacherous,
addicted to gambling, lying and throat
! cutting and, gentleman, L might con-
| tinue the list to an indefinite degree
were L not assured that you thoroughly
understood the characteristics which in
| general predominant with the Greasers.
Sc II was anything but pleasant pad
ding backward and forward in that con-
| founded river, with clouds of miasma
rising every morning, heat sufficient to
| scorch the boots off your feet, and no
amusement to break up the drear mo-
notony which had become well-nigh in
supportable. One day followed another
with the same dull routine there was
no society, no one to visit, and it was
the earnest wish of all hands that we
might either have q brush with the
yellow-bellies, or else receive orders for
more active and congenial duty.
60 Finally, tempted by the clouds of
wild duck, plover and other birds infest-
ing the reedy shores and lagoons, re-
solved to have days sport. The OPP
portunity was a good one, the engineers
having blowed down the boiler for a
general overhaul.
Accompanied by a young Midship-
man, Harry Murdoch by name, with our
double-barreled guns In the stern-sheets,
we took possession of the dingy, light,
feet-pulling and sailing boat, and at
early daylight showed off from the Som
brero's side.
"The early mists of morning were
o4OW1J up do We Dll1Gu LII
The current was running swiftly against
US wild detours had to be made to avoid
rocks. sand-bars and shoals which
abounded ON every side. Leaving the
river, we proceeded leisurely up tribu-
tary, which was entirely new ground to
both of us. Th0 waters. contracted by
the narrow channel, rushed furiously,
casting showers of spray In the air, COM
polling us to exercise our utmost skill to
avoid the dangers which beset us ON all
sides. I was wet, tired and exhausted
with the long, fatiguing pull, and only
too gladly acceded to my companions
suggestion to tie the boat up to q tall,
exchanging trunk of tree, and try
land tacks for while
+" The ground was sticky and TEACHER
oils like the natives. Wild serge grass
grew in detached masses, with here and
.sra a clump of Spanish bayonet. and
punches of coarse rushes, all growing
uxuriously in the wet, soggy ground.
" We had fine run of sport, bagglng
more game than We could carry, and the
sun was well up before we thought OF |
to the boat, where We had left
a lunch, put up by the ward-room stew
ard. We had, as well, wandered con-
siderable distance inland, which fact was |
forced most disagreeably and forciby up |
on me when I assembled slight emin-
ence to obtain better view of the sur
rounding country.
GA party of most vic1ous-looklng |
swarthy and bearded like |
pirates, mounted upon wiry mustangs. |
galloping directly toward us, their arms
and accoutrements glancing brightly In
the rays of the morning sun, met my |
vision.
"There YVES no installing their er- |
rand, and, If the slightest doubt had ex-
listed, it was soon dissipated when the
party urged their steeds into round
gallop, at the same time unslpging the |
which were strapped to their
backs. With a ferocious yell they came
swooping down upon us, and 1, hastily
summoning Harry to follow In my wake,
struck for the old trunk of the tree
which marked the spot where we had
"Clinging to our guns, while game
bags and contents were tossed aside, we
sought the hardest and dryest ground,
until point was reached, as nearly as
we could Judge, that was abreast CT the
tree, which was hidden from us by the
tall serge grass. The dry earth was left
behind, and with a plunge we went
into the mud and ooze, three
miles of which interviewed between us
and the river. In the rear dozen we'll
armed men were urging their horses
along at furious gait; and, gentlemen,
if ever I felt scared In my life it was
WHEN I cast furtive glance over my
shoulder, taking In the whole situation.
g There was one point in our favor
we had the advantage of q good start,
ano, as the Greasers refined up their
snorting mustangs for a moment on the
edge of the marsh. we we're steadily
blowing our way through the mud
and water. while showers of vile COM
pound flew high above our heads with
every plunge. We were beyond the
range of their rifles, they having tried {
heir caliber, the balls expanding them
selves far astern, harmlessly in the mud.
Then, with simultaneous yell, they
came on, the animals plunging furiously
rs they sank deeply into the adhesive
mud of the morass.
"Their object was murder and plum !
Ter. The opportunity was too good to
be thrown away. There was no one to
no one to witness their deeds !
Of violence, and in that mass of tangled
weeds, grass, mud and mire no one
would discover our hacked and djsfg-
uISQ ucu1eS. --a-
"The rapid crack of the carbines re-
continually In our ears, and, as
the horses gained upon us, the balls be-
gan to whistle unconforta'bly close. But
It is hard matter for mounted NAH to
hit fleeing fugitive, SO I had but slight J;
ON that score. tonly served
to accelerate our pace, while the cattle
bandits wasted their ammunition in
hopes, presume, that luck would favor
them by winging one of us with stray
shot.
eve had got fully over two-thirds of
the distance, with chances In our favor,
when with groan, burst of agony, the
plucky little Mildly fell at my feet. I
at first he had been struck by
stray bullet, but such was not the case.
He was exhausted, beat entirely out, and,
pressing his hands on his side to repress
the pain, his white face met mine with
an expression shall neves forget.
$500 on, he gHspcd, saith an effort;
6 leave me behino, there IS chance for
you, and one victim is sufficient. can
go no further
3" Get your breath, my lad; keep your
gun dry, and "never say die while there's
a shot in the locker" Two Yankees are
O match for q dozen Greasers every day.
Can you manage your piece? Good then
take careful aim, let them have one bar
raj and rnSprva tba 0thar