St. Landry democrat., 1883-10-06

Every uuuy ldu opluiouS, Uuo Ao WY
could furnish any facts that would help
the pursuers. On the west were the
Cocodrie swamp and the immense pine
forests between there and Texas-some
were certain that they had gone that
way. Duson could learn nothing tan
gible by way of information, and he
had to depend entirely on his own re-
sources. While the danger was in the
contest that took place after the fugi-
tives were found, the ability displayed
in finding them was truly wonderful.
Sheriff Duson has never had the expe-
rience OF an Indian warrior or from
tiers-man in following obscure and UNI
certain trails, but they could have done
no better than he did in this case. He
succeeded on account of that wonder
full combination of instinct, Judgment
and energy, for Which he has been so
long noted. He first found trail of the
refugees in q very simple circumstance.
He learned from a negro who kept a
cake shop, that strange man had
bought from him fifteen cakes, and in
a few minutes returned and bought
fifteen more. No description Of the
man could be given but this satisfied
him that one man bought for two, and
that the second purchase was the result
OF consultation, to provide for Il jour
ney. He was satisfied that they would
not follow the railroad higher up, and
that their natural course would be
through the swamp towards Red River.
He had ascertained at Payne's, that
Brown wore black hat and Lane a
straw one, and that the latter wore car
pet slippers and Brown short square
toed shoes. After much trouble and
delay in examining the roads going to-
wards Red River he thought he could
see faint signs Of these shoes and slip
pers, and he and his deputies began the
trail from Cheneyville late Thursday
evening. The refugees were evidently
| very careful to not make tracks in the
| road :; but i'll crossing a slough where
there was some mud, and jump was
necessary to get over it, Lane had made
q very plain track in the mud, and the
grain OF the carpet slipper was plainly
imprinted thereon. This was the first
conclusive evidence that they were on
their trail. On Friday morning they
asked a man living at Red River if he
had seen two men answering the des-
cripti0n OF Lane and Brown; he had
not. His wife, overhearing the CONVEX
sation, stated that she had seen them in
the woods near by, she had come upon
them unexpectedly, and that they were
eating cakes. Information was also
gained that negro boy with skiff was
in the river that morning he was sent
| foran the Information obtained that he
/ had crossed two such men, who in
quired the different routes beyond the
river, and were very particular in
stating that they were going up the
river. This convinced Duson that they
were going down, and he went down on
this side and about nightfall crossed
over alone to a landing called Cassandra
we believe, where at store he learned
that man answering Browns descrip-
tion had been there and bought some
thing to eat. From a negro who had
| inst come down the river in a cart, he
learned that both Lane and Brown haG
come some distance with him, that they
walked very slowly, that Lane was tired
and that they must be near by. Two
persons here were employed as guides
| as it was expected the refugees would
| leave the river here and strike through
the swamp towards Black river. Mex
morning they soon discovered where
| they had slept in field at haystack
and their tracks were made so plainly
in the road down the river as to sug
gest to Duson that they intended ruse
Sure enough the tracks, finally disap.
peared, at a place where the hare
gravelly soil, outside Of the road, woulG
not show any footprints. They tier
| left the river road. and examined the
obscure one going towards Black river
and after following it some distance
they were rewarded by finding the ref
gees tracks. From this out there was
no trouble III following them, they KEEP
/ the road, and at every house, though
widely separated, it was learned thai
they lad recently gone on. Finally, at Z
l house news was gained that they
had stopped for water, and were
lust out of sight. 1t was an easy matter
then to gallop and overtake them but
| 4ha,r were in a wilderness of trees, I'M.