Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-07

country. The strongest bolts and bars
with which a stable could be secured
seemed 10 yield readily at his approach ;
dogs seemed to reserve their lOud-mOuthed
warnings for petty marauders, and the
owner of fine horse never knew if it
would be safe from one day to the other,
if it was rumored that Jim Reddick was
in the neighbOrhood. He had wonderful
power over horses, gained by long eXpe-
rience, and after he once got them out of
their stables, they would follow him as
docile as if they had been his special pets
for years.
1t was this very faculty that made him
so dangerous to the peace of mind of the
owners of fine horses, and there is small
wonder that at last, by united effort, they
succeeded in tracing him and winding up
his career.
FLORIDA IN THE OLDEN TIME.
The Florida of thirty years ago was not
the Florida of to-day by a good long WAYS.
Its population was very small and scat
tered all over the State. The towns were
merely little clumps Of three or four
buildings, and like angels visits, few and
far between.
The roads in the majority of cases were
mere bride paths, very rough and lonely,
and at certain seasons of the year almost
impossible.
The planter raised nearly everything he
needed on his own plantation, and with
the labor of his own slaves, making him
the most independent man in the world.
He lived like one of the old teudal lords,
owner of a vast domain, surrounded by
serfs eager to do his bidding, ENJOYING
every luxury Dame Nature afforded.
The finest hunting and fishing could be
had right at his doors. He was in very
truth king Of the soil, and lived in king
ly style.
At intervals of ten miles or so were
others OF his class enjoying the same
privileges and living under the same con-
ditions, and among them no finer material
for band&Of regulators could be found.
Bred to The woods from bOyhoOd, expert
shots with rifle, shotgun or pistol. superb
hOrsemen, owning their own horses and
having them under perfect control by long
and patient teaching and by close COM
partnership; filled with dominant pride
of race and birth that conquered all fear,
they were the fOrerunners of that mag
niticent fighting material that won renown
in later years on a hundred battle fields.
The bold, frank spirit of each found its
counterpart in the heart of the other, and
made them a band of brothers, ready to
dare all dangers and make all sacrifices
in each others service.
There was no question of financial in
terest in this friendship. 1t was from the
heart, spontaneous and chivalrous, wor-
thy of remembrance, as in these degene-
rate days, true friendship seems to have
become one of the lost virtues.
The young men were all seasoned to eX-
pOsure, too Hunting parties of them
would frequently be gone for weeks on
grand hunts. They would make their own
camp fires, do their own cooking of juicy
venlson or toothsome wild turkey, and at
night lie down upon the bare ground, and
sleep such sweet and refreshing sleep, as
only those who live close to nature can
enjoy.
Long tramping, with horseback riding,
and rowing on the many rivers and lakes,
had made their muscles like iron and
given them constitutions that laughed at
exposure, and were ignorant of the
apOthecary's decoctiOn.
An organization of such material as
this meant business, and when a band of
these hardy men assembled, with some
sage old planter at their head, 1t was evil
dent to the observer that whatever errand
they were on, and whatever motive had
called the gathering forth. one look at
them was proof positive that the matter
would be faithfully attended to in every
respect.
A right golden morning in the merry
month of May. The simmer of the water
is radiant with the suns first kiss as the
Jocund day trips lightly through the
smiling woods. The trees are clothed in
their freshest and sweetest garments, and
bow in gentle languOr to the signing of
the breeze.
1t is a miracle of MAY DAYS in Florida.
balmy as a breath from the better land,
and the scene is at Payne's Ferry, on the
Chipola river, in 1858.
The residence of the ferryman is what
is called dOuble-pen log house of four
rooms, rude dwelling right at the ferry,
seeming to watch over it like a broOding
hen, and in front of this house, waiting
for the ferryman to appear, let me intro
duce you to strange and picturesque
looking gathering of stalwart men.
1t is band of planters and planters
sons, organized into a company of regula-
tors, led by Maj. Bolton, one Of the most
prominent planters in that section of the
country.
These men are the flower of the commu-
nifty, all of them under 40 years of age,
most of them under 80.
The youngest is harum-searum youth,
the son OF the leader, and rejoices in the
name of Dick.
Most of these men are dressed in hunt
ing suits of home manufacture. All of
them are well armed and splendidly
mounted. The leader, Maj. Bolton, is a
medium-sized, compactly built gentle
man, with dark, flashing eyes and heavy
moustache. He has a fine soldierly APP
pearance, gained in active service in the
Indian wars.
The others seem to regard him with a
great deal of Difference, and are gathered
around him in whispered conversation.
When the old ferryman, gray-haired and
bent with toll and age, appeared, he said
II know what YOU are arter, Major, and |
'spects you'll find him at the old block
house, fer I'll swar Jim Reddick swum
his boss acrost yer last night, fer was a
peekln' through the winder and seed him.
L don't s'pose you'll bring him back with
you, will you, MajOr?'
He was curtly advised to hold his
tongue, and one of the young men supple
mented this advice by suggesting that he
be thrown into the river to give the catfish
lunch.
After the party crossed the river hur-
ried consultation was held, and it was de-
cided to proceed at once to the old block
hOnse, which was fifteen miles from the
ferry, and on arriving at that point, to be
guided by circumstances. So the trail
was taken up.
The road was very rough one, and it
was late when the party came in sight OF
the house.
This was an old building that had been
erected as a defense against the Indians,
but had been for some time deserted. 1t
was twO-story building, built of very
heavy timbers, and having huge chin
ney at one end. The doors and windows
were solid and massive, and almost i'm
pervious to assault. The regulators sur
rounded the building, which seemed to be
entirely deserted, although the door and
windows were Ominously closed. The
little band lay hidden in the dense under.
growth near the building, their horses
having been left under guard some dis
lance back.
1t was very much desired that the out
law be taken alive; so the regulators re.
manned patiently watching until it was
nearly dark, but at last their patience
| gave out, and one of them suggested that
they set fire to the house, and said he: sSif
the old coon is there, let's burn him out
or if he chooses to remain, send.him to he'll
in a chariot of fire. The next question
was who should apply the match. This
however, was soon settled by the appear
ance OF a flame lighting up one corner o.
the house. The Majors son, hearing the
suggestion, with the fiery ardor of youth
had forestalled all volunteering by creep
ing along the ground, with some lightwoo(
| splinters, and had succeeded in setting
fire to the corner of the house nearest thu
! ambush.