The Russellville Democrat., 1884-06-05
\ r,erIda story Int lIsy sss Bs Trss.

I was taking c ride through the country, admiring the luxuriant vegeta- ton, the lazy swing of the birds and the ripple of shining waters, when at an abrupt turn of the road came across Q dissipated-looking cabin, the only sign of life about it being white-headed old .cracker," who was lolling on the doorstep, viciously sucking at the stem of sublimely dirty clay pipe.
 As was tired and very thirsty, Irode up and asked him if he could give me e drink of water.
 Hardly looking up, he hospitably pointed to bucket and said: HLight, stranger, take the gourd and help your self dismounted, tied my horse to g convenient sapling, took a drink of water. and judging that here would be a good chance to cull some interesting facts relative to the history of the country, offered him cigar and took a seat on the doorstep beside him. The cigar seemed to have magnetic in- fluence upon him, loosened his tongue, and he told me of a most surprising adventure he had once had with the Indians during the war of 1887.
 Said he: Stranger, l am sixty seven years old an I never struck white man in my life, but I've fit Ingins till ye can't rest, an I've changed eends with a good many niggers, for never did tote any sass from a nigger, an l ain't agoin' to tote it now, old as 1 be, even if they is freemen, and then, after . few desultory recollections he told me of the following strange adventure:
 One cold day in. December he had gone into the woods to look at his traps, and, it being q time of supposed peace, had left his rusty gun at home. It was an unusually cold day for Florida, and, besides his heavy clothing, he had a large thick blanket thrown around him. He had reached point about five miles from his house, when, looking through the woods. he saw 8 large body of In dians moving in his direction.
 He was almost petrificd with fear at first and could not move from his posi- tion. Another moment and it was too late. The Indians had discovered him, and with fiendish yells were in hot pur- suit. Now came wild race with hu- man life as the stake; up hill and down hill, through briars and tangled woods, the savages gaining at every step. He knew they would catch him before he could reach his own house, so bent all his energies toward dismantled mon- astery that had been erected by the Spaniards more than a century before. Of these ruins only the tall chimney re- mained. Built of Coquina rock, it had defied the winds and rains of almost countless seasons and lowered above the dismal landscape, monument to what had been, perhaps, scene of hor- rible midnight murder. With supreme effort he managed to scramble up this chimney, and climbing nearly to the top was, as he thought, beyond the reach of his foes.
 When the Indians saw him disappear in the chimney, after their first yell oi disappointment, they gathered heaps of bark and brush and made roaring fire to roast the imprisoned foe, but he told me that he frustrated their amiable de- sign by taking off all his clothes, and placing them with the blanket, which he had strangely held on to all during the race, in the chimney below him, and this prevented the flames from reaching him.
 Put" said I, 'sI should have thought the clothing would have taken fire and burnt up."
 ..So 'twould, stranger" said he, "but ye see it war powerful warm whar war, an sweated so smart like that il kept them ar fixins soakin' wet, an firt couldn'. ketch on. Arter they thought war all burnt up, they left an clim down and went home. That chunk o1 rock in thar kem outer that self, same chimbly."
 '.Good-bye, old man." said I, as remounted my horse. you can discoun Eli Perkins every time. "-Cor. Ptila delphid Press.