The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-02-02

words St warning out of my mouth. when four of the men rushed down from the upper deck te where stood. looking up at those who were still boarding the Queen. expecting every moment to see some Of theEn drop into the water. Quick as fash they surrounded my head with ievolvsrs. and one of them said in quick, sharp undertone
 "' Surrender. or I'll blow your braias out
 " was badly scared, for cold revolvers pointed at your head are not cheerful A glance told me that each of these men also carried a bowie-knife and hatchet al his belt. was paralyred with aston ishment, and for moment couldn | speak word.
 .'' Surrender you're my prisoner. We're confederate officers. and resist ance is useless commanded the leader. as he pressed his revolver closer to my cheek
 - I'm making no resistance.s
 =. March upstairs then, he ordered :. pointing to the upper deck.
 - Take down your revolvers, and 1 will"
 All this happened like flash. and was done without commotion. In other parts of the boat heard ,he sharp crack of pistol shots. the shrieks ot the lady passengers, and wild eNclamations oi men. There was also noise of seufiiing. and the impression came 10 me that there was severe fight forward. Before had time 10 collect myself was hurried ,o the upper deck. where a file of confeder- ates led me 10 the railing at the bow.
 The sensations of tha, first moment will never cease to thrill me. Bewildered by capture ,n scene where none of us had ever dreamed of the hazards of war. uncertain as to the fate of the rest of the crew and our passengers, and perplexed as 10 the intentions of our enemies. lost all power to reason upon the situation. While was standing a minute trying to collect my thoughts. the rebel in charge of me shouted:
 =. Get ever to the Parsons
 C. As l started to obey and took hold of the rail. so IS not to stumble in the dark ness, the same officer shouted:
 - Don't yeu drop into the water. or I'll shoot you like dog
 - want 10 keep hold of the rail so that can climb over instead of jumping l nigh, slip and fail between the boats.
 =. Well, hurry up, then hurry up,' he gruifly replied.
 = scrambled over as best could. and as reached the deck of ihe Parsons an- other officer led me to the cabin door He gave three low raps the door opened and was showed inside. Here l found myself in the mids, of curious scene. The cabin was crowded with the passen- gers and officers of the Parsons. 4 dIm light threw htful shadows over the room. In one corner were several ladies pale with fright. ie; they seemed brave, and bore up under the ordeal with remarka- ble fortitude. 4 few of the men were evidently scared out of thelr wits. They walked up and down, beating their hands together in an agony of fear. Others crouched close to the floor, as if in dread of being shot. II was strange scene to witness on passenger boat Tn Lake Erie. and the Parsons cabin al tha, moment made thrilling picture. Capt. Atwood and Clerk Ashley were sitting together |, one side. The captain was evidently be- wildered, and scarcely recognized me as approached.
 "' Captain, said I, jokingly, for 1 had by that time recovered myself, I've often been invited 10 ride on your boat, and I'll accept the invitation now.
 ' Me only looked at me in confused way and gazed anNiously abou, the cabin. The clerk was cooler. and. as we sai val, ng and wondering wha, was 10 hap pen next, he told me this story of iheir C pture:
 | krAa d hon he was ly.ng al Detroit, a man l never saw before came n me and asked that we and to-day a, sandwich, Windsor, and Maiden to take on board some fisher men. We don't usually stop a, these p aces, you know, but l agreed 10 pu; the steamer in for these men. About ten came on board q, each place. They were all roughly dressed, and seemed ,o have little to say 10 one another. Al ,he las, place. Maiden, they brought on ar old trunk all tied up with ropes. which was evidently very heavy, as II took four of them 10 carry it. The porter wanted 70 take charge of il and pu, II below with the other baggage, but several of them oblected, saying that II contained noih- ing bu. nshing tackle and migh, as well be lei, on deck, as t was of no particular value.
 =. These strange men, after we lief, Maiden, kept mostly on the main and upper decks. II was bright and beau i!ful day. and we steamed quietly along up the lake upon as pleasant a voyage as the Parsons ever made. These few passengers you see here in the cabin were all we had on board except the pre- tended fishermen. We made our land ings withou; trouble al North Bass, Put in- Bay. Middle Bass and kelly's Island lst after we lef, he last place, and abou, the time we first me; the 9ueen, the men seemed to be very busy about the trunk. Suddenly they rushed 10 all parts of the boat. Three oi them surrounded the captain, two covered the engineer with revolvers, and two others caught me in my office and dragged me in here. The crew, about eighteen men were drlyen into the hold. They then made he en- gineer and two hrcmen work. and guards