The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-06
BIG ESCAPE.

idly how in fIOntsr life where the restraints
OF civil law are not felt, men take the la "
into their hands and resort to violent meth
DDS. losing all regard for the sanctity OF hu-
man life. We give the story very much in
the narrator's words
Il had been giving entertainments at
Huntsville, near the headwaters OF the
White river in Arkansas, and concluded
would cross over into Southwest Missouri,
and try my luck among the new towns that
were springing up along the road that had
/ just been built there. To get to that locali-
! ty found thatI must either go round by
| way OF the Nation, or else take my wagon
! and apparatus over two long, deep spurs OF
the Ozarks.
| Over the mountains was tine shortest way
and the road, though rough. was used by
teams. 1t was an old military sud freight
route, but not much Travelled At that time
and there was just one objection to it the
hatitants ali through the region were law
less set-illicit distillers, horse thieves and
all sorts of roughs. who were up to all sorts
Of mischief TO accomplish their own pur-
pUses. or course, all the people were not
of that sort. but large numbers of such fel-
lows were scattered all through the noun.
tains.
Then, too, il was only little while after
PlnkertOn'S detectives had arrested the
James and Younger boys and their friends
so every nest of these wretches was stirred
up. and the men were suspicious OF every
stranger who mada his appearance. They
watched all newcomers like natural born
Apaches and made trouble at once il they
saw one OF them looking into things little
too closely or asking too many questions
OF course / had warning enough, but I
was more besdstr0DG in those DAYS than |
am now; and l concluded l would venture
to take the shortest way to my destination,
as it sened to me that ! carried the evidence
OF my profession as coDjuTsr and magician,
with me, you know.
We'll. did get over the first spur OF the
mountains without any trouble, and rather
enjoyed my ride. did not meet many peo-
pie, and those did meet we're very shy and
suspicious ; but managed to make friends
with them when had time enough to talk
awhile.
Every now snd then tie trail would lead
me iato one Of tie close mountain pockets
that passed little clearing aud squatter's
dirt rooted cabin, ana where l always fouud
iuhL NY CNinphHg WAS nut WaHlcu.
There was generally lot OF children out
on the open, waO would scurry away, and
try to hide among the nearest bushes, like a
bunch of flushed quail, and then the face of
some old woman would be turned on me
from the half-open door of the cabin, and
would stand and glover till I'd passed on
and out Of siPht.
But, as 1 was saying, 1 got up into the
spur OF the mountains without any serious
trouble, though 1 found without any serious
trouble, though l found tue tail very rough
and stony. Well, L hadn't travelled these
hills more than twenty -four hours when my
horse became lame. and found 1 must go
into camp at least for a dav.
so l halted about ten O'Clock the second
morning on the side of steep mountain, in
a deep pocket, where there was a clear
spring gushing out OF the rocks and running
down into the valley below. / stayed there
all that day, and doctored my horse with
some linimens that / carried.
But old Brgums, as l called him, did not
get much better, and so the ueXt day still
remained in camp. During that time 1 did
not see a human being and had no i6ea that
anybody in that region had noticed or
fore sun down l heard the clatter of hoofs
below on tSe trail and moment after up
Raloped Eve big mountaineers, dashing
recklessiy against my wagon.
Gentlemen, 1 was scared the moment l
saw them. and was very much more fright
ened when the two leaders drew their pis-
tolls and without another word, yelled:
Hands upP Hands upr
'An right said 1, and lifted them neekly
as you please.
We're gOin' through your wagon said
big, whiskered fellow, who seemed to be the
leader of the gang.
Very WE'LL said l. You'll find q gunny
sack full of nty-dollar gold pieces, two
chests of silver and three hundred thousand
In Government bonds
That pleased them aud they laughed as
though they enjoyed the Joke.
we amt on the scoop, stranger said the
big one. ITS you we're loOkin' after
L reckon answered, rather dry-like.-
Go ahead. gentlemen you'll find the evil
dence Of my profession Of honesty In that
wagon
All this time the captain and one OF his
mates sat in their saddles, pointing their six
shooters at me, while the rest Of the gang
got of, tied their horses, jisarmed ne OF my
only weapon, q Colt pistol, and then began
rummagng my wagon.
They seemed rather surprised 81 the
things they turned out.
tOn the wrong scent this time; he's ped
dlel feIler, / reckon, SAID one Of them.
L began to feel easier. But presently be
drew out small wooden chest that contain
ed some OF my most valuable conjuring sp-
paIatus, and burst 1t open. He rummaRed
a minute, then seized something he saw and
pulled 1t out with an oath. Then he turned
to me with his face white with rage and
shook in my face. two pairs OF handcuns
and a pair of ankle-irons that bad been
slowed away in the very bottom OF the box.
you see, I'D bought them with some 9TH
/ er apparatus from a Snowman two years be-
| fore, who had given up business. The irons
| locked with key, as DO the common ones,
but with secret springs In them. These
springs were touched by bending over the
middle finger and presto they'd open as
IL they were bewitched. If . secret spring
in the ankle-irons was also touched they
would spring open also. They were nothing
but trick irons, but they played me sad
trick then. These men took nae for q reye-
nue. detective at once, and there wasn't any
use in my trying TO explain matters.
This is suficient evidence what his pro
fession is,' yelled the leader ALI We wan
now is to hang him to the next tree. Put hi
own irons on him, boys submitted quiet
ly enough, and in less than five minutes