The Iola register., 1885-08-14
A CHASTITY RIDE.
The Thrilling Adventure Of an
American Army Officer.
A Mountain Expedition With Treacherous
Guides-A Murderous Attack and .
Gallant nefense-The Final Act
Of . Terrible Tragedy.


J. II. Nevce, at present a land broker
in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, but at
that time residing temporarily in the
British settlement at Balize, Central
America. absent on furlough from the
United States Army. in which he held a
commission received orders from the
department at Washington to investigate
a lately reported discovery of a valuable
gold deposit in the mountains, some dis
.ance from Balize. As he was familiar
with the work to be done. having previ-
ously been employed on similar duty in
south America, he lost no time in max
ing the necessary preparations for de-
parture to the district indicated, but
ae was confronted by an unexpected OBJ
stacle in the difficulty of procuring
trustworthy muleteers, of which it was
necessary ne should have several. After
much encouragement, he finally en-
gagged the services of four natives, upon
The partial Recommendation of the Brit
ish Resident. who stated that he had
employed them and found them faith
ful. but nevertheless was not assured
they would Se SO under all circum-
stances. However. as no others could
be obtained. and as there was no actual
misconduct charged against them, Col
onel Neyce concluded to look no further,
and in due course of time set off alone.
with the four natives and several pack
animals loaded with his baggage and
such instruments and materials as might
be necessary in his mining Investigations
and examinations.
Unfortunately as it proved, the natives
did not know the contents OF the pack
age, but having heard before starting
that their employer was going to the
mountains for the purpose of buying the
lately discovered mines. We're led to be-
ieve that the baggage contained the
purchase money, and being naturally
none too honest, the thought of this i'm
mense SUM, practically in their own
possessions, excited their cupidity to the
highest degree. However, the first
days trip and the night following pass
ed without any indication of evil, as did
also the day following. at the close of
which some sixty miles of the Journey
had been accomplished. Their camp
that night was made upon q small
plateau among the mountains, studded
with a few trees. between two of which
Colona Neyce, after having partaken Of
supper. swung his hammock and re-
posed himself to rest The natives were
to pass the night about the campfire,
from which their employer had chosen
to remove some distance. that he might
secure more uninterrupted slumber. He
fell asleep almost Immediately, but
after some little time awoke to find the
moon shining directly in his face with
such tropical brightness that, after try
ing vainly to 90 to sleep again. he was
forced to change his position in the ham,
mock, lying with his head where his
feet had before been. Relieved from
the glare of the light. he once more sank
to siumber. which continued for. he did
not know how long. bat the awakening
from which he will never. should he
live far beyond the allotted time of man,
be likely to forget
A heavy, crunching blow fell upon his
left leg. between the knee and ankle.
and he awoke-to realize instantly, in
spite of the awful shock of such an
awakening and the numbing pain of his
shattered limb, that he was face to face
with death in its most horrible form.
Alone and unfriended. amid mountains
and wilderness, already disabled and
surrounded by four murderous wretches,
armed and remcfseless. he did not falter
for an instant in making one desperate
effort for his life. He had acquired in
South American wildernesses the-to
residents Ct civilized communities-sin-
gular habit of sleeping with both hands
under his head, and in each q loaded re-
volver. With the same movement,
therefore, with which he flung the ham
mock netting from his face Is be rose
to . sitting posture, he leve)s1 pistol
at the mistaken murderer, who was Just
lifting his machete for q second blow ut
what be thought was his victims head
and the wretch fell In his tracks- Another
was close at hand and spranE forward
With his weapon raise,d. but ooly to sink
% tie earth. bleeding and cunning Re-