Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-07-28

used me up we reached a cave. I had
my eyes open to note everything, and
| made up my mind that this cave
could only be reached from this path,
and that three or four men could de-
fend the path against hundred. The
entrance to the cave was high enough
and wide enough to admit two men
abreast. The interior was one large,
with plenty of evidences that it had
been occupied for months or years.
There was g. guard at the cave when
we arrived, making the sixth man Of
the band. This fellow was the tough
est man of the lot, but had g. wooden
leg and was forced to remain at home
while the others made their forays.
He seemed greatly excited over my
capture, and would have laid violent
hands upon me but for the commands
of the leader.
/ was conducted to the back end of
the cave, and motioned to a seat on q
pile of skins, and Yu was permitted to
sit near me. AS soon as the robbers
had withdrawn to the entrance for
consultation the man drew his finger
across his throat as g. sign to me that
we were to be murdered, and he then
covered his face with his hands and
rocked his body to and fro as if he
had surrendered his last hope. / did
not believe the situation so very des.
perate. That they were brigands who
had captured me In hopes of g. ransom
[ had no doubt, but my mind was
made up that they should not get a
cent except as g. final resort. After
about half an hour the leader came
back to me and said that [ must pay
them $4,000 in gold as the price of
my liberty. / had determined on a.
line of conduct and I laughed in his
face. [ was an American invalid who
had sold all his possessions to try a
sea voyage, and had barely money
enough to abide in his Internal coun-
try a few weeks and pay my way
home. He charged that | had put g.
large sum In the hands Of Barlow, and
that if the sum of $4,000 was not
forthcoming inside of three days he
would cut my throat. 1 told him
it would be waste of time to wait
the business then. He was puzzled
how to take me, but q torch was light
ed, pencil and paper laid before me,
and was ordered to write to Barlow
for the money. AS the chances were
that none of them could read writing,
| wrote Barlow the particulars of my
capture, the sum named for ransom,
and instructed him not to pay more
than 5000 on any consideration.
This sum was not only to include my
liberty, but that of Yu and the return
of my weapons.
This note was to be sent by my
man. AS near as [ could make out by
their gestures they promised him good
treatment and his liberty in case he
carried out their Instructions If he
played them false, they would have
his life, no matter where he tried to
hide away. He was greatly cheered
up by the information, and wnen the
note was finished he took it and de-
parted. 1t was only after this that I
was searched. | had a. silver watch
and $50 in gold, and made no resist
ance about handing over. We had
supper after that, and when the meal
was over [ lay down and went to sleep.
1t was 10 O'Clock at night before Yu
returned. The fellows probably
looked to see him bring the money,
but they were sadly disappointed.
he brought & note from Barlow which
[ alone could read. He wrote that I
had been captured by professional
bandit known as Campeche Terror,
and that there was no doubt of nv
being put to death in case g. ransom
was not paid. He was by no means a.
rich man, but he would add $500 to
the $3.50 In his hands, and he hoped
the bandit might be induced to let me
off for that. interpreted the note in
my own way to the band. / made
Mr.. Barlow say that he had 5000 OF
my money In trust. and would send it
to the scoundrels whenever directed.
They were terribly indignant to find
they had picked up a fat, and the fell
low With the wooden leg fourished his
big knife around and demanded my
death While they were arguing pro
and con | lighted my pipe and settled
back on the bed for a comfortable
smoke. Such rattle-headed, excita-
BILE set OF men never saw, but they
finally got through wraDgling and the
Terror gave me his ultimaGum. The
ransom had beer reduced to 81, 900,
and | must have it there before sun
down next day or die.
"You do not seem to understand
the case" I replied. GIN the first
place, | am nobody at home; in the
next, the doctors sent me off here ex-
pecting me to die; in the third, I
couldn't raise 81, 900 no more than
could fly; fourthly, have no objec-
tions to being killed, as I am likely to
die within two weeks BIT the furthest."
[ am honest in what [ write. real
ly didn't care what they did with me,
and went to sleep with Yu shedding
tears and the gang jawing, and slept
until daylight without a break. When
the chief again approached me I no.
ticed a change in his demeanor. He
wanted to know just how much money
I could raise. | told him had landed
with 5000 in money, and of that sum
he had already robbed me of $50. Ii
he wanted the rest for my liberty, and
would restore NV arms and allow YIN