The true northerner., 1886-07-15
The -WRECKERS.
BY CAPTAIN JAMES MoNTFoRD.


"During the winter of 1862 n continual
warfare was kept up i'll Missouri with the
guerrilla bands.
"They are the most terrible pests of
country, even when anxious To defend 1t,
and the ordinary guerrilla is friend to no
one but himself.
Il was often out upon the chase, and sew
eral fierce skirmishes took place. A band
of guerrillas had taken possession of the
Missouri Railroad, and burned the bridges,
tore mp the rails, and brought about a
desolation that half dozen battles would
not have caused.
Il met with an adventure at this time
which evidences the bloody and ruthless
character of these outlaws.
Il think it was about the last of Decem-
Der that / started from the command for n
small station some twenty miles distant.
Il had business with a gentleman in the
village, and rode across the country, in
tending to leave my horse--I owned n good
one at the time-with my acquaintance,
and return with the supply train, which
was expected at that time.
The day was as bad n one as | could
have we'll chosen; the bleak air swept over
prairies, chilling horse and man TO the very
bone.
Il should have waited for n fairer day;
but the train was expected up IN the
morning, / was anxious TO 60, and had al
ready been delayed several days.
$50 / started early, and rode along
'cheerfully enough for the first five miles,
when a genuine Western storm arose, and
began to rage with the fury that is only
witnessed in those treeless districts.
Il was soon soaked through to the skin,
the rain beat upon my face tercely, and |
nNSalf
else ont of the Storm.
Il believe we were five hours travelling
ithe succeeding five miles, and at the end of
that time / was nearly frozen.
1.-The fear of losing my way added still
more to my distress, for there We're no
fences or other landmarks, and the ground
was being fast covered by the beating snow
which succeeded the rain.
my clothing was frozen stiff, and the
neck and breast of my horse was covered
with sheets of frozen breath and blood
which had oozed from his swollen nostrils.
81 must find shelter, thought, or perish
in the most horrible manner.
Suddenly | noticed smoke arising in
the distance. No house was visible, and 1t
has seemed remarkable 10 me that | OBJ
served the smoke; fortunate chance was
the cause, perhaps.
"No house was to be seen, the place was
in the hollow of the prairie, and | rode
within twenty rods of the door ere l saw
the way.
Getting off the horse with difficulty, my
limbs had become stiffened with cold was
about to approach the house, when 1t oc-
CURED to me that it would be as well to
reconnoiter little
"A band of outlaws might be harboring
there, and then l would wish myself out
side again. cold as il was
Speaking kindly to the horse, who
stretched his nose against me for warmth
/ fastened the bride to a shrub and stole
cautiously toward the house.
Making circuit, approached from the
back of the building. 1t was poor affair,
the habitation of prairie farmer. evidently;
but there was shelter for man and beast.
GAS i came up the door at the side
opened. / had but time TO escape around
the corner when three men issued out.
"They were rough looking fellows,
warmly clad, and | at once concluded TO
give them wide berth.
with some imprecations at the weather,
they hurried to the stable which fronted
the road.
When they reappeared it was upon fleet
looking horses, and they then rode away
toward the north.
II watched them out of sight, and then
L
could hear no one, and conceived that the
place was untenanted.
Il resolved TO take advantage of the shell
ter, and Fastening back to my poor horse i
soon left him munching hay in the little
stable, and myself hurried on to the house.
"I was nearly ready TO drop with fatigue
and cold, and, waiting for no ceremony, |
opened the door and entered.
A fire was burning on one side of the
poorly furnished apartment, and hurrying
forward ! spread out my person to the
blaze.
Il had seen no one as yet, but voice
sounded from back room a moment later.
"'Ls that you, Carl?" asked woman's
voice.
81 explained that / was traveller, nearly
frozen, and had taken the liberty to enter
1.-THE house. as / saw no one about.
"A tall. wrnkled old woman, with very
erect carriage, came in from the kitchen.
She looked ut me searchingly. as | made
my excuses, and thought sad expression
appeared upon her face. What could it
mean. or was i mistaken?
Il decided that the latter was the case,
and lying back in the hard chair, l enjoyed
the fire as n man only can when he has
been chilled through to the bone.
"My doing was broken by the sound of
voices outside; men were approaching the
house. The old woman seemed TO shrink
with fear as she heard the sound.
"Rising to my feet expecting some dis
aster, placed my hand upon my pistol and
waited.
"The door opened, and twenty men. l
counted them as they came in singly, filed
into the room.
"They were all armed with rifles, and an
entire arsenal Of small arms, and / knew |
was in the presence of a band of guer-
srillas.
"There was no help for it, however. the
men had seen my horse. and doubtless knew
my character.
Put up your shooter and surrender,
said a tall, red-headed man, who seemed