Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-03
Gales aud Sketfhes.
ADVENTURE WITH BtDNITS.
THEY WANTED $4,000 RANSOM But CANE
Down TO 5000.

DOWN TO $2UO.
had been left at Campeche Yucatan,
by order of the physician, while the brig
went up to the Mexican coast, to return in
about three weeks. The accommodations
were miserable for man with his health
knocked to pieces. but through the cour-
tesy OF an American named Barlow, who
was in business in the God -forsaken-p place,
/ finally secured pretty fair quarters with
native widow. 1 had a good room, a
good bed, and the dusky woman put her
self out to tempt my poor appetite with
her cookery. had $500 in gold with me
and of this sum placed $3.50 in Barlow's
hands tor safe keeping. had been told
that the natives had no scruples against
theving and robbery, and soon had proofs
OF the fact. / had not been in the place
four DAYS when my room was raided and
lot of clothing carried off. had trunk
with patent lock, and as the thief could
not get into it he would have carried it off
on his back had he not been interrupted.
After about week my health began to
mend, and Barlow recommended to me a
native whom I could trust. wanted to
rambe around. and felt that it would not
be safe without some one with me, not
only on account of being seized at intervals
with palpitation and faintng spells. but it
was stated that the neighborhood was in
tested By very rough class. | had an
American shotgun and revolver with me,
and. after getting little strength in my
legs, began rambling around. The name
of my man was Yu, and he could speak
only few words of English. We went
up and down the shore at first, and had
pretty good luck shooting small birds.
On the fourth or fifth day we went toward
the hills, Yu carrying my gun and bas-
ket containing a luncheon. Barlow had
told me that there were some old ruins
worth seeing about four miles from the
suburbs, and | meant to take things easy,
and be gone all day. We pursued rough
highway toward the hills, and stopped
! about every halt mile to rest. 1t must
have been fully noon when we arrived at
place in the hills where temple had
once stood. A good deal of the material
had been carried off, but there were many
broken columns and blocks OF stone lying
around, and considerable amount of
masonry was yet standing.
was seated on great block of stone
eating luncheon, while Yu was hundred
feet away trying to uncover a small ami
NAL which had lodged into pile of rub
Dish. when | was suddenly confronted by
five as hard-looking cut throats as any
traveller ever saw. They were armed
with muskets, single barrelled pistols and
murderous looking knives. Owing to my
position they had to approach me in front
and had no sooner caught sight of them
then sprang up, revolver in hand, and
in one breath called Yu and in the next
demanded their business The lead
er, as | was soon made aware, could
speak English. At sign from him five
mnskets covered me at short range, and
he called upon me to surrender. Yu was
standing on block with my gun in his
hands. they had given him no attention
aud if he had had the nerve to open fire
ut their backs believe could have driv-
en- them off. However when he saw my
Tx he laid down the gun and took run
tor IT, and was out OF sight in moment.
When saw this laid down my revolver
and the men approached and took posses
sion of it. | knew them to be robbers or
worse, but was not bit ratified. Indeed,
everything had happened so swiftly that
had not time to get off my nerve. The
leader spoke in n mongrel dialect, half
Spanish and half English, which | will
render all English tor the benefit of the
reader.
Does the gentleman surrender P" he
! asked as they came forward.
"Yes. You intend to rob me, pre-
sumo ?"
The gentleman will not be treated
harshy unless he ressts us. You are an
American P"
Yes"
You were put ashore week agopn
Yes.
"Mr Barlow is your friend?"
Yes"
That is all You will come with u.s.
81 refuse to go. You have my weapons.
and have a watch and small sum of
money which you may take, if robbery is
your object"
Unless the gentleman goes with US we
shall leave him dead behind us"
Three OF these men presented their
cooked muskets at my breast, with muz
zles only two feet away, and waited for
the signal to shoot stepped down beside
the leader, and he took my arm, and we
started off into the hills without a word
When | turned around after gong about
half mile, | saw that two of the five
were missing. We had gone another
half mile, when they joined us, and they
had Iu with them. 1t seemed he had
hidden himself to see how affairs would
turn, and they had discovered him. The
man was dreadfully frightened CRYING and
wringing his hands. but instead of offering
him any violence they rather sought to
cheer him up. At the end of two miles.
which now made us about six from town,
we turned aside into rocky path which
twisted and turned up a rocky hill, and
after climb which badly used me up we
J reached a cave. | had my eyes open to
note everything, and had made up my
mind that this cave could only be reached
| from this path, and that three or four men
| could defend 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 dry
room, about forty feet square. with plenty
of evidences that it had been occupied for
months or years. There was guard at
the cave when we arrived. making the
sixth man of the band. This fellow was
the toughest man of the lot, but he had a
wooden leg and was forced to remain at
home while the others made their foravs.
He seemed greatly excited over my cap
ture and would have laid violent hands on
ME but for the commands of the leader.
was conducted to the back end of the