The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-12-17
4" CRAZY ABEL"
An Exciting story of '4o.


"reminiscences OF his prisoner days.
Abel Anderson was q New Yorker
whose home until he was 81 or moro
was up in the Catskills. where his father
titled a stumpy farm between the times
when he Gunned and trapped through
the Ulster Mountains.
Ahcl-a very likely young follow, as
the mCuntaiueCrS expressed it-grew
tired Of his homo and its rather wild
routine before ho got very old.
He dropped down TO This town early in
IS47. saw something OF u world that he
had wildly dreamed OF long time, and
when Stevensons brave regiment sailed
that year to hold the McIicaus in check,
one of the mon before the mast on one of
the vessels that carried the soldiers was
Abel Anderson.
A fever got It's grasp upon him before
the Pacific slope was In sight, and the
bTawuy young man lay sick and nigh
unto death for months. He rose finally
from the sick couch 4 mentally ruined
man. and though he seemed still Z"
have capacity sufficient to DO certain
camp duties. Crazy Abel" was title
that nobody ever regarded as in any wise
unjust.
Amiable. devoted to evcry man In
uniform. capable OF doing hard work and
ready 10 do it, too, the poor fellow
became one Of the camp features.
Once in a passion camp hanCer-On-
not one OF the regular Teglment-tlcw
at Abel and badly beat him.
No complaint came from the sufferer.
not even did he presume to defend him
self. dumb beast could not have been
more scrvilc Nobody doubted that all
mauliness and courage had departed
but chvalry was not lacking out in
that far wilderness and tho brute who
struck the dcfenscless ward OF the rc.,i-
meut learned quickly 10 his sorrow
hot III h4-
penalties
In the stiffness OF the night he learned
a good deal about the virtues of "a
leather strap well laid upon bare back.
He was one of the earliest adycnturcrs
who had dared to enter the FL Dorado
territory
A man brave, but coarse in his mind
it was not unnatural that he should
swear vengeance, nor unnatural either
that he should hasten to try to put his
vows into execution.
Crazy Abel had the care OF an officers
quarters He slept there like a watch
dog. always alert and watch.uI, and this
officer had been one OF those who had
inflicted the midnight punishment on
Abel4 asSaiIant. and the ussailant know
ing 1t, had marked the officer Tor yrl.ee-
anco. But the mOlovOlent fellow dlSup-
peared suddenly and was forgotten.
The spring of Io4o camo Gold was
Everybody on the whole coast was wildly
excited Wealth In piles tempted Steven
sons regiment to quit their service in
the army with its Fitiful % cents q day
for pay and enter on the accumulation
OF fortunes that waited only Tor appr0-
priation
The temptation was not strong enough;
loyalty had too firm & hold on those
devoted fellows, who had already saCri-
feed too much and endured too much to
permit them, remembering honor 10
tarnish the spOticss record OF their
patriotism by selfshne5s or wavering
now.
1t became necessary one day soon after
the gold discovery for General Steven
son to send dispatch across the country
to n detached part of his command. and
the officer whom Crazy Abel attended was
chosen for the mission.
1t was not considered dangerous
undertaking, and the soldier with his
ward set out alone. But they did not
go far through the wild country be
fore they found themselves in ambush.
That man with his pcnt-up longing
for revenge. supported by savage allies,
made the two mon from camp fast
prisoners. The eyes of the captor
sparkled with an unhOly delight. and
his threats OF torture were such as
only devils could conceive.
Upon a cliff, whose prccIpitOuS sides
seemed to reach down to the very black
ness Of the Carths center, there he went
on with his gleC over the disarmed
men in his presence. It isn't cheer
ful recollection. the story OF what officer
and man endured there. till finally the
last scene in the terrible experience
came.
Crazy Abel, held by one of the Indians,
seemed regardless OF what went on.
His chronic smile did not leave his
cOuntenance; he seemed quite as con
tent as though at the camp mess table.
Over against tree the soldier finally
was placed, and while the savages
danced Economically the vengeful white
skin, as savage as they. brought his
rife to his shoulder. and holding it
pointed at the breast of his prisoner,
snecringly Knocked the soldier in his
helpleSsneSS-
On the line Of the cliff close by It's edge
stood the master and the victim. What
Joy he got out OF hts power! what
jubilation the murderous scene gave
those red men Their mad manner
grew, and grew. and grew, till suddenly
it ended.
He who had held CrazJ Abel loosened
his grip for a moment to add a louder
note to the death feast That moment
that savage was doomed Over the cliff
he tumbled headlong to perdtion, and
with a rush that seemed like the very
flash OF suDstreak through the air
Crazy Abel was upon the body of that
man who but one moment ago had
terrible vengeance within his very reach.
Il was a vain effort that be made TO
withstand the assault. He tOppled and
he fell. Crazy AbcI's arms were about
him. Clasped together the two went
down the prcciplCe together
He who had been looked upon as
wholly lacking courage had proved his
f.r-f4r- .tr.z- in hot mot haN~n
been in any wise more heroic. For the
man whom he loved. for him who had
given him kindness and protection. he
had been willing to dIe-had cast him
self to death and brought to his guardian
deIiverance and safety y. Y. Times.