Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-03-20
eve VII 90. but at a slgn Of raaab-


to my sisters. Hasten5 my anxiety make
me nearly crazy"
$50 and bring everything here as
quietly as possible" said the corporal to
the guard. "Make haste. it VIII not
do to delay If the report is true. We
have had a little with them already,
which nothing but our carbines or sabres
can settle"
In less than ten minutes the entire
squad Of twelve picked scouts and the
negro were ready to start. By going
back from the camp a short distance,
there were roads leading down, the near
est Of which the party followed, urging
their horses into a fast and steady gal
lOp After crossing the BenfOn's ferry
road they began to slacken speed, and
finally, at the motion of the prisoner,
stopped entirely.
As soon as all had closed up the Pris-
Oner said:
Corporal, we are near enough to keep
close watch, and whatever we do must be
done with the speed Of the thunderbOlt. 3"
"Well, % said Earle, Il viii take Bob,
Black and you with me, the others to
follow near enough to see my signal, at
which they must rush forward at full
speed, with carbine and pistol ready for
execution"
"They have probably a picket out on
| the road, which we can avoid by taking
this road to the left down intosthe swamp
/ back of the fields"
Lead on, said Earle, and as fast As
/ the nature of the ground would permit
they pushed forward. By taking this
roundabout way they avoided the out
post and came up to the back Of the
field.
s'My God % exclaimed the prisoner,
'sthey have set fire to the stable"
At the sight Of the enemy and excite
ment the corporal, without waiting to
count numbers, gave the signal to rush
forward. The negro had, during the few
words spoken, taken out a large gap in
the fence so that there was no delay.
| The leading horsemen hesitated a little
until the rear had closed up, and then
with a wild rush and yell that echoed
/ again and again though the thick woods,
| they rushed for the house. The con
/ federate took the lead, his eyes staring
with dread and excitement. They were
/ half way across the field before the party
| Of plumber realized from what source the
/ danger was coming, and then made a
rush for their horses, making every eff
fort to hold on to their plumber. An old
/ lady pleading for some silverWare, and
being struck into a sitting posture by
/ the rufian, stimulated the party OF
Earle into greater speed. The prisoner
| fairly few after the man who had so
abused his mother, but who was now
/ trying to reach his pony. AS Earle
came opposite the door a young lady
rushed out pursued by another of the
ruffians. 1t took but the turn of his
arm to point the pistol at the pursueT
and drop him almost at the doorstep.
By thistime the so-caIIed 'Irregulars'
were most of them mounted, showing up
nearly double the number Of the attack
/ ing party. The horses Of Earle and his
/ men were under such Roadway that they
were right among their enemies before
they We're prepared for resistance. Shoot
/ ing right and left with deadly effect,
/ they stampeded the whole gang quicker
than it takes to write it. Several were
killed outright, while only a few OF
/ Earle's men were severely wounded
The ''Irregulars'' were so near surprised
that their fire was wild.
At the gateway of the field Earle spoke
70 the young Confederate, saying: "YOu
had better return to your mother and
sisters, and we viii recover what property
we can find. Keep the negro with you
if you can find him, and save what you
can of the stable from fire"
The several prisoners taken were ques-
toned, but proved sulky and prevancat-
ing. Earle, enraged at the delay, put his
pistol to the head of the most intelligent
looking one, saying: "Tel me which way
| the wagons have gone, quick, or die
right here, you id thiefT
The prisoner looked at Earle, but see
1 ing determination, answered: 'DoWn this
yer way" pointing in the direction OF
/ Manchac Bayou.
"Bill, you and Fred tie up these id
/ rascals, and one of you stay and watch
them until we return. Boys, the rest OF
you follow me-" And away they went
/ after the flying "Irregulars." At a dis
/ lance Of two or three miles they caught
sight of the wagons loaded with cotton,
/ corn, bacon, and household stuff Of ali
/ descriptions. The ''Irregulars'' were plac-
/ ing the wagons across the road, forming
! a barricade, ard commenced firing as
| soon as the corporal and his men came
within reach Of their shot guns. The
! firing caused no check to the flying
/ horses, although the buckshOt whistled
around and between them. But one
/ horse went down Just as they reached
the wagons, where they all dismOunted
/ like one man and rushed each way around
to a hand-tO-hand conflict. The robbers
did not wait for the slash of the sabre
but mounted and were of with all the
quickness of the Mexican PONIES. Two
or three Of them were brought down by
the carbines Of the scouts, but were left
to the care of their friends.
The mules and wagons were turned
back by some OF the men, the Others
acting as escort. The "Irregulars'' were
so badly used up there was no fear of q
return for some time, and, even If dis
posed for revenge, the regular Confeder-
ates would keep closer watch for them
/ As soon as the wagons returned they
were driven up to crib and stOre-rOom
where the slaves, who had reappeared
after the danger was over, were put tC
work unloading them.
The Confederate prisoner, Private Bar
wood, his mother, widow BarWOOd, and
two sisters came out to thank Earle and
his scouts for their timely rescue. The
old lady, not yet recovered from hel
abusive treatment said: IF you are
Yankees, you have done us a great ser
vice, which we can never forget. 1t Is
so contrary from what we have been Led
to expect from you that 1t is hard to ex-
/ press what we feel. This war has seemed
D.