The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-02-17

ment hesittte, though the guards were,
unfortunately, not near the door. Knight
darted ON the nearest who was by the
fence, and as he was bringing the gun
downto charge, knight seized It with
his left hand and struck it's owner so pow
erfully with his right that the. gun was
instantly released Brown had1Cealt will
another in an effective manner, and re-en
forcements for the prisoners were now
coming; but two other guards, who were
close to the gaze. instead of standing their
ground ran out and raised great cutlery.
Wilson, Dorsey and others threw some
loose bricks, which happened TO lie handy
after them, and prepared to charge out
through the gate, when Knight heard tn,
running of the reserve guard up the road
aud, ninging away his musket, gave th
word, "Buys, we've got to get ouc O.
this;" then, hurrying through the hay
and down TO the lower corner of the yard
was in u moment TO the top of the fence,
being the first over, but was closely fol.
lo'red by the others The fence was nine
or ten feet high and was no slight obsta-
Gle, but it was soon passed and then fol-
lowed most desperate and exciting
chase.
All Of this took but moment. The
negro walters had kept perfectly quiet,
looking on the proceedings with the great
est interest, and only beginning to scream
when the noise outside convinced them
that they might as well contribute their
share. Buffum had just succeeded in
opening the last door, and finging it wide
with an impatient "There, now" when
the thrilling outcry from below warned
him that his own departure must be no
longer delayed. Fry md myself had been
engaged in securing the jailer, who, though
old, was powerful, and fought vigorously,
but had not finished wnen we were warned
by the uproar that all thought of a quiet
departure was at nm end, and that there
WIS no longer u motive in holding on to
Turner. We all rushed down stairs as best
we could, well knowing that we would
now be last in the fight, which was not
the post of safety. Tho deserter passed
us all like tiger on the leap-I never saw
such speed in narrow place-and getting
to the back door foun, two guards await
ing him with bayonets at the charge He
seized one in each hand, cutting himself
severely, but flinging them aside SO forci.
bly, that the men were very nearly over
thrown, and then with the same swiftness
continued over the fence and on to the
woods, soon being in advance of all the
fugitives. / learned that he escaped to
Washington, but months after returning
south secretly to visit his family, was cap
tured. recognized and hanged.
Buffum followed after him and got over
the fence with difficulty, but though
very brave man and hard fighter, he
was a poor runner. One Confederate,
who was quite swift footed, kept right
after him, gaining considerably, and
threatening to shoot him IL he did not
stop. To this Buffum paid no attention,
for running man has an unsteady hand
and no certain aim, but he soon stopped
because OF exhaustion. just as the man
overlook him. Now Buffum thought IL
the right time to try his yankee witt"
SO he threw himself down and said: ''i
aIn SO done out that can go no further
you run on and catch that fellow" point.
ing to fugitive running q short distance
ahead. But the man saw the design, and
with great oath declared that he had
him now and meant to keep him. Poor
Buffum was allowed very brief time to
rest, and then was marched buck again to
the prison. l have scarcely doubt that
II he had not waited TO unlock the doors
he would have made good his own escape.
Capt. Fry and myself were close to-
gether in going down the stairs, he being
n little In advance. At glance he saw
there was no chance in the front yard
the way we had INTENDED TO take-and at
once turned to the back door, which was
left open by the passage of the rebel de-
serter. He got over the wall with little
effort, but finding. himself chased as Buff.
fun had been, be used little strategy.
A good many shots were being fired in all
directions, and he suddenly threw up his
hands and fell fiat. Those who were fol-
lowing him passed on after unwounded
game, and when the way was clear he
arose and resumed his course. He was
seen again and had most desperate
chase, but reached the shelter of the
friendly woods.
= At no time I'm all my southern expe-
rience did L find defective vision TO be
such dreadful misfortune as Just now
My eyes were easily dazzled by a sudden
increase OF light, and rs came out of the
obscurity into the broad light, for some
seconds / could scarcely sec at all. In
this interval I was parted from Fry by
running TO the front door according to
our original plan. There were two
frightened guards in the cato tossing their
guns about and seeming not to know what
they should do. These were not danger
Gus looking and ran up to them-for now
tho power Of seeing had come back; but
just as ! was about darting out of the
gate saw the stream Of guards outside.
TsHNv called on me To surrender. but I