The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-09-21
SNAKES vs.. GUkIilLLAS.

ately wicked men. When law and order
were in q measure restored, thesedespera-
does We're the last 10 yield, and many of
them had TO Lo hunted down Ike wolves
and killed on sight. had district as
signed TO me along tho St. Francis River,
Arkansas, aud the total strength OF my
command was twenty-eight men. With
these was expected to protect the freed
men, guard several plantations, scout
over all the rosds, escort strangers, over
awe a multitude of bad men, and main
tain the dignity OF the reunited United
States.
In my district, as I soon ascertained,
were half dozen OF the worst despera-
does in the West
The mearest, IL not the worst man in
my district was n Capt. Dade. He was
in command of a dozen outlaws for a
couple OF weeks and in that way got his
title. He had gathered five or six bad
men around him, and while posing as =
patriot who could never, never surrender,
he was robbing right and left and using
his pistols against everybody who Of
Tended him.
i sent Capt. Dado word 70 como in and
surrender. He sent me word back to 20
to notified him In writing that il
he did not come in by n certain date
should declare him an outlaw in the dis
trict, and proceed TO hunt him down ard
kill him. He replied by word OF mouth
that If did not surrender to him on or
before the same date he would proceed
to exterminate my command.
gave him ten days "a n matter ofform
having not the slightest hope that he
would como in. On the morning OF the
eleventh day had call from a native
about % years old, who announced him
n
called on a little business matter. / sup
posed IL 10 be about = permit or to make
complaint, but after = bit he observed:
Captain, them ten days ar up, an
reckon Bill DIde hain't shown hisself''
mo, he hasn't como i'm
''An' he won't nuthcr."
Il don't expect he will
Wall, ar you gwins ter let him an his
gang keep up thar whoopiG' an shootin'
an killin'f"
mo. Bill Dade and his gang are now
outlaws 10y proclamation. an going 10
hunt them down and wipo them out"
Right OF, C.ptain,"
AS seen as ! can arrange for TT
You kin arrange right now, Captain.
That's what I'm yere fur. How much
head IL l wipe out the Dade ganE?"
How many are theyi"
''Jist five, an every one CT 'eu has com
mitted murder an wuss dozen times
over"
81 can't offer reward for their heads.
have outlawed them, and the military
authorities have the right 10 shoot them
on sight
At that moment word was brought me
that Dade's gang had come within two
miles Of Headquarters and murdered two
OF the command who we're stationed III =
free mans rendezvous to preserTe order.
Dade had sent me word by q negro that
he proposed TO wipe Us out at the rate OF
two day until he reached the last man.
Half an holr lator the man called Dan
departed on his man hunt, ant. he had nT
agreement in writing thst neither the
law nor the military should trouble him
for shooting down any OF the gang. As
was afterwards proved before a court of
inquiry Dide had killed tyenty-three dc
fenseless persons inside of several months.
and none Of his men was far beyond his
figures
My man knew Just whore to look for
the fiends, and as soon rs ha could reple,l-
fsh his stock Of cartridges and pack up n
luncheon he left town
When ready TO leave tewn Dan stepped
into his canoe and padded up the river
about five miles. Then he entered 4
bayou to the right and carefully made his
way to n hit of high ground about two
miles from the river.
All the low lands were then under over
flow for ten miles back, and he knew OF
but one spot where the outlaws could
rendezvous. This was n larger island.
about half mile away, on which were
q log house and some farm improve
merts. A. this time the place could he
approached only by water, .rd Dade was
not bluifing when he doiled me.
1t il doubtful II any offer OF reward
could have induced 4 Federal soldier TO
follow Dan. The overflow had driven the
reptiles TO take refuge in the bushes and
trees. and as his canoo moved in and ont
the hiss Of the cotton mouth and the
warning OF the rattler came TO his ears
almost continuously.
Half dozen times, In tho eoUrsc OF
half an hour, hideous serpents let 20 Of
the branches and fell into the water with
n load splash and swam FOR tie canoe,
perhaps hoping 10 bo carried to the high
ground, and II such times the man had to
lay down his paddle aud beat them of
with a pole cut for the purpose. There
was danger with every rod OF the journey,
and the scmi-oarkness and the uttcr still
ness would have taSen tho courage from
an average man.
Dan did not land upon the island, but
mado the circuit OF IL n has canoe and
one circuit satisfied him that no sentinel
was established here, ~ lie suspected
might be the case. II one had been
pasted there he had been forced 10 aban-
don his post by the thousands of reptiles
which had been driven in for shelter.
Any craft seeking the other island must
pass here, and any craft making for tho
e.. -. II
channel
Satisfied that he had left no danger be-
hind him, and that this way OF retreat
was open If he was forced to fall back.
Dan cautiously proceeded on his way
1t was not yet mid afternoon. 1t was a
hot summers day, and there was abso-
lutte silence in the great swamp. The
outlaws, returned from their raid, would
expect pursuit, and therefore be watch
full. Dan was known to all of them, aud
the instant ne was discovered he would
be shot down. He knew every foot Of the
island, and as he neared il he had his
plans all laid.
Making a wide sweep by forcing his
canoe where it seemed hardly possible for
serpent to 90, he landed on the north
side of the island, half mile from the
hut As soon as he had hidden the craft
nc htshNAC MS way bpNfEA the CiCdTlilB,
moving with all the caution OF an Indian
on the warpath, and fully understanding
the peril he was in.
In telling me his story, he said he saw
more snakes that day than he supposed
the whole country held. He touched
them time and again, and a score OF times
he came within an ace of being bitten.
and enly his thirst for revenge braced
him up 10 push along.
When Dan reached the edge of the
clearing AZ point where ne was close up-
IN the cabin, he was SURPRISED to find
everything quiet. There vvasa shoulder.
ms ilre at tie door, and plenty OF evidence
Chat the men were near by. II they had
set Il watch II was down Ht the landing.
After waiting Tor half an hour Dan
-. - ....-- IL