The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-17
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON g. THURSDAY JANUARY 1885,

mile from the Brice house.
1t became necessary to proceed more eau
tiously lest some of Jaffray's gang might get
warning of our approach. We turned off into
deep woods and rode down to within a few
hundred yards of the house, disrnounted tied
our horses, removed everything from our per-
sons that would rattle or clink, and slipped for
ward cautiously.
"All right SO far, boys" said I, pointing to
the light in the upper window. That's our
signal"
! We crept forward carefully-myself in the
| lead, taking advantage of the deep shadows of
! the trees aud banks of sumach shrubs to con-
| ceal ourselves.
The moon was yet some distance above the
! blue mountain-tops when we reached our final
| cOyert-a mass of SNOWFALL and lilac bushes
! in the front yard, from which we could COM
mand both the willows by the creek and the
! front porch of the house. Then we waited in
| nervous anticipation. No movement could be
| detected among the willows, and we decided
| that we had arrived, as we hoped, in advance
! OF Jaffray.
How slowly the moon seemed to sink now. 1
| began to think she had been caught on the
! jagged rocks of the mountainous, and would
never go down. There was some one else who
was anxious about her hardness. Three several
! times while we waited we saw tho window
/ blind pulled aside far enough to let the face of
Scarlett Bradford appear while he scanned the
western horizon.
Finally the moon disappeared altogether, and
| the darkness became intense. We strained our
ears to catch every sound. They had to do
! double duty, since our eyes were no longer of
use. For minutes that seemed hours we heard
| nothing
Listen, hear horses" said Jim Mcclure.
Sure enough, horses were coming at rapid
pace down the hill, half mile to our right
| We tried to count how many there were of
| them. Then the sound ceased as they reached
! the muddy ground in the valley, and we next
! heard them splashng in the creek. Murmurs
and indistingushable noises came up from be-
hind the willows.
They're dismounting and fastening their
horses Everybody get ready, but keep cool.
Don't make a move till give the word, whis-
| pered Jim. | had a sudden impulse to cough,
and nearly strangled REFRESHING it.
The front door of the house opened, letting
out long lane of light Scarlett Bradford
stood in the middle, on the threshold, overcoat
on, hat and riding-whip in hand.
"No, can't stay any longer" he said to
those inside. Il have stayed too long already.
Heah, Watch! Heah, Watch! Heah, Watch! !"
His voice was loud and clear, and it rang out
on the still night air. There was rustic be-
hind the willows, and six men in butternut
clothes sprang out into the belt Of light rushed
for the house, passing within rod of our Turk
| ing place, and trampling up on the porch, with
clatter of feet and oaths and curses. AS if as
| tonished by the apparition, Scarlet Bradford
retreated before them into the house.
Come on, boys" shouted Jim Mcclure, as
they went in. We've got every one Of 'em.
Surrender, you hell-hounds!"
Jaffray turned his attention from Brady
Hartwell, who, at the first sound, had sprung
/ to his feet by the fireplace and snatched up his
carbine. Before the startled rebel could COM
| prenend the situation Jim's long arms reached
out, and with a blow of the carbine barrel
across his head felled him to the floor.
knocked another guerrilla down almost at the
same instant with my carbine, and the rest of
| the boys grappled with the remainder of the
rebels, and beat them with revolvers or car
biues until they yielded. Not shot was fired,
and the whole affair was over in less than two
minutes from the time we left the cover of the
! lilacs.
We huddled our six captiyes together in the
| corner.
where's Scarlett Bradford2" asked Brady
Hartwell, looking them over. II don't see
him here"
Here he is I've got him out here" called
! Disie from the next ROOM
Brady and | went in there, and found Brad
ford lying on the floor and Dilsie sitting on
him.
81 saw him making for the back door as
you came in, she explained, land got along
side of him and tript him up. / thought the
best way to hold him was to drop my 1870
| pounds on him, which / did; but think it was
! pretty rough on his ribs"
| 1t was hard work to persuade Brady Hart
well out of his determination to shoot Bradford
and Jatfray on the spot, but we finally did so.
! Mrs. Brice and Dilsie got us up a substantial
supper of cornbread and broiled bacon, of which
! our prisoners received a share, after which we
! put them on their horses and took them to
! Cumberland Gap, whence they were sent to
! Camp Chase for the rest of the war.
| l went down to Tennessee last year to see
Brady Hartwell and his wife Dilsie. They
named their first boy, who is now fine, manly
/ fellow, Harvey Austin Hartwen," and l am
! quite proud of my namesake.