The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-30
Thrilling Adventure with Highway
Robbers.

with the Friends Mission at Mata-
moras, Mexico, publishes in the CHRIS
liun 7rorA'ea. for First Month, 9th, Is
81, the following remarkable expert
ence with highway robbers. He was
on his way from Gonuz-Farias to Mat
amoras, travelling alone and on horse
back, sleeping at night mostly under
ebony bushes. He says:
"On Third-day morning, started at
8 o'clock, partly because the rain made
my ebony bash an uncomfortable roof,
and partly because seventy mile trip
Law between my bedroom and Mata-
moras.
"About 8 A. NJ. I was overtaken by
three horsemen, all on good horses,
but as we were in sight of ranch they
simply passed the usual 'z'ste~uS d.
us, Seuou, and rode on to the house.
"I did not like their appearance, but
as had no business at the ranch rode
quietly pass. When about Il mile be-
yond + was again overtaken by the
same company, and now they propos-
ed that we should journey to Matamor-
as together. Consenting to the ar
rangement, one of them went immedl-
ately in front and the others one at
each side of my horse.
GAS this order of march was little
suspicious, turned my horse sudden
ly, so as to be at the side of the road,
and saw that one of my companions
had pistol in his hand, which he put
out of sight as quickly as possible and
supposed that it had escaped my obser-
vation.
II now knew the character of my
companions, and could simply put up
fervent petition to the Heavenly Fa-
ther for protection. The leader of the
company offered to show me a shorter
road to Matamoras, and proposed that
we should leave the highway to find
this short cut. When l declined this
obliging offer, which was intended to
draw me into the chapparal where the
buzzards would probably be the only
discoverers of the body, he threw off
his mask of pretended kindnsss, and,
pointing his pistol at my head, threat
ened me with instant death if | did
not follow the foremost of the compa-
ny.
"As it seemed like leaving the path
of duty, 1 refused to leave the only
place in which I had a right to expect
Gods protection. The frontman nowsel-
zed the halter of my pony and attpemt-
ed to lead him away from the road. l
at once dismounted, and with o jerk
freed the rope from his grasp.
KNIVES, men, said the captain, and
two knives, each over foot long, were
held threateningly over my breast.
Then the captain a second time ordered
me, Oh pain of immediate death, to ac-
company them to the northward.
The reply was, You may kill me If
YOU WILT makes no difference to me
thanks to God, I am ready; but this
is my road and from here I will not
co. Are you prepared" Yes The
idea seemed a novel one, and the
knives disappeared, though the pistol
with its barrels all charged, still point
ed at nv face. I then asked who they
were and where they lived, and was
told that they were Gentleman of St.
John, and lived under the moon.' l
gave him a fifty-cent piece, which l
had in my pocket, not caring to show
my purse, which contained about eight
dollars-more than I could afford to
lose. He said, it is very little; have
you no more?' Yes but I need the
rest which was quite true. He again
asked for it, but in somewhat doubt
full tone, as if lie expected to be refus-
ed, and it seemed to me that | need
make 10 futher sacrifice, so told him
that I could spare the half dollar, buI
no more. '1unV0Se,' he said to HI
fellow bandits, and they galloped on at
q lively rate. Returning thanks to
God who had so wonderfully delivered
me from the hands of these highway
men, I remounted and at a slower
pace followed.
"Certainly it is not usual for the
Mexican 'road agents to let their vic
tim escape with his life, much less car
ry his money out of their hands. |
can only praise God, who, in the mo-
ment of peril, kept my mind perfectly
quiet. When T refused to leave the
road I expected to receive a shot in
stantly, and as the mind works with
almost lightning rapidity, the thought
of past occupations, apparently impor-
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