The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-01
AIbPON BY VlGILANTES.
MoMENTous PERIOD WITH CAPT.
w. D. BETHELL's PARTY.
Regulators Can Upon 1t to Square Ac-
counts for Burned Prairie--A Timely
Escape. Just as Blood Began to Show
In Eyes OF the Natives--Great Sport.
From Our Special Correspondent


in Eyes OF the Natives-a Great Sport.
From Our Special Correspondent
LAFAYETTE, La, Dec. 2s.-We left
New Orleans on the evening Of my last
letter and Went directly to Cage, a county
town situated 145 miles west Of New
Orleans, where we were side-uacked for
the day. Here we took horses and went
a6eld. It is proper to stpte just here that
the string of dogs belonging TO this party
consists OF some OF the best blood in the
country, and are thoroughly pedigreed
and registered in the stud books OF the A.
X. @. They are "Ben Hur," "May
Queen" "Capt. b." "Bruce s." Gen. Jeb
Stewart" "Joe" and "Clifton," the latter
jointer. Some Of these dogs are fresh
from the field trials, where they won the
prize over all competitors, and it would be
fair to presume that good sport awaited
us.
On the morning Of the 9th ult. your
reporter straddled horse for the sec
ond time In his life and started with the
within half mile OF the station, and we
paired off ON the rise Of the first covey
for the balance OF the day. The sport was
: fair and many birds came to bag, and but
for the accident OF some one setting the
prairie on fire nothing would have &C.
Cured TO disturb the harmony OF the days
sport. The roaring OF the rapidly APP
preaching fire warned us to stand not
upon the order OF our going, but 20 at
once" which we did after having success
fully fought the fire TO finish immedi-
ately In our rear II was the hardest fight
your reporter has ever had since the war
closed, and enabled him to appreciate the
many stories OF burning prairies which
he has frequently read in The APPEAL
and always thought exaggerated. l will
never think so again.
Our entire party returned TO the car in
fairly good shape and at once began prep
arations for removal. As TO how the fire
originated we could not tell. but presumed
IL was caused by the dropping Of a match
by one OF our party after having lighted n
cigar. However. this was the theory
upon which We acted, and in order 10
have little fun put tho natives after the
supposed inccndiary. Be it remembered
THAI the parish in which Cage is located is
possessed OF band OF regulators who
make II their especial duty to mcte out
swift Justice to violators Of the law. In
fact the greatest point Of interest they
show You is the neglected graves Of six
teen individuals who were caused 10 quit
their earthly abode in answer 10 n sum.
mons from well-dircctcd Winchester rides.
When We began the joke we did not know
the above facts, and never thought for n
A. .t..l.N h..
The self-apponied committee called
on ms at our car, and after SOME
sweet talk and full explanation
retired for consultation. II was then we
aei,aicd our friend and suggested an inn
mediate removal OF our car ere the min
ions oi the law could issue their process,
for his arrest The natives did not take "a
TO las kindly rs We did, and conceived
the ilea that by exhibiting little blood
il their sp,s" they could extorl from us Q
\ S,iabulous ghn Of money for an imaginary
danl 20. r. situation grew very serious
4 Vhtn the person Of our friend was de
" naiicd rs ransom iurthe burning. lie
However. was not to be found rs he haC
taken refuge In the large ice box under thu
car and caused the cook 10 lock him NJ
until the danger point was passed. While
there the values OF real estate. tenamen
houses aud tho lucrative business Of
rental agent vanished from his mind rs III
offered up silent prayer for hi
dclivcrance from the regulators. TIL,
ever walchful Col. Tom Devine, VIII
was attending 10 tho railroad en-,
Of the trip, took the situation in Mt
glance, and AZ the west bound trail
steamed into the station nj Cage he oh
served the SUPERINTENDENT OF the road, MI
W. 4. Owen, alight iiom il. lie immcdi
atcly interviewed him. and the result O
said interview was that our car was nj
tached to the train and We pulled ava
from the vigiliniesat the rate of forty mile
an hour, while they were just In session
After arriving nj this point our friend q
the Joke emerged from his cool hidin
place, thoroughly chilled by Ice and fca
OF the regulators A little rubbing adde.
10 such rcstorativcs M VIC had nj hand
taken internally Of course, soon rough
him ground all right. When II was OK
p.aiutd 10 him what a narrow escape h
had made, he nj once sworc oil from smok
ma carrying matches about his person
w arrived here last night and are not
1855 miles duo west from New Orleans
The weather Is all that could he desirct
the helds are green and the flowers In ia
blootn In the yards OF these anuquate
looking country homes, while the soni
biris 81 this beautiful Southland rcmin
IA u springiime In our own loved city.
Opt Bethel. feeling somewhat indli
poad from heavy cold, accompanied b
hissoh-in.law, DIR. Foster, OF New Orlean
returned 10 the city nj an early hour th
morning. Our party is considerably brol
up, ~, he Is the largest.heartcd aud mo-
thoroughly accomplished host II has cvI
bocn(our good fortune 10 know, but n !
left tho party In charge Of the genial Cap
fredlS. Myles, We have no fears but tia
We VIII be well provided for, and at Il
end u our outing return in good shape.
To-Day We will try the snipc and WOO
cockA and on Sunday, by special Invitation
visit the salt mines near New Iberia,
distajice OF some thirty miles from here.
~. it'll r.. l,,.,,, g.. ,,,.ir