Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-02
IN DEATHS PRESENCE.
Sensations of a Man Who Knows
 His Fate Is Sealed.

A Government Scout Describes His Feel.
 ings While Being Usod for Target
 by Guerrilla and Whilo Waiting
 to Bc Hanged.
 In the summer of 1864, when the rebel guerrilla Joe Shelby and his band were the terror of Southern Missouri, was captured by detachment of them while acting as regimcntal mail carrier. At lonely spot on the highway, between the Union videttes and the camp, three men suddenly sprang out of the woods at me. The hour was four o'clock in the afternoon, and as was with in the Union lines I was. unsuspieious of danger. Just minute before the men be- trayed themselves a rabbit had crossed the highway ahead of me, and had drawn my revolver, hoping for shot. I therefore had it in my hand when the trio made the rush. One sprang tor my horse's head and the other two closed in broadside. I fired and killed the first man dead in his tracks. As I wheeled to fire on my right my horse made spring and my bullet struck the man in the left shoulder. Before I could make another move the third man pulled me from my horse. We were only half 8 mile from the Union camp, and they did not do any shooting for fear of creating an alarm. As l was pulled to the ground the man struck me on the head with the butt of revolver, and for the next five minutes was uncon- scious. When I came to had been dragged off the road into the bushes, as had the dead body of the guerrilla, and my horse was standing near by. The one whom had wounded had his knife in his hand and wanted to finish me, but the other pro- tested and held him off. l was finally or dered to mount, my feet made fast under the saddle, and after going through the woods about thirty rods we came to the spot where the guerrillas had left their horses. They mounted, struck into a bridle path, and after going about three miles we came upon the guerrillascamp. There were from elghty-fve to hundred men, and things looked as If they had been there several days. They were a tough-looking lot of men, dressed in all sorts of clothes and armed with all sorts of weapons, and I gave up all hope as soon as I set eyes on them. The rebel guerrillas of Virginia oc- casionally spared prisoner, but the Vest ern Ruerrillas had no pity.
 As soon as 1t was known that had killed one man and wounded another they were for killing me at once. A dozen ways of doing n were suggested, but it was now growing dark, there was a large mail to be opened and read, and "Cap'n Bill" or dered that I should be tied to tree and guarded through the night, and added that my case would be disposed of before they moved in the morning. Twas lashed to Q tree in @ sitting position, @ guard took seat on stump near by, and thus began the night The guerrillas cooked and ate supper, but refused me both food and drink. When protested at this treatment the guard was ordered to blow my head of If didn't shut up.
 The man sentenced to be hanged doubt less hopes for reprieve until the moose Is placed over his neck. While I was satis- 6ed that my hours were numbered, had nothing to hope for. It was an extra mail was riding with, and my failure to appear would not be noticed. The reports of my revolver could not have been beard by any pf my friends, nor was the presence of the guerrillas, so far as knew, even suspected. turned the matter over and over in my mind, and could not satisfy myself that I had one chance in a hundred. How would they kill mol I had seen dozen victims of guerrilla vengeance, and they had either been knifed or the muzzle of revolver held close to the ear to deaden the report. In either case the suffering was of brief duration. After had figured it out that was to die felt relieved. Indeed, there was feeling of elation about 1t. was young and robust and life was sweet, but l nAu Ao1 cAAus u A1 dS you W1Su1 eAPect The thought of begging them to spare me never occurred. Could have got loose and armed myself I should have fought the whole crowd instead of running away.
 Soon after midnight fell asleep, and that with considerable noise going on around me. It was daylight when awoke, and the men were turning out. They cooked and ate breakfast, offering me no part, aud knew that every minute brought me nearer death. was not nervous, but was curious to know what method they might adopt. After breakfast had been disposed of the men gathered about me, and "Cap'n Bill" said to the man whom l had wounded in the shoulder:
 'He's your meat, in course, but the boys want to see some fun out of 1t. You kin crack at him of hand"
 The man had his left arm in sling. He drew heavy revolver and walked of dis tance of fifteen .paces, and then turned and leveled on me. 1shut my eyes and counted. had got to "seven" when the report came. The bullet hit the tree, six inches above my head, and to the right, and there was gen. eral laugh. He raised his arm again, and this time had counted only ''six" when the report came. He made Q line shot, but was seven or eight inches too high. The pain ot his wound had unnerved him. The men | Aoo6AOA oAA JCOAOuS Ouo AS oANs hAS sSSeA hard, raised his arm slowly, and now felt that all was over. l felt the wind of his bullet and then heard the report. The bal passed my right ear by no moro than hal. an inch.
 ''That's bullyr" shouted half dozen mer in chorus. 'One more shot and you'll hi
 the bull's-eye"
 He was just lifting his arm when a mus
 ket cracked, followed by volley, and hall
 Q dozen men fell dead around me. No re
 sistance was made by the guerrillas, and ou
 To be contlnue.