The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-24


His nails were like talons, his flesh Gov
cred with hair, and he hadfthe oder Of 3
Gagged panther.
Nv second adventure with an Ouiiav
lasted much longer. A half-breed Choc-
taw named John Flint, who was a resi-
dent Of Doaksviile, Indian Territory,
and who killed several men in the year
after the close Of the war, vas run out ol
the neighborhood by vigilance com
mittee. and he took up his lair IN TIE
mountain spur 10 the south. and swore
that he would never be taken alive nor
make friends with human being
lie was represented as quick shot, q
fghther to the death, and a man Of such
vigilance that he could not be surprised
He wss outlawed and price set upon
his head. but it was hoped he might be
taken alive and hanged Oar agency
was offered 81 900 more to capture him
alive than to furnish proofs OF his death
but it was at the same time admitted
that over dozen men had spent weeks
in vain in trying to either Kill or cap
ture him. Three of The number had
been killed while pursuing the enter
prise. The outlook for me was Therefore
very dubious, but ! determined to see
what could be done
Asis the case With every oulaw, Flint
had his friends and admirers in the eoun-
try about him. l reached DoaksyilIe to
learn thst be was around with Win
chester and two revolvers, and that peO-
pie for twenty miles around were intimi-
dated by him. He levied toll on the far
mers with a high hand, obliging one 10
furnish meat, another flour, third car
tridges, and such was the teFror his
presence inspired that no one dared be-
tray him, though ali yearned 70 hear OF
his death or capture. He was put on his
guard against me on my arrival, and be
sent me word that if / did not at once
leave the country he would have my
life When I finally got ready TO begin
nv hunf for him, he was hunting Els as
well. When l bad secured such particu
lars as desired, bundled up what ne
cessity demanded and cot loose from civ
ilizaiion. That is, headed ior the
mountain, determined topursue the man
day and night until l had run him
down. Ii was no use TO plan 70 catch
him about any Of the farm houses, as he
knew thai was after hiIa. and he would,
as measure of pru dence, forsake his old
haunts for the time being. 1t seemed To
me the best way TO hunt for his lair and
have il out with him on his own ground.
For the first three days / got neither
track nor trace of Flint. Il Was Ike
hunting for needle in a hay stack, as
the mountain was thiekly covered with
yerdure, and split up with many ravines
and gulehes- Nobody had ever found
his hiding place, but from some remarks
dropped once when ne had liquor in bin
il w&s supposed 70 be cave in the rocks
and 10 be approached only with the
greatest difficulty. If met him abroad
it would be entirely by accident, so
carefully avoided crossing any bare places
where he might espy me from his look
out. About mid afternoon on the fourth
day came across a snare set for rabbits
by some human hands. An investiga-
ton proved that It had been in use for
some time, and had held several victims,
although empty at this time This must
be the work Of the outlaw, since his
pres-nce on the mountain had driven all
away. Two hours later and Z mile
away discovered a snare from which
partridge had lately been taken. ! felt
then that was in the neighbour Dod Of
the outlaws den, but had to move slow
" and exercise the greatest vigilance. ]
built my fires in ravines and with the
least possible smoke, and whenever night
came down crept under pines and roll
ell myself in blanket On the fifth
and sixth days l did not cover over two
miles of ground, and most Of that dis
taace WIS covered on hands and knees.
ON the evening Of the sixth day I had
10 descend the mountain to re.ew my
provisions az a farm house, and what was
my chagrin TO learn from negro that
Flint had visited the place for the same
purpose only the night before. He gave
me the direction taken by the outlaw
but when ] reached the base Of the
hlouniain could 20 no further in the
darkness and had 10 camp down. | was
astir at day light, and At once made my
way to the crest Of the big hill, believing
that Flint. having supplied hiESseif with
provisions, would live quiet for two OF
three DAYS. Whether be did or not. l
hunted for him another week without
finding further trace than q third snare
he had set for game On the thirteenth
day nv hunt came TO an end in a singu-
lar manner. l was following up dry 4,
rayine. 50 full Of bushes and loose rocks
that had to creep most Of the time, and
/ was resting under some very thick
bushes when l heard a movement on the
bank above. 1t might have been caused
by deer CT bear, but felt pretty certain
that it was a man. lie was on the bank
u the ravine directly over my head, az
ter minute or two / heard the squeal
Of rabbit. Il was Flint, then, and he
WAS taking the game from q snare We
could not see each other, but ne had the
advantage in being above me. The bank
was too steep to climb, and l was jnst
turning to creep back TO 4 spot where
could ascend, when there WIS a sort Of
crash above me, suppressed shout Of
alarm, and next instant earth. rocks
and bushes were filling all about me-
| sprang up, and as did 50 thespTead-
eagle form Of man struck the bushes at
my right and broke through them with .
great crash. l made leap 70 get cut Of
the way, bat the body had scarcely come
70 stop before WAS at hand. Ii was
the outlaw as | saw at glance. The fall
had stunned him. While he still clutch
ed the rabbit in his right hand his left
arm Was broken. / lost no time in seeu-
ring and disArming him, and when be
roused up, five minutes later, he had no
show. He took il out in eursing, hoWev-
er. and Of all The blood-curdlipg oatbs I
ever heark a man nse, his capped the eli
max. / got him about noon, and before