Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-03-06
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
CHASING GENERAL TooMBs.
The Fateful Bundle of Papers That Stop
ped a Hot Pursuit.


The FatefuI Bundle of Papers That Stop
ped Hot Pursuit.
''You must take him. dead or alive"
"Yes, Captain" and Private Suther-
land of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry put
spurs to his horse and dashed of at the
top of his speed.
Captain Saint was too much excited to
give further directions. He had conf
IDENTIFY expected to capture General
Toombs at his residence, and it was
mainly with this object that he had led
his rough troopers into the peaceful
Georgia town of Washington.
A call at the mansion had resulted in
disappointment.
The bird had flown.
But the General could not be far away,
the Captain thought, and so only one
road had been left unguarded. Private
Sutherland felt sure that he was on the
right track.
Hello, Sambo!"
The negro was at work in the outskirts
of the town. When he heard the sol
dier's rude salutation he advanced tim
idly to the fence by the roadside.
''Have you seen General Toombs pass
this way?'
"Who-Marse Robert? No, sub.
Dunno whar Marse Robert is. Tink he
lef' town er week ergo"
''You black rascal" roared the cay
alryman, 'he left his house about ten
| minutes ago, and must have passed this
way.'
'Now, marse boss" began the negro,
but he never finished his sentence, for
at that moment Sutherland caught sight
of horseman riding up the hill hardly
! three hundred yards away.
''There he is!' he yelled.
''Dat amt Marse Robert" quickly re-
piled the black.
But the FederaPs one glimpse Of that
sturdy figure with the leonine locks
streaming in the wind was enough, and
he was off like an arrow.
1t was hot chase. With the fugitive
it was a ride for liberty-perhaps for
life.
Steadily the pursuer gained on the
General. He kept him in sight and got
within hailing distance.
q
they reached another hill.
The Federal was still gaining. Only
few yards separated the two.
'Haltp' shouted Sutherland.
The General looked ov.t his shoulder
and darted onward.
'Halt, or fire."
The cavalryman leveled his pistol.
Still no reply.
Private Sutherland looked dazed for a
moment, and then he put up his weapon.
''The war is over" he muttered, land
it would be little short of murder to kill
| him"
The two horsemen were sometimes
nearly neck and neck.
Several times they exchanged glances,
and the Federal found himself admiring
the gallant old General. But he had his
orders, and he was determined to arrest
the great Confederate. He threatened
and urged the General to surrender, but
not word could he get in reply.
Riding close to the fugitive's side the
trooper reached out and tore roll of
clothing from the crupper of his saddle.
With mighty effort the Confederate
dashed ahead, and roll of papers slip
ped through an insecure pocket and
dropped on the ground.
Perhaps the documents were OF the
highest Importance. This thought struck
Private Sutherland, and he at once dis
mounted. Only package of business
letters.
The soldier looked up. The General
| hah ho1 1iSav -.
ed around bend in the road.
In moment Sutherland was in hot
pursuit.
The road forked. Which way had the
General gone-to the right or to the left.
To save his life the young fellow could
not tell, but the honest-lOoking darky,
who met him at that moment, could moi
fail to know.
81 have some letters for General
Toombs-which way did he go?"
"De Ginrul, sub, he TUX de right-han
road
"Sure?"
"Sho' an sartin, marse boss"
That settled it. The Iowan spurred
his tired horse, and shot forward like g
cannon ball
Late that afternoon Private Suther
land and his jaded steed crawled int
Washington to face the jeers Of laugh
ing crowd Of Federals and citizens.
Sutherland saw an old negro watching
him, and, riding up to him, he said:
''Will you tell me now which way th'
General went?"
''Yas, suh," was the glib reply. "H'
TUX de road ter de lef!"
When the Captain heard the trooper
report he gave a mournful whistle
Darn these Confederate niggahs-
, they are as bad as their mastersH
That was all he said.
, Everybody knows the remainder OF tn
story. The General made his escap'
from the country.
In later years private John Suther
land frequently told his neighbors al
about his adventure. Possibly he ex
aggerated it-perhaps he invented 1t
; The writer of this reminiscence can no
| vouch,for every thing.-W. ?. Reed, Il
, Atlanta Constitution.
TLPEE SNAKE STORIES