Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-10-18

drews was at his post, and he could not
be called away or conferred with. We
had as arms a double-barreled shotgun,
a revolver and a rifle. Tho turnkey had
the revolver, or was supposed to have
it, but in looking around the corridor |
found it hanging on n nail behind the
door leading into the dwelling part. IT
was loaded, and | myself loaded the
other arms, taking them into the dwell
ing part to do SO. The keys to the front
and back doors were in the locks. |
removed them without Andrews knowl-
edge.
Now, to understand what took place,
you must have the lay of the Jail. II
was only one-story high. There was a
door at either end of the corridor. Mid
way there was a door and a ~passageway
to the dwelling part. which was COM
posed Of three rooms. There were two
windows in the corridor, both strongly
defended, and the doors were very
massive. The door into the dwelling
part was only an ordinary light door.
When nine o'clock came | stood in this
doorway, with mother looking over ny
shoulder, and we had all the weapons
on the kitchen table. | had the front
door key in my hand, ready TO let
Thomas out in case nothing happened.
He and Jim came to the iron door and
shook hands, and Jim said:
well, l shall depend on you togct
those witnesses"
"Of course, of course" was the reply.
II may drop in some day next week
with some good uns."
II hope So
"Well, keep up your courage, Good
bye"
"~Good-bye."
Andrews turned tho key and let
Thomas out into the corridor. None of
them had seen US, because We were
further down. Andrews had swung the
door about half shut when Thomas
turned on him and struck him with his
fist behind the ear. The turnkey fell
in a heap, and then Thomas drew a re-
volver and struck him twice with the
butt of it. By this time Black jim was
out in the corridor, and | saw a revolver
in his hand. Mother screamed out as
Thomas struck the turnkey a second
time, and both villains made a dash for
us. | shut the door in their faces. how
ever, and it was bolted as they came
against 1T. We ran through to the
kitchen, and in five minutes we had the
passage barricaded with the table, a
cupboard and several chairs. If they
broke down the door we were to make
our fight here.
After a few kicks on thesdoor the fell.
lows left it, probably intending to go
out. They found the keys gone, how
ever, and likewise discovered that get:
ting out Of the corridor was not getting
out of Jail. 1t seemed tbat Thomas
had brought nothing with him but
clothing and firearms, having planned
to dispose of the turnkey just as he did.
They could find nothing but a stick OF
wood to work at the doors or windows
with, and they made no progress toward
liberty. They were working for half
an hour before they realized that the
way to liberty was through the dwelling
part. They no doubt supposed mother
and | had fed, for they began at the
door without calling to us. They kicked
the panels out and reached through
and unbolted it. | wanted to fire but
mother restrained me, hopihg it would
be unnecessary. AS the door swung
open shouted to them, and they could
not help seeing the barricade. They
drew back, and Black Jim said:
"See here, Mrs. -, we don't want to
hurt you or the cub, but we are de-
termined to get out of this If we have
to kill you both!"
Throw us that front-door key or we'll
murder you" added his companion.
Mother and ! were both trembling,
but still we were not towards. The
brutal attack on Andrews had given us
courage instead of taking it away. She
would not trust herself to answer, but |
replied:
~ will shoot If you attempt to enter
the passage"
Are they armed%I heard Thomas
ask.
MAY have a revolver <
We've got to go that way, and we've
no time TO lose. It's only q woman ant
a cub, anyhow"
! was kneelipg down behind the bar
ricade, with the shotgun poked through
q big creSice, and rcecked both barrels
Mother was behind me having the re
volver in hand. Shielding their bodie'
behind the jambs the fellows fred tw,
shots apiece into the barricade, ant
then made a rush. / pulled both bar
rels as soon as saw them, and for sixt,
seconds there was smoke, shouts, curse
and groans. l knew that both of then
we're down, but as they kept firing
could not say whether they were hur
or not After the rumpus had died on
Black Jim called:
| For Gods sake give me some water
, You've done for the both Of us!'
D Peering shove the barricade / coul
/. see them on the floor, and after making
sure there was no trap we tore away tn,
defense and went 70 their aid. Tn,
: shotgun was loaded with Lird.shot o
good size, and the range had been onl,
; ten feet. Thomas had got hisdose Il
the right log and hip, and Black Jim
who was crouching down as | fred, wa
1 wounded in the face and shoulder. Bot
: thought they were . NE for, and mad
no resistance as we dragged them Int
|, the ward. When we had tho doc
locked Invent for help and 4 Doctor an
after an hour secured both. Then W
Q found that Andrews was as good a
dead, his skull being fractured, an
Il that the two desperadoes were only SC
yerely wounded. 1t was only ten day
= before they were moving about the col
g ridor. Father rctusned homo mex
morning. and I wont with him to the oil,
oil slearing and found two superb horse,