The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1890-11-29
AMONG THE VETERANS.
DIR. HEIRLOOM TELLS HOW IT
FEELS TO KILL YOUR MAN.
TIE Rins That Caused ths Death Of rhirty -sisht
Me.--Csptsrisg 0ssrrilla-Chsssd By
/, Bloodhessds-A Thrilling Story
OF Army Lin In 'oi.

mon 70 my knowledge SAID Inomas
G. Heron, a well-known physician
and acknowledgement Ia the Asso-
citation OF Naval Veterans OF the
United States, ''but she came near
taking my life first 1t was near
Springfield, Mo-. at the time OF Zago-
nii's ride TO death. when Fremonts
bodyguard made the bloody and dis
astrous charge. was riding past q
dense wood. when suddenly gigantic
rebel stepped out from behind tree
not twenty feet away aud leveled Long
Nancy Mt me. Involuntarily stopped
my horse and aimed my revolver Mt
him. but was so paralyzed with fear
that had not strength to pull the
trigger. My horse seemed to be aware
OF the danger too, and stood trembling.
I tried to spur 1t on, but my foot was
powerless to use the spur. There we
stood. had bead on his heart and
ne / looked into the muzzle OF that
rife saw that the bullet would strike
my left eye. Why the reb did not
shoot has always been mystery to
me. thought my time had como and
! began to pray. looking all the time
into the muzzle OF that awful rifle.
BY and by the mans arms grew tired
and the gun wavered up and down and
sideways, but could not bring myself
to SHOOT At last my enemy pulled
the trigger. l shut my eyes and
thought all was over. but the ball
grazed my ear as it passed and brought
me to my senses. l dug the spurs
into my horse and with one bound
was upon the rebel. / touched the
trigger and my revolver ball passed
through his heart. He Strengthened
himself up to his full height, grin ned
at me horribly and settled back slowly
dead. ! grasped the rifle and plung-
ed ahead into the bushes.
when went aboard the gunboat
Covington, took Long Nancy as we
named the rifle. with mo. 1t was q
magnificent gun. as perfect IS: could be
made. and handsomely mounted with
see on the river our greatest danger
was from the bushwhackers along tho
shore. One would hide in a tree-top
and take deliberate aim at q soldier on
deck and fire. On such occasions
Long Nancy was brought out and
aimed at the smoke, and when the
smoke cleared away, out would come
the head OF johnnie Reb to see what
damage he had done, when Long
Nancy would bark. and down would
90 the reb. saw thirty-eight drop In
that way. for never man escaped
when Long Nancy was on board"
"Did you ever capture a bushwhack-
err" queried the reporter
"Yes," was the reply. at was near
Island No. 10 one night that we saw a
light on the shore. These lights were
often 10 decoy us to the shore 10 be
shot by hidden rebels; but asked per-
mission OF the captain to go ashore and
see what this was. / had the cutter
and gig manned and set howitzer
aboard and hid 1t under some canvas
and started ashore. There was negro
awaiting Us with the Information that
guerrilla was hidden in the canobrake
near by. With ten men l started to
search for him, and we went through
the four huts in the brake, finding
| nothing but n negro wench lying In
bed. She pretended to be sick, but I
detected some movement by her side
and while questioning her as to her
condition, made signs to my men to
surround the he'd with drawn swords.
When all was prepared, soldier jerk
ed off the covers, and there lay huge
guerrilla with an Arkansas toothpicls
between his teeth. and pistol In each
hand. Quick as flash the pistols
dropped into position, but just as he
fred, he received a sword cut on each
| wrist Sailors swords, unlike those
used on land. are sharp as razors. and
one hand OF the rogue was cut of, and
the other wrist was shattered so as to
render i. powerless. One OF the bullets
pierced my cap, aud the other grazed
khe ear OF soldier. The guerrilla
tried to get hold OF his dagger. but his
hand hung limp from the broken wrist
Spare him. cried. as one OF the men
was about 10 run him through. We
bound him with the cords from the
he'd and gave him a court martial. at
which the testimony OF the negroes
showed that our prisoner was rascal
OF the worst sort sent a motto to tho
captain saying: I sentence this man
to death and await orders Send
him 10 hell and como aboard was tho
reply. He was stood upon barrel
and rope was put around his neck.
He fought so fierccly that we could not
blindfold him, as 1t took four men TO
keep him still. He was q magnificent
looking man aud seemed to be finely
educated. and It seemed pity TO put
him out OF the world, but he CURSED %
horribly all the time tbnt l had no
mercy on him. The barrel was knock
ed away, but the fall was not enough