The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-24
A PACKMAN'S STORY.
He Had n Close Call and Barely Escaped
Being Murdered.

ne hau close Sall and Barely Escaped
Being Murdered.
Campbell Hardy. jeweer from Boston,
is at the Grand Pacific, and yesterdays hen
in his apartments at the hotel, related some
of the experiences he had when in New
Mexico, ten years ago, says writer in the
Chicago Herald. Mr.. Hardy made the
money that gave him start in life when a
packman. He travelled through all the far
Western States, but the most exciting time
he had, he says, was in New Mexico.
lone day, when much fatigued and hun
cry, stopped for dinner at what appeared
to be pioneers cabin" he began. "The
house was miles from any other habitaton.
had about $500 worth Of stock and $500 in
money. When | entered the house | found
the occupants to be a man of about 60, his
twenty fve-y ear-old son and two women.
The appearance of the old man caused me
to mistrust him, and | heartily wished had
not visited the ! lace two minutes after |
entered 1t. or course the men and women
wanted to see what | had for sale, and the
women purchased about So worth of goods
The old man, whose name was Moadv, was
particular to ask me whom had last seen,
and to learn whether or not | had any
friends in the country. Afterward | found
out he wished to learn if l would be missed
if he made away with me-
Just before L sat down TO dinner I hap
pened to look out of the window and | saw
the son go into the barn with a shotgun in
his hand; His stealthy manner put me on
my guard and took good care that nv gun
was within reaching distance. l cannot say
enjoyed The meal. l quickly swallowed a
cup OF coffee, took lew mouthfuls of bread
and slipped what l could into my pocket.
Then | prepared to leave.
But you must see the blooded stock I
have before you CO. said Moody. Probably
can trade one of the animals for a silver
watch
But l knew if ] ever went into that barn
wonld never come out of il alive. so made
some weak excuse and started down the
road, Keeping sharp lookout from behind.
ne OLD man was much enraged at my not
falling into the trap and just as stepped
ont OF view l saw him enter the barn
determined to watch and went into grove
little farther down the road, and stood
where / could see what was going ON Mt the
barn. / saw Moody and his son come out.
each armed with rifle. They walked into
the woods not lar from where | was hid,
evidently meaning TO head me off farther
down the road. 1 am certain they meant
to lay IN ambush for me and shoot me down
as L passed. But L made up my mind to
fool them, and, instead of going the way
intended, went in the opposite direction,
passing the house in the woods SO the women
would not see me. l kept close to the road
and when about half mile from Moody's
sNo tidppCIS ny III my ulrecLlOn.
They looked like honest fellows. and [
conhded my suspicious to them. The first
comment one Of the men made was; 4 al
ways believed that old wretch was n muir
derer AS was not in search of adventure
| declined 10 return to Moody's bouse and
In the trappers' presence demand an ex-
PLANTATION. All asked was their protection
ior a mile or two. For an old silver watch
they consented to accompany me. and we
started aia not suspect Moody or his son
were within a mile of me, but when sud
denly walked out from a littls clnmn of
trees bullet went whizzing past me and
iougeq IN the trunk of n hickory. 7 inmped
back into tbicket of underbrush and was
almost scared to death. | got out nv re-
volver. however, and PREPARED 10 da}end
myself. l lay there about five min,tes
suddenly there was another loud renort NOT
lar from me. This shot was immediatrIv
followed by another, and then | heard one
Oh tne trappers, who had taken up positions
say: i think they are done for
My trapper friends called ma from NV
hiulng p ace, and lying behind fallen tree
were the bodies of Moody and his SON The
olu man was shot through the temple when
ne was looking over the log for me, and the
son back was broken, he having started
TO run away after his father was killed The
Duiiet passed through his stomach Roth
men were dead when we reached them Wa
then returned to the house. but finding IL
empty looked into the barn and there found
the two women in big cellar under the
pudding digging grave'-my grave. We
found no less than twenty Skeletons in the
place: That old wretch and his SON had
Killed every stranger who had visited that
part OIL the country for years. There was
no end OF excitement when the news Of the
ghnstiy finds IN the den went abroad and
before, l left the country the two women
were strung up to tree. Moody's remains
ANU Warp oI1 o. IN ms son We're also strung up as
read; The old pioneers in that nart of the
country can tell you much more thrilIino
story ABOUT Moody's den than have
In The Sunday Cali (to-morrow, VII, l..