Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-11-12
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
AN EXCITING CHASE.
A Federal spy's Terrific Battle in the
Water.


One of the most daring soldiers dur
ing the civil war was Harry Kilos who
served as spy in Michigan regiment
in 1862. His name became a terror to
the confederates In whatever part of
the field he served, until one day he
found himself in the hands of small
band of raiders.
They were encamped on the banks Of
asmall stream, and our spy was locked
up in the closet of a strongly built hut.
Harry thought of his situation; he knew
that reward had been offered for him,
and that he would probably be butch
cred; that worse fate awaited him
| than being shot in the head, so he re-
solved to escape. Examination proved
to him that the walls of the cell were
strong and tight, so that no egress could
be made through them. Then he ex-
amined the floor it was of solid planks,
fastened to sleepers and wooden pins.
"Har suddenly exclaimed Harry, in
a low tone, as he came upon short
plank which was loose. In moment
he had raised it, and with silent con-
graduation he proceeded to make his
exit down through the floor
The floor of the house was about
foot from the ground, and as the young
adventurer replaced. the plank he felt
his spirits rise within him The house
was full of men, and he could hear
them carousing over his head. A few
were keeping guard outside, but he felt
sure he could slip by these as soon as it
should become dark
Darkness was not far off, and the
only danger he apprehended was that
the guerrillas would look into his va
cant cell. Satisfaction, however, set
tied upon his mind as he saw the shad-
ows of night gathering and thickening,
and as the carousing overhead began to
lose its loud and boisterous tones he
crept slowly out from under the house.
and pushed through the thick bushes
until he reach I the edge of the riysr
over which he would be Obliged to
swim
At that moment a loud cry, uttered
by the guerrillas, reached his ear, and
he knew that his absence had been dis
covered. He heard the tramp of many
feet, and yells, curses and oaths reach
ed his ears. They were on his track,
and delay was death. Acting upon this
thought he plunged silently into the
river and swan for the opposite shore
with firm, rapid strokes.
The raiders heard his movements,
and he saw, to his horror, that four of
them had started in pursuit in a small
boat while the report of revolver
broke upon the air, and the splash of
the ball spattered the water into his
face. Knowing that he could not reach |
the opposite shore ahead of his pur-
suers, he slaclened his pace, and in |
moment the boat was not ten feet off |
Surrender Yank!r yelled the fellow
in the bow of the little boat.
Our spy dived deep and came up |
nearly under the stern of the craft and
exerting all his strength, directed with |
such skill as was only his, he capsized
the boat and then, with loud laugh,
he struck ont for the shore.
He was strong swimmer, but one of
the largest Of the men gained on him in
spite of all he could do. He dreaded
the embrace with his muscular pursuer,
but it was inevitable-the huge fellow
was already upon him, and it was fight
or die.
The two men grappled, and the wa
ter foamed around them Harry had
never met his match in physical
strength, and the burly raider was
child in his hands. He soon held him
in position which rendered him help
locC apA cat1s,arr
he choked him until he was insensible
and then let him sink to the bottom
1t was necessary to this act in order to
save his own life; and now that he had
got rid of his worst antagonist, he
reached the NORTHERN shore, and wav-
ing his hand, he uttered yell of tri-
umph and disappeared in the darkness,
leaving his enemies to curse and swear
with chagrin and malice. N " Morn
ing journal.