Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-11-26
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
AN EXCITING CHASE.
A Federal Spy's Terrific Battle in t
Water.

Water.
One of the most daring soldiers dur
ing the civil war was Harry Kilos, who
served as a spy in a 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 a small
band of raiders.
They were encamped on the banks of
asmall stream, and our spy was locked
up in the closet of strongly-buit hut.
Harry thought of his situation; he knew
that a reward had been offered for him,
and that he would probably be butch
cred; that a 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 planlls,
fastened to sleepers and wooden pins.
'Ha.' suddenly exclaimed Harry, in
a low tone, as he came upon short
plank which was loose In Il moment
he had raised it, and with a silent con-
graduation he proceeded to male 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. \ 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 thickeaing,
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 reached the edge of the river
over which he would be obliged to
swim.
At that moment a loud cry, ut-cred
10y the guerrillas, reached his ear and
he knew that his absence had beeI dis
covered. He heard the tramp of many
feet, and yells curses and oaths ach-
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 small
boat, while the report of a 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 slackened his pace, and in a
moment the boat was not ten feet off
Surrender, YanlIr' 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 out 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,
hut it was inevitab le-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 |
less, and Selling his enemy's throat, |
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 a yell of tri- |
umph and disappeared in the darkness,
leaving his enemies to curse and swear
with chagrin and malice.-N. Y. Morn
Ing Journal