The morning call., 1891-01-02

beneath an old military raft that the Con-
federates had formerly placed across the
river below their batteries at Snyders Bluff,
but which, cut loose by the Federals, had
drlited and lodged there on the bank and in
the water. just then !:
ATERRIFIC CANNoNADE
Opened at Vieksburg aud many shells ex-
ploded close by him..
There he lay all day-tke longest day In
all his life-while Federal soldiers came
upon the raft Suddenly, to his horror, while
ngy within her font NE os his Hsa6
snake, whose eyes had deadly CLEAN in
them, and whose forked tongue seemed al
most to touch his face. To stir meant death
surely, as spy; to keep still might mean
death from'the serpent.
He chose the latter alternative, but lived
ages in few moments. He had been in
many close. and dangerous places before,
but he felt that this was the acme. He did
not look at the reptile long, but nerved him
sell for the worst.
But the snake did not modest him, and as
soon as it was dark with a sbudder he
pushed his boat out from under the logs
He padded steady and hard, and by mid
night was In the strong current of the grand
probable and his spirits revived.
he could see the tents and camp-fires of
the Federals ON the Louisiana shore, and a
great fleet Of beats lined both shores. Every
where the evidences of life and activity, and
he out there in the gloom alone in his frail
dugout, with the dark waves of the Missis-
sippi dashing the spray over its sides, and
not friend to whom he could turn among
the vast hosts that lay on each shore in full
view.
Early in the morning. after escaping sew
erai perlls from mortar-boats, ETC., the dar-
ing scout made a landing within the Con-
federate lines at Vicksburg. Displaying his
nag OF truce-a paddle with white handker-
CHEF affiXed-he was taken in charge by the
soldier nearest him, and on his announcing
that he was a courier from General john
son ana had caps and dispatches for General
Pemberton, he was greeted with a shout,
his boat was hauled high and dry and,
lifted from the position he had occupied SO
long that he ceald not stand, was borne
triumphantly with his bag of caps to the
headquarters of the General commanding.
The news OF the c0urler's arrival with dis
patches and the ail-important gun-capS was
the sensation of the hour. FOntaine was re-
ceived as hero and deliverer, and during
the week of his stay in Vicksburg was the
recipient of marked attentions. He met
relatives and friends from whom he had
long been separated, and his stay was pleas
ant in all respects.
Then on the night of June 9TH, with his
saddle-bags filled with dispatches and nlI-
merous missiyes to soldiers, kinsfulk and
friends all along his prospective route to
jackson, he bid the commander and army
adieu and again started in his faithful dug
out
A reward of $4,000 was offered for him
by The Union military authorities aud pro-
mulgated through the camp, and he well
knew that he had fearful gauntlet to run.
This the event proved, for his journey
back WAS attended by adventures as roman
tic and perils as grave aud startling as those
which had beset him Vicksburgward. But
he seemed TO bear charmed life, and, with
hat, clothes and scabbard riddled with bull
let's and his flesh abraded likewise by the
shots of his frequent would-be captors, he
at last rode tfiumphantly into the Confed-
crate camp at jackson.