The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-12-26
HUNTING HUMAN PREY.
A MOONLIGHT NIGHT RIDE m
SEARCH OF THIEVES.
AN Ambuscade In the Bushes, c1,shina
az Gnns Burnt Powder. and
bullet Hoie--vsry fright
eusd Csptov.

NOItu OhrollnA rhyb Writor Ia saS
New York Recorder. just where the
time-rounded greon old giants OF tho
Appalachian range hang over the
sunny fields beyond, stands low
'roomy. comfortable house the homo
for many years OF Judge -. Hick-
DRY Nut Gap picturesque pass
through the mountains. opens upon
the plain just here; Bald Mountain.
whose mysterious rumblings attracted
SO much attention u few years ago,
rises sharply at little distance in
front OF the house; the curious Chin
ney Rock that gives its name to the
little postofflce is near by, and for
many reasons the ride or tramp 10
this point from Ashcville twenty-five
miles away. Is favorito one with
seekers after health or pleasure. That
was how ! happened to be- there that
bright Janusry day la 1881.
| had been riding risky colt
while one OF the judges stalwHrt sons
astride the colts sedate mother was
pointing out the various objects OF in
'terest. A quail whirring from the
bushes at the left decided my youth
full steed TO make sudden investi-
cation OF the underbrush between us
and the river at our right While /
was struggling with him he stumbled
over some hidden obstacle compelling
me to give brief involuntary exhi-
bition Of ground and lofty tumbling.
Dick was at my side in a moment and
while he secured the snortinQ. trem-
bling colt l examined the cause OF my
acrobatic performance.
1t proved to be keg well filed with
some liquid which further taste showed
tn be the fiery white corn whisky.
which Is the favorite stomach burner
Of convivial spirits in that section.
At first we thought 1t might be the
product OF one OF the BLOCKADE stills"
(the local name OF .moonshiners' en-
terprise thore). but the keg showed
my friend that It came from the bond
ed warehouse near by. where was
stored such liquid refreshments as was
not intended to escape the legal tribute
to Uncle Sam.
How II came there was the next
question. A little consideration con-
vinced US that it must have been
stolen the preceding night from the
warehouse Why the thieves had not
completed their work of removal we
could not tell. but we could guess
that they would return the next night
to carry 1t TO some safe place. and we
promptly decided, II possible, to see
that they, as well as the whisky.
should be removed
We rode homeward, obtained rein
forcement in the shape Of another OF
the judges stalwart sons, armed our
selves as nearly to the teeth as we
could with all the available weapons
Zone rife. one shot gun aud one
healthy hickory club) and. just after
dark set out on our amateur man
hunt.
never before realized how dark it
could seem with the stars shining
brightly out Of cloudless, black sky.
nor how quickly the rustic Of leaf or
the crack OF twig could stop my feet
and breath together. But then, never
before had | been possessed with the
conviction that the darkness at ench
side of tho road was filed with rifle
barrels and that each bullet was in
tended for select portion OF my anat-
omy. 1t was some comfort that, judy
ing by appearances. my fellow anna
teur detectives shared my feelings.
We reached our goal at last, and am
brscading ourselves according to our
'prearranged plan OF battle. lay for
several weeks stirring little and whis-
pering less-at least it seemed weeks
TO me. but really less than two hours.
Many times we heard cautious foot
steps or lowered voices which turned
out to be neither footsteps nor voices,
but Mt last there was rustic and
stir and slowly and carefully two forms
made their way toward tho hidden
plumber. Meantime my heart was
beating loudly enough to be heard
across the river and my hand shaking
so that was glad the club that / had
prudently selected as my share OF the
armament did not require very deli
cate aiming to be effective.
Here 1t is" muttered one of the
men. bending over. Catch hold Ben."
We've got you" shouted Dick. and
we all jumped to our feet and made
rush for them.
Ny memory Is not perfectly clear as
to what happened next hut there was
certainly a great clashing OF guns,
considerable smell OF burnt powder,
some confused struggling and many
oatbs. My next distinct recollection
is OF seeing George and Dick. each
holding down a man, while was rue
fully examining bullet-hole through
my hat and wiping away the blood
from tiny Craze on my temple One
OF the captured men had occupation
for some days OF his confinement in
picking out the charge OF biri-shot
which had been fired into his legs at
short range, but the rest OF the am
munition had injured nothing but the
shrubbery.
Well. in duo course, the men were
tried, convicted and served their time.
They made various threats OF venge-
ance on their captors. but probably
had time during their confinement to
think better OF them. At any rate. we
haven't suffered from their vengeance
yet
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