Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-01-15

| '"NS vs. ohO wac OAoOSig
Hayes minority in the State.
But Hardin was willy and devoted
to no ones interest but his own. He
had prudently kept list of the
names and addresses of the mon
whom he had imported from Georgia
and now February found him in jack
sonville, ready to sell his profits of
fraud to tho highest bidder.
But his passion for drink was his
ruin. While under the influence of
liquor, he disclosed his secret to
Boyd, stating that he needed assist
ance and proposed q division of the
spoils Fearing trenchery he en-
trusted the papers to Boyd and went
out to negotiate the sale
Returning Mt noon, he informed
his roommate that he had treated
with tho Democratic State Commit
tee, that they had offered him ten
thousand dollars and that the trans.
fer would take place that afternoon.
Exhilarated by his success, ho de-
manded something to drink, which
Boyd promptly furnished III the
shape OF pint bottle of brandy. He
soon went out TO procure more H.
quor.
When alone the struggle in Boyd's
mind was terrific; on the one Land
tho five thousand dollars his share
of the booty, on tho other, convinced
that greater frauds had been commit
ted by the Democracy, his duty to
his party.
A poor man, five thousand dollars
meant much to him, better start in
life, a prosperous future, perhaps
final opulence. But the struggle was
brief. Hastily packing his trunk, the
valuable documents in false bot
tom, he callod II drnyman and had it
carried to the wharf. Once the pre-.
clous trunk fell into the street, burst
ing tho hasp, but tho valuable aud in
criminating papers were undisturbed.
at the wharf lay the river steamer,
Gazelle, Capt Crawford, an ardent
Republican and former acquaint-
anco of Boyd's, commander. The sit.
uation WINS quickly explained and he
consented to MD the escape by every
means in his power.
1t was now 1890 p. M, but the
timo of departure was not till one
o'clock. Capt. Crawford. however,
ordered the Gazelle cast loose and
decided to lay out in tho channel till
the hour of departure. One o'clocl,
came, and no passengers appearing
IN the wharf, her nose was turned to
so,thward and she started upon the
long tin AnANe beautiful but tortu.
GUS st. Johns river.
They had gone but few miles
when II column of black some dis
lance in the rear announced IL pursu
er. a straight stretch of river dis
closed the Sappho, of tho opposing
line in hot pursuit
Fresh fuel was placed under the
boiler, until the very CRATES and
doors glowed with the intense heat.
Still the Sappho gained Ever,
effort was made to retain the advan
, tage of position. but slowly an6
surely she drew nearer. Clorer and
closer she came until on her forward
deck could be plainly discerned {
crowd of armed men, Hardin in theil
midst. A few shots were fired, bu
MS they proved ineffective, the fusil
ade ceased until the distance between
the two boats had been decreased tc
less than hundred yards, and Il
was question of but few moment.
until they should touch. Hardin
handsome dare devil that he was,
look of malignant triumph on hi.
face, stood on the forward deck of tn,
Soppho ready to spring on boart
the fugitive.
Suddenly the speed OF the Sapphc
slackened, she lost Roadway and fel
back with the tide.
An overhead shaft had refused I,
work and she was for the time help
f less. Captain Crawford and Boyt
had to thank slovenly engineer fo,
their narrow escape.
On the next day the Gazell,
reached Buffalo Bluff where Bow,