Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-01-07
JENNISON'S CRED LEGS"
ONE OF THE BAND IN GUAM
TRELL'S HANDS.
loft for Dead With u Bullet In His Lungs
A Thrilling Tale of tho Terrible
border War Bctween Kan
sas and Missouri

In tho summer OF tho third year OF
Tho civil war | was one OF Jennison's
''Red Logs, who wagod such relent-
less warfare across tho border between
Kansas and Missouri against the
equally fearless devils who recognized
Quantrell as their leader. writes G. NJ.
In the Detroit FREQ Press. Between
the two desperate bands there was lit
orally no quarter and capture was
equivalent to death. Thrilling ad-
ventures wore of daily occurrence, and
this guerilla warfare was carried on
with rocklessness that almost passes
understanding.
was young--just twenty--and had
seon hard service from tho beginning
OF tho war. Being good horseman,
! was selected for many q desperate
journey, carrying messages and dis
patches and so often had escaped by
hairs breadth that my luck was pro-
verbal among my comrades.
On tho occasion OF which am about
to relate | was returning after ono OF
| ehNoN W ips ouu HN'NN' w Etutl
command before shutdown. When
only fow miles from my destination,
while crossing an opening In tho tim
Der. saw suddenly emerge from thu
woods ahead Of mo n body of horse
men, whom / recognized only too wei
to DO my hated enemy, There was 1
quick engagement | was surrounded,
knocked from my horse by blow
from n carbino, and realized that
was In Quantrelrs hands, There was
no MISLEADING what this meant
i was taken TO thoir camp IN tn,
timber. and without parley, searched,
and tho dispatches which were IN my
boots. proved conclusivoly my identity,
In thirty minutes aftor my capture
was told that my lifo's lease was mum
bored by minutes. glanced into the
fnces OF tho hardened throng TO SEQ II
an appeal for mercy would DO in vain,
but saw not n gimmer OF hope, Two
men were detailed 30 be my executions
ers and without u tromor OF nerve
they coolly looked TO tho printing OF
their pistols and mounted their horses
| was told TO walk between Thorn
and. with drawn revolvers, thoy
walked on oithor sido OF mo distance
Of hundred yards from tho camp,
just far enough away so my dying
proans could not DO heard by those we
loft behind. Not u word was spoken
ns the little procession moved 10 the
appointed spot. Over In tho west the
SUM- great ball OF fro was sinking
beyond tho plains Of Kansas, colorinP
tho clouds with its golden light and
looking TO mo surprisingly beautiful.
The trees were groenor and the wild
flowers more lovely because would
leavo them all in so short timc. In
tho intensity Of my excitement the
slightest detail impressed itself
lndelibly upon my memory.
Yot while | thought this bright
summer evening my last on earth. nj
no time did cease TO watch Tor IN
avenue OF escape. however hopeless
tho chance might be. Presently. in n
small open space fifty yards across, my
captors halted and directed me TO stoI
n pace ahead 30 that they might bot
tor execute their murderous mission,
and us ] obeyed neryed myself TO die
as q soldier should. As ] started for.
ward one OF the men noticed bright
spur OF n peculiar pattern upon my
boot and no said;
you'll have no further uso for that
spur; suppose you lot me have itP"
! balanced myself on one foot and
with trembling fingers unstrapped it,
While doing so | hold TO tho bridle-
roin OF one OF the horses and as tho
Quantrell soldier reached for the spur
I took advantage OF seconds mat
tention, gave tho bride sudden jerk
and darted under tho horses hcad with
last forlorn hope OF reaching tho
timber twenty yards away. Both OF
my captors firod and missed but In
another instant one OF them spurred
his horse to my side, and leaning over
In the saddle, fired his dragon pis-
tol full at my breast. As the report
awoke the echoes, felt the sting Of
tho bullet and fell forward with blood
streaming from my eyes, nose and
ears. for the bullet had penetrated my
lungs. My executioners sat silently
On their horses, and watched what
they supposed TO DO my dying gasps
"One less Red Leg to deal with,
remarked ono OF them; and thoy
turned their horses and rode back to
report their bloody commission.
Although ] remained motionless,
ieigning death, never for a minute
did / lose consciousness. Shortly
after they left light rain began fall
ing and tho chill night air which fol-
lowed served to check the hemorrhage
and so far revived me that before day
break ] had managed TO crawl TO a
road which knew led TO camp OF
our own forces. A travelling company
picked me up the next morning, and ]
was soon receiving attention and med
ical skill. My youth and vigor soon
brought me around. and now. more
than a quarter OF century later,
have only the momory OF that event
full night and an ugly scar on my
"A n