The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-03
A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
At the Hands of Miners Albert u. hioe A.
most ID eets Dehth.

A tail man, whose muscular i'"nie
had been worn by illness, was the centre
of sympathetic group at the Grand Zen
trail depot in New York yesterday after
noon. He was Albert &. Rice, whose
sufferings at the hands of mob OF len
nessee miners he will long remember
Mr.. Rice was on his way TO Boston 10
consult specialists as to the peculiar
a,lment which followed his treatment AT
the hands of the miners, and when mas
baffled the skill of the physicians that lie
has consulted. 49,
Mr.. Rice gave a description OF the
thrilling scene in which he SO Narrowly
escaped death. Here in his story
About a month ago, when trouDie WuS
brewing at the mines, | visited AltamOht'
Tenn. TO purchase land in the nelghbor-
hood. | spent some days in the vlclnlty::
One day | determined upon piece OF
forest between the North Carolina ana
st. Louis railroad and the Elk river, not
far from the Sewanee mines.
Il climbed the side of n small noun
tain. examining and blazing the trees
along the route. There was no path ana
| depended upon the blaze marks to get
back. On my return | lost my way ana
wandered about, vainly trying to ma
the blazed path. 1t was nearly dusH
when | heard voices ahead OF me.
peered through an opening ana sa" a
gYOup of men talking with two men Win
demiiohns. | saw it was a secret meet
inc Of some sort, and. as the men looked
desperate. l thought it wise to get away
quietly. But / stepped on a twig, when
cracked and attracted attention. In
moment they were upon me ana l was
dragged back to the opening.
From their conversation l found that
they were Il band of strikers who had
come into the forest TO negotiate WIN
illicit dstillers for a supply of liquor.
The two men with the demlJ0hnS were
owners of the still, and had brought sam,
pies with them. | was at once searcneu
from head to foot. AS | had my hunting
clothes on | had no papers In my posses
| SION This seemed proof pOsltlVe 10 III!
| captCrs that | was n spy.
The miners were strongly under tne
influence of the liquor, and were Tor Kill
| ing me at once. but the moonshlnerS
who were sober and cool-headed. protes
| ted. saving it would only bring down on
them the wrath of the Government. Al
ter some parleying the miners took me t(
the main camp, where my fate would be
| decided. There | was kept a prisoner
several DAYS in hopes that | would give
| some details of the convict camp, witt
which they supposed | was acquainted
| | frankly admit that | lied about the
| matter. and gave much pretended IN
| formation i'm exchange for food. Bul
after the miners had maze cnarst
| based on my misleading information ant
were repused most. seyerly their anger
knew no bounds.
"Cross-examination soon elected The
| fact had never visited the convict camp
and the miners determined to make ar
example of me that would make th'
other prisoners tremble. A meeting was
held and the most painful and ignomn
ious death was discussed The meeting
was held near an old freight car that haC
been sidetracked on a steep incline, anC
its presence offered a suggestion that was
quickly acted upon. One Of the miners
had brought Il strong lariat of tough cow
| hide. 1t was decided 10 tie me by the
neck to one end of the lariat and faster
the other end 10 the car and then set th'
car to rolling down the grade.
THE decision was quickly carried out
| The moose was drawn around my necl
and the brakes loosened. To add to th'
fun one of the miners stepped forward
| and dropped the moose from my neck Il
| the waist. As the car started the lara
straightened out and | took step for
ward then another and another. until
found il difficult TO keep up. At ever,
bound | covered several yards of fleet
ing ground. 81,
"The sides of the track were lined witt
a jeering bowling mob Of miners, wh'
were enjoying the scene. AS the ca
passed they cheered wildly. Around
curve in the road | was lost TO their sigh
Another crowd doomed up ahead and
closed my eyes in despair. There wa
n sudden stop as the car flew around
and mt the end of the taut lariat | fcl
myself flying through space. | had gon
off on tangent and the rope near tn
car struck telegraph pole with a suddel
ness that made my head dizzy. Tn
rope wound itself rapidly around tn
pole.
There was a sharp report as tn
lariat parted and the car went on. y
| swung around the pole the lariat grew
shorter and shorter until | was brOugh
fiat ND 10 the pole with a force that too
away my breath and rendered me insen
| sible Hours later / revived and got fire.
from the lariat. which had torn the tesl
about the lOins into shreds. Two RIB
were broken. and ! was bruised all over
| found q squatters hut and two day
later was in Knoxville. No blood poison
ing set in. but the kidneys were bail,
injured. or other internal injuries wer
caused. for | have been very i'll eve
since Ny weight has fallen from 20
no,ads three weeks ago 10 80 now. an