Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-30
Tied to a Flying Freight Car.

A tall man, whose once muscular
frame had been worn by illness, was
the centre of a sympathetic group at
the Grand Central Depot in New York
on Sunday afternoon. He was Albert
G.. Rice, whose sufTerings at the hands
of a mob of Tennessee miners he will
long remember. Mr.. Rice was on his
way to Boston to consult specialists as
to the peculiar ailment which followed
his treatment at the hands of the miners
and which has baffled the skill OF the
physicians that he has consulted.
MIR. Rice gave description OF the
thrilling scene in which he SO narrowly
escaped death. Here is his story:
about month ago, when trouble
was brewing at the mines, l visited AL
lamont, Tenn, to purchase land in the
neighborhood. | spent some days in
the vicinity. One day | determined
upon piece of forest between the
North Carolina and the ST. Louis Rail
road and the Elk river, not far from the
Sewanee mines.
81 climbed the side ola small mount
ain, examining and blazing the trees
along the route. There was no path
and | depended upon the blaze marks
to get back. On my return | lost my
wav and wandered about vainly trying
to find the blazed path. 1t was nearly
dusk when heard voices ahead of me.
peered through an opening and saw a
group of men talking with two men
| with demijohns. l saw it was secret
meeting Of some sort, and, as the men
looked desperate, l thought it wise to
get away quietly. But l stepped on Il
twig, which cracked and attracted at
tention. In moment they were upon
me and l was dragged back TO the
opening.
From their conversation l found
that they were band of strikers who
had come into the forest to negotiate
with illicit distillers for a supply OF
liquor. The two men with the demi-
Johns were owners of the still, and had
brought samples with them. was at
once searched from head to foot. AS |
had my hunting clothes on, | had no
papers in my possession. This seemed
proof positive to my captors that | was
spy.
The miners were strongly under the
influence of the liquor and were for
killing me at once, but the moon
| sinners, who were sober ana coolhead-
ed, protested, saying it would only
bring down on them the wrath of the
government.
CATER some parlcying the miners
took me to the main camp, where my
fate would be decided. There I was
kept prisoner several days in hopes
that would give some details of the
convict camp, with which they sup
posed | was acquainted. frankly adj
nit that lied about the matter and
gave much pretended information in
exchange for food. But after the miners
had made charge based on my mis-
leading information and were repulsed
most severely their anger knew no
bounds.
Gross examination soon elected the
fact had never visited the convict
camp, and the miners determined to
make an example of me that would
make the other prisoners tremble. a
meeting was held and The most painful
and ignominious death was discussed.
The meeting was held near an old
freight car that had been sidetracked
OH steep incline, and its presence Of
fered suggestion that Was quickly
acted upon.
''One of the miners had brought
strong lariat of tough cowhide. 1t was
decided to tie me by the neck to one
end of the lariat and fasten the other
to the car and set the car TO rolling
down the grade.
'"rhe decision was quickly carried
out. The moose was drawn around my
neck and the brakes loosened. To add
to tie fun one of the miners stepped
forward and dropped the moose from
my neck to the waist. AS the car
started the lariat Strengthened out and
1 took n step forward, then another,
until found it difficult to keep up. At
every bound covered several yards of
fleeting ground.
''The sides of the track were lined
with jeering, bowling mob of miners,
who were enjoying the scene. AS the
car passed they cheered wildly. Around
curve in the road / was lost to their
sight. Another crowd doomed up ahead
and closed my eyes in despair.
"There was sudden turn as the car
flew around, and at the end of the taut
lariat felt myself flying through space.
I had gone off on tangent and the
rope near the car struck q telegraph
pole with a suddenness that made my
head dizzy. The rope wound itself
rapidly around the pole.
''There was sharp report as the lar
lat parted and the car went on. As |
swung around the pole the lariat grew
shorter and shorter until was brought
fiat up to the pole with a force that
took away my breath and rendered me
insensible.
"Hours later 1 revived and got free
from the lariat, which had torn the
flesh about the loins into shreds. Two
ribs were broken and 1 was bruised all
over. 1 found squatter's hut and two
days later was in Knoxville. No blood
poisoning set in, but the kidneys were
badly injured or other internal injuries
were caused, for have been very i'll
ever since. My weight has fallen from
POS pounds of three weeks ago to $50
now, and the shock has turned my hair
white"
THE SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTION
The election for State officers, congress
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