The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-10-26
signal. It Was a soft, loud whistle.

signal. It was a soft, loud whistle. L
believe that could have gotten away
from them before ne reached the old
lady's house (her name was Mrs. Dudley, }
but they had all my possessions and I
wanted them back and was determined
to get them uome way, I didn't know
how. We went in Mrs. Dudley's. It
was small, one room log cabin, resting
one side on very short and the other side
on long pillows because of the steepness
of the hill. The steps ran up on the
lower side to a small platform in front of
the door, which was about four feet from
the ground. There was only one door
and one window to the house. The old
lady made on fire of rich pine which
only gave US good light, for the house
was 30 open that We could not keep
warm. They were all pushing and
crowding around the fire. Idid'nt know
anything else to 90, 80 went to singing
comic songs and cracking jokes. Pres
emily, to my surprise, I discovered that I
was gaining their confidence, for I heard
one of their number say I'D not be af.
feerd to resk that feller much kept
on making myself as much of clown as
possible. After a while I got glimpse
of one corner of my pocket book in Hack
Norton's pocket. pushed up against
him. There were at least twenty around
the fire. Finally I succeeded in getting
my hand on my pocket book, and in two
more minutes my money and ring were
in my boots and the pocket book under
the table in the dark, all unknown to the
captain. The old lady was sitting near
the corner. sat down close to her and
noticed that she Was crying. asked her
what was the matter. she said she
knew my doom. I would bs sure to be
hanged, and that she could not bear the
thought of such a nice, lively fellow
being killed, though I reckon it's right
she said. This made me think and think
fast, for I knew they would hang me, and
to escape was my only chance. I now
moved around to the other corner where
Tyler was crouched down and whispered
telling him that intended to get away
from there. He said that he would give
all that he possessed in the world if he
could escape. told him that my plan
was to take au axe that was sitting by US
and use it on them with all my strength
and that be must get gun as coon as |
started in 80 be could help me. 1
thought could have killed three or four
before they could have done anything.
To this plan he objected and said he
could not help me in that. / could not
get to talk to Brock, and all l said to
Mouchett was in a low whisper. Brock
seemed to have given up all hope from
the beginning. There Was an impudent
negro with them, whom they all seemed
to worship. He came to me several
times end caught me by my ears and
pulled my hair and almost raised me
from the floor. He would curso and
abuse me for being id rebel and
said he was 'gwine ter skin er cat swix
my legs while I WAS er swinging on de
line.' BE did Jim Brock the same way.
he was 80 bad that tho captain begged
him to desist, which he did. had de-
termined to use the axe and split this
negro's head open the first man. But
Providence directed better plan than
this for me,
The fire was low, the wind blew the
snow in through the cracks in tho house.
Most of the men were asleep, some lying
across the beds, some On the floor and
some in chairs asked the captain, for
he and few others were awake, how
many men the; n...i aud how they got
their supplies. lie hesitsted awhile and
finally said: You will never get to tell
the secret. I will tell you.' He told me
that Major Kirk had two companies of
regularly organized United States troops
and between FIVE and six hundred picked
up men, bushwhsckers, deserters, ne.
groes and all that they could get to join
them, and that the United States fur
nished their supplies by route which
lay through the Black Walnut Eoun-
tains. He told me where Major Kinks
headquarters were.
"There were two guards at the door,
one just inside and the other just out
on the platform. They were relieved
every half hour. took my blanket,
which the captain claimed, spread it on
the floor back near the beds and lay down
on it, but got SO cold had to get up.
As soon as got up bush whacker lay
down on it.
"I was trying to plan way to escape.
I went to my knapsack, which had not
been opened, and laid my head on it.
Then I slyly buckled it on my back.
Just then saw the rascal most dreaded
mot the negro) lie down on the floor and
run bis feet through the bottom part of 3
chair, on which another eat asleep, to
warm them. Only two were awake pow,
beside the captain and the guards. The
fire vss st;ll very low. The captain
looked a: Tyler and said to him: Get
that axe, sl--n you, and go out the door
ahead of me and get some wood lis
tened 10 see in what direction they were.
Soon | heard the sound Of the axe. In
an instant l vas on my feet, rolled the
rascal off my blanket and threw it on
my left arm, reached over on the nearest
bed and got gun, picked up my haver-
sack and canteen from chair ant;
sprang for the door. The guard on the
inside saw me coming and ran out. The
~, IN tt,o onr.ida did nat aro ma