The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-09-14
Sent DoWu q Grade Behind o Freight
Car.

| VllUCIG nlCC3 IllC 1luA hAOoO oNAAOi
| ings at the hands of mob Of Tennessee
| miners did so much in the recent strike
| to turn sentiment against the strikers,
was the center of group Of friends at
| the Grand Central depot yesterday after
noon. He arrived early in the morning
| from Baltimore on his way to Boston to
consult specialists as to a peculiar all
| nent which followed his treatment at
| the hands Of the miners, and which has
baffled the skill Of the physicians that he
has so often consulted.
Rice is peculiar looking man Of large
muscular frame, now wasted by illness,
although his carriage is still that of q
J mountainer. His cheek bones are high
and prominent, his mustache is long and
! dropping, and he speaks slowly, with a
J slight flavor Of Tennessee dialect. lie is
only fifty-seven years old, but his hair is
white.
10 press reporter Mr.. Rice gave a
description of the thrilling scene in which
ha so narrowly escaped death. "About
month ago." said he, "when trouble
was brewing at the mines, visited
Altamont, Tenn, to purchase land in the
neighborhood. spent some days in the
vicinity. One day I determined upon q
piece Of forest between the North Caro-
! lima & st. Louis railroad and the Elk
river. I climbed the side of mountain,
T blazing the trees along the route. There
was no path and I depended upCn the
blaze marks to get back. On my return
I lost my way and wandered about,
vainly trying to find the blazed path. It
was nearly dusk wheE I heard voices
ahead of me. peered through open
ing and saw group of miners talking
with two men with demijohns. saw
that it was secret meeting Of some sort,
and, as the men looked desperate, I
thought it wise to get away. quickly.
But I stepped on twig which cracked,
I was dragged back to the opening.
"From their conversation 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 mon with demijohns were own
ers of the still, and had brought samples
with chem. I was at once searched from
head to foot. AsI had on my hunting
clothes had no papers in my possession.
This seemed proof positive to my captors
that I was spy. The miners were
strongly under the influence of the
liquor and were for killing me at once,
but the moonshiners, who were sober
and cool headed, protested, saying it
would only bring down on them the
wrath of the government.
"Finally the miners took mo to the
main camp. There 1 was kept prisoner
some details Of tho convict camp, with
which they supposed was acquainted.
frankly admitted that lied about the
matter and gave much pretended infor-
nation in exchange for food.
"But after the miners had made q
charge, based on my misleading informa-
ton, and were repulsed most severely,
their anger knew no bounds. Cross ex-
animation elected the fact that had
never visited tho convict camp, and the
miners determined to make All example
of me that would make the other prison.
ers tremble.
"a meeting was held end tho most
painful and ignominous death was dis
cussed. The meeting was held near an
old freight car that had been sidetrackcd
on steep incline, and its presence offer
ed 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 ono end
of the lariat and fasten tho other to the
car and then set tho car to rolling down
the grade.
"The decision was quickly carried out.
The moose was drawn around my neck
and the brakes loosencd. One of the
miners dropped the moose from my neck
to my waist. AS the car started tho
lariat Strengthened out and took step
forward, then another and another, until
/ found it difficult to keep up.
"The sides of the track were lined with
a ieering mob of miners. AS tho car
passed they cheered wildly. At curve
in the road l was lost 10 their sight.
Another curve loomed up ahead and l
closed my eyes in despair. There was a
sudden turn as the car flew around, and
at the end of the taut larat / felt myself
flying through space. l had gono OIL on
a tangent and tho rope near the car struck
a telegraph polo with a suddenness that
made me dizzy. The ropo wound itself
rapidly around tho pole. There was Il
sharp report as the lariat parted anu the
car went on. AS l swung around the
polo the lariat grew shorter and shorter
until i was brought flat up to the pole
with a force that took away my breath
and rendered me nsensiblc.
colours later revived and got free
from the lariat, which had torn the flesh
about my loins into shreds. Two ribs
were broken and / was bruised all over.
1 found a squatter's hut and two days
after was in Knoxville. I have been
very i'll ever since. My weight has fallen
from :,n5 pounds two weeks ago to l3o
nov and the shock has turned my hair