The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-03
A CRUEL ABDUCTION.
A Young Girl Confined in a Swamp
for Weeks.
From the Fort Gaines (Ga.l Chronicle.

A Young Girl Confined in Swamp
for Weeks.
From the Fort Games (Gd.) Chronicle.
One Of the most astounding and damnable
pieces or infamous villainy ever perpetrated
in a civilized community, has recently come
to light here. and was brought prominently
before the public last Tuesday by the re-
turn Of an outraged father, with his daugh-
te-, who had been enticed away from her
home by an arch scoundrel. under promise
Of marriage, and then kept in quasi bond
age in the river swamp for several weeks
before her friends could learn Of her where
abouts and condition.
We refer to Robert Brooks Of our county
and his daughter, Miss Lura, a lovely and
vIvacious girl of IS summers, who was the
innocent victim of this heinous and brutal
outrage.
Miss Brooks had for some time been re
ceivlng marked attentions from one Archie
Bigbie, young man residing in the neigh
borhood, and who, it seems, bore a passablY
fair reputation. Her father, however, did
not approve of their marriage, especially as
Bigbie had frequently expressed q determi-
nation to go west and follow for Hveli-
hood In the footsteps OF the once notorious
Jesse James.
The young lady having learned TO love
and trust her sutton, felt that her fathers
objections were possibly too severe, and her
warm heart overfiowed with sympathy for
her lover, but she refused TO marry him and
go west. agreeing only to link destinies with
him if he would settle down in this country.
To this be finally consented, and an
elopement was arranged, he promising to
bring her to Fort Gaines, get married, and
then return home. The fatal night arrived
and Bigbie with it prepared for the flight
The young girl babe a sad good-by to the
home of her happy childhood, and con-
fidiugly launched forth into the arena of
life with the man of her choice. They im =
mediately started, as the poor girl thought.
to this city to wed, but before reaching
here Bigbie manufactured plausible lie,
to the effect that he could not come here,
alleging that the local officers held war;
rant for him. 50 they headed toward Cole
man
Finally they left the public highway and
the peaceful homes by the wayside and took
their way through plantation read until
the rushing waters of the Chattahoochee
began to dance before them In the starlight.
A campfire glimmered among the tangled
wild wood and a dirty, dilspidated tent
stood In the background. Bgbie drove up
and assisted his fair aud helpless victim to
alight when they were met by a couple
more brigandiSh looking outlaws, Bill Car
lysle and John Moore, and tough" female
with all tbs delineations Of the SUM depicted
on her oounteuance. Such was Bigbie's in =
PRODUCTION of the con6ding girl to her future
home and associates.
She begged to be permitted to return
home but was romptly Informed that such
a request could not even be entertained.
She next implored her abductor to marry
her, but he coolly told her that such course
was not necessary, did not meet with his
appreciation and must De abandoned. She
was placed under the closest possible espi-
onage and not allowed to absent herself at
any time from the secluded swamp rendez-
Vous of the outlaw trio
The following night they packed up bag
and baggage. embarked in their bateau and
skulked away in the darkness down the
river, stealing everything they came across
that they could consume or carry. The
gFief-stricken father, almost frantic with
apprehensions, only succeeded q few days
slhce in securing information regarding
their Whereabouts, and Immediately, III
company with Allen White. left in pur-
suit Just below the Florida line they
heard of the fuSitives and pushed ahend,
but before they reached the camp CArlys.e.
who as out on a scout, intercepted them.
He said the arrest of any or all OF the party
was impossible, especially by only two per
sons, as they were all heavily armed and
had resolved to die rather than surrender
one of them to the camp i'll his boat, If be
would go unarmed, and also endeavor TO
induce Bigbie to give up the girl.
They accepted the proposition and White
embarked with him. He found the camp
located on an isolated island, in dense
Jungle aud completely hidden. The poor
girl was rapturously glad TO see White a d
began begging him at once to rescue her
fron her wretched position. Bigbie ap-
peared on the scene with his Winchester,
and had it noe been for the Interfere &c OF
Carlysle and the prayers Of the girl, would
have as he said, "made catfish bait out of
him. White exercised all his powers of
argument, persuasiol and cunning in at
tempting to get posse ison of the girl, but
all to no purpose, AID finally, after remain
lug all night at the camp, came away with
her under the protection Of Carlysle and his
Winchester.
Miss Brooks tolls not only pitiful. but a
startling story of cruelty, lawlessue and
outlaWry since her return. She saws they
obtain all Of their supplies BY stealing them
from residents along the river, thinking
nothing of slaughtering a hog or a beel
when they wish fresh meat.
Report SAYS that a reward OF $500 in
Columbus hangs over Carlysle, and that
Mr.. Brooks has put out one Of $500 for
Bigbie.
The sympathy of everybody goes out to
the unfortunate lady and her family. and
if Bi Zbie is caught, as no doubt he will be,
to stand in his shoes would be cheap at any
price.