The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-31
TURNED HIS HAIR WHITE
rERRIBLH EXPERIENCE OF A. @.
RICE IN THE MOUNTAINS.
tortured By Mob of Miners-They
Tied Him 60 q Freight Car Set Free
on a steep Incline.

tortured By Mob of Miners-They
Tied Him 60 Freight Car Set Free
on a steep Incline.
From. the Nep York Press.
Gilbert G. Rice, the man whose suferings
a. the hands Of mob Of Tennessee miners
Aid an much in the recent strike TO turn
sentiment against the strikers, was the CEN
tar Of a group Of friends at the Grand Gem
trail depot yesterday afternoon. He arrived
.srly In che morning from Baltimore on his
wsy TO Boston to consult specialists as to a
pecuIiar ailment which followed his treat
mens at the hands Of the miners, end which
IA, bafied the skill of the physlciens that
he has 30 far consulted.
Rice is a peculiar looking man of large
muscular frame, no " wasted by Illness, al
though his carriage is still that of a mount
sineer. His cheek bones are high and D rom-
iuant. his mustache is long and dropping,
and be speeks slowly, with slight flavor Of
Tennessee dialect. He is only 81 years old,
bat his hair is white.
RICE's STORY.
To Press reporter Mr.. Rice gave de-
ecription OF the thrilling scene in which he
90 narrowly escaped death. "About a
month ago." said he, "when trouble was
brewing at the mines, visited Altamont,
Tenn, to purchase land In the neighbor-
hood. spent some days in the vicinity.
One day l determined upon piece of
forest between the North Carolina and st.
Louis railroad and the Elk river. l
climbed the side Of mountain, blazing the
trees along the route. There was no path
and depended upon the blaze marks to get
back. On my return l lost my way and
wandered about, vainly trying to find the
blAxed path. II was nearly dusk when l
heard voices ahead of me. Ipeered through
an opening and saw a group Of miners talk
ing with two men with demijohns. 1 saw
that il was a secret meeting OF some sort,
and, as the men looked desperate, thought
1t wise to get away quickly. But stepped
on a twig which cracked, and in moment
they were upon me and was dragged back
to'the opening.
CHARGED WITH BEING A SPY.
"From their conversation I found that
they were a band OF strikers, who had cone
into the forest TO negotiate with Illicit dis
tilers for supply of liquor. The two men
with the demijohns were owners of the still,
and had brought samples with them. 1 was
at once searched from head TO foot. AS l
had my hunting clothes on had no papers
In my possession. This seemed proof posi-
tive 70 my captors that was a 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 me 20 the main
camp. There l was kept a prisoner several
days In hopes that would give some details
OF the convict camp, with which they sup
posed was acquainted. I frankly admit
that l lied about the matter and gave much
daA yWRfn = t.
food.
But after the miners had made q charge,
based on my misleading information, and
were repulsed most severely, their anger
knew no bounds Cross-examination elected
the fact that had rever visited the con.
vict camp, aud the miners determined to
make an example of me that would make
Sne osner prisoners tremble.
TIED TO a FILING FREIGHT CAR.
"a meeting was held and the most pain
full and ignominious death was discussed.
The meeting was held near an old freight
car that had been sidetracked on a steep in
cline, and iss presence offered q suggestion
that was quickly acted upon. One of the
miners had brought a strong lariat OF tough
cowhide. Ii Yves decided to tie me by the
neck to one end Of the lariat and fasten the
other to the car and then set the car to roll
ing down the grade.
The decision was quickly carried out.
The moose was drawn around my neck and
the brakes loosened. One of the miners
dropped the moose from my neck to my
waist. As the car started the lariat
Strengthened out and took a step for ward.
then another and another, until found il
difficult to keep up.
HOOTED BY MINERS,
Tho sides Of the track were lined with a
Jeering mob of miners AS the car passed
they cheered wildly. At curve in the
road was lost to their sight. Another
curve doomed up ahead and I closed my
eyes in despair There was a sudden turn
as the car few around, and at the end of
The taut lariat l felt myself flying through
space. had gone OF on tangent and the
rope near the car struck a telegraph pole
with suddenness that made me dizzy, The
rope wound itself rapidly around the pole
There was sharp report as the larias
parted and the car went on. As l swung
around the pole the lariat grew shorter and
shorter, until was brought fat up to the
pole with force that took away nv
breath and rendered me insensible,
Hours later l revived and got free from
The lariat, which had torn the flesh about
my lolns into shreds Two ribs were broken
and was bruised all over. l found a
squatters hut and two days later was in
knoxville. have been very Ill ever since.
MY weight hos fallen from 205 pounds three
weeks ago to $50 now, and the shock has
turned my hair white"