The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-02-15
DRUMMER kELLYjs ADVENTURE.
He Was Left Tied to a Tree for Two Days
and Night.

A Cleveland man by the name of
John w. Kelly has had an experience
in the Indian Territory which reads
like dime novel. but which is unde-
niably true and no doubt no more
strange than many adventures which
befall people in that country who never
live to tell the tale.
Kelly is travelling salesman for an
Eastern carriage concern which has
employed him for many years and
value his services at high figure.
His duties take him all over the United
States, and about the first of the pre-
sent month he found himself travelling
by rail in the Indian Territory. He
noticed that man across the aisle
was scrutinizing him very closely, and
returning the gaze of the stranger,
recognized him for an old school-friend
and companion, Ned Best. Mutually
the two men stretched hands and
| shook"
Best was dressed in the guise of
government scout or ranger. Kelly
was invited by Best to alight from the
train and stop over and rough it with
his party for few days. Kelly ac-
cepted, and that night by rousing
campfire they told stories and smoked
pipes. The night was perfect, and
the glamour and novelty of the thing
SO impressed Kelly that with very little
persuasion he was induced to don an
outfit and join the party, becoming
one of them.
Two or three days passed when it
began to dawn upon Kelly, much to
his horror, that instead of having
Joined a party of government scouts,
as he had supposed, he was one of a
party of train wreckers and town de-
spoilers; in fact, of border rufhans,
who were even then engaged in plot
ting to wreck train and sack neigh
boring town. Kelly begged them in
Gods name to desist, but not only
would they not yield to his entreaties.
but actually eyed him with suspicion
and intended him harm.
He was in danger, but he made up
his mind that sooner than let the thing
90 on he would warn the town author
tiles at the risk of his life.
When Kelly was young man he
had wooed and won sister of Ned
Best, the leader of the gang, beau.
tiful young girl, who had reciprocateo
his affection and consented to become
his wife,. just as happiness was about
to dawn upon them she died, to he1
lovers great despair. Time had healeo
the wounds, but, as Kelly found him
self in this great danger, his mind re
verted to her, and in her name he be
sought Best to spare his life.
The heart of the desperate wa
touched, yet caution remained will
him, and he distrusted the other. HI
, consulted his lieutenants, and the fol
lowing plan was arranged: They con
sented to spare Kelly's life, but woult
not agree to leave him at liberty a
the risk that he might inform upol
; them. Therefore they tied him to
tree in a ravine and left him ther
while they we're gone upon their ne
farious errands. For two days and
night he remained tied there, supple
with blankets and food, but withou
! firearms to protect himself from tn
: Indians and wild beasts that wer
liable to come along at any moment.
: At last the band returned. Th
thirty-six hours had seemed to Kell
: like as many days, but had it not bee
+. that the marauders had given up a
? unsafe the town-sacking raid and col
tented themselves with wrecking tn
train he would have had to remain
, prisoner yet another twenty-fou
, hours. Kelly was unbound and the
. started him across the country on
= good pony. He was thankful to g
, cape.- Cleveland PIGi71deGter.