Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-07
A NARROW ESCAPE.

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OF Confederates could be seen vending
their way down the dusty road that leads
into the little town Of Warrenton And
from the tired look of the men and the
steaming sides of the horses one could
plainly see that the cavalcade had ridden
! fast and far. The company were part of
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chief, Mosby, on black steed, while the
rest Of the men trotted on behind in a
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with their jests and gay songs. 1t was
true that the enemy might coma in sight
at any moment or that some stray bullet
from foe hidden in a bush might cut
short the laughing words on the merry
lips, but familiarity with the horrors of
war had bred an easy Indifference, and
these men, though daily facing death,
thought no more Of their danger than if
they were riding to a picnic in some neigh
boring grove.
1t was just about noon when the party
dismounted at farmhouse, and in an
instant the jolly rebels were the center of
an admiring group that crowded about
them, and the eager host FASTENED to bring
out for their entertainment all the good
things that his larder afforded. The men
were hungry, and seated beneath the huge
oaks they were soon discussing the rela-
tive merits of the buttermilk and fried
chicken with which they were beautifully
supplied. But time wore on, and the men,
forgetful of its passing, sought refreshment
In doze on the grass beneath the trees.
A sudden cry of THE Yankees are COM
ing" rang out on tho still afternoon air,
and the COnfederatcs sprang to their
horses just rs n party of Union troops
dashed in sight around bend in the road
In moment the rangers had leaped on
their stceds and galloped out of sight
down narrow woody lane that ran near
the barn and partially concealed them
from view. In fact, their escape would
have been successful had not one mans
FESTIVE nag delayed the fellow so long in
mounting that the approaching squad
caught glimpse of the gray jacket as it
vanished in cloud of dust in the distance
All of the rangers had got out of dan
ger except their leader Mosby who was
in the house when tho alarm was Civ
en- and had not heard the warning cry
So when he looked up from the book
which he was reading while resting in
the cool OF the hallway, he saw the Union
troops charging in at the gate, which was
only few hundred yards away. 1t was
too late now to escape, and while the Fed
erals did not yet know of his presence they
would search the house. and it was only a
matter Of few moments before he would
be prisoner in their hands.
In the parlor, which opened into the
hall, young lady sat sewing, and her
quick wit took in the situation at glance
Here, step in this clock case" she
hurriedly whispered as she threw open the
door of an immense old clock that stood
ticking in one corner Of the hall.
And in a moment Mosby had squeezed
himself into its dusty recess.
By this time the Union men were dis
mounting, but before they entered the
house the lady had seated herself and was
quietly sewing.
The Union officer strobe into the room
and looked anXiously about.
Are there any rebels concealed in this
house?" he demanded in loud voice
'Mosby's men were here awhile ago."
she replied, but they all escaped as your
troop came in sight"
The officer glanced about the room, and
his quick eye caught sight of u mans soft
felt hat thrown carelessly ON a chair.
Search the house, he ordered Of three
who were waiting his commands
moment the men in blue were
,vrr the house and poking into
t, sand corner. They commenced
at ILL., 80 g., searching each room closely
as they descended, and the rattle of their
Babcrs could be heard distinctly in the
hall below as they tramped about, throw
Ing open closets and upsetting beds.
Presently all gathered in the hall and
were discussing in a disappointed tone
their fruitless search.
Every moment seemed an eternity to the
ranger shut up in the hot dusty depth of
the old clock, and the warm air had grown
almost unbCarable Yet he dared not
move, for only few feet away he could
plainly hear the angry tones Of the Yam
kco officer and the least motion meant
capture or death. Slowly the moments
dragged on, and still the men fingered.
Finally the occupant Of tho clock felt an
uncomfortable desire to sneeze And as
he realized the fact he broke out in a cold
perspiration at the horrible thought To
prevent it was something beyond his con-
troll, but a sneeze would surely be answer
cd by bullet through the clock case, and
the ranger felt he would prefer tho danger
of facing his foes in an open fight.
Suddenly bright idea came into his
mind, and just ms he bent his head to
sneeze he gave pull on the pendulum
that sent all the wheels whirring in Il
loud confusion.
The Union men glanced suspiciously at
the noisy timepiece.
Il am afraid that clock needs mend
ing" remarked the lady carelessly as she
turned down a new hem in the linen on
which she was sewing, and her quiet voice
disarmed suspicion.
With sigh Of relief Mosby heard the
officer command his men to mount, and
presently the gallop of their departing
horse hoofs fell on his delighted ear. And
scarcely had the echo died away when the
clock flew open, and the exhausted prison
or struggled out in an almost suffocated
condition.
A merry laugh had the ranger over his
narrow escape, but in all the dangers that
he faced during four years of bloodshed
there was none that tried his nerves like
the terrible half hour spent in the old
clock nase.-Washington Star.