Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-07
Nc LENNAN'S ESCAPE
Within an Ace of Having His Head Shot
OFF.
The Dispensary Constable Who is
at Darlington, s. c., a Week Ago.
Special from a Stan Correspondent.

COLUMBIA, S. c., April 6. 1894.
The adventures Of McLennan. the dis
pensary constable, in the recent troubles
in this section read like a page from a
dime novel Mr.. McLennan has had a
varied and exciting career within the past
week, and the only objection to idealizing
him as a hero of a Observation-Disclosures
story is that he has departed from the
course pursued by gentlemen of his Xix,
and, instead Of ending his career in a
blaze of glory and dying with his boots
on, he winds up in jail, just one week from
the commencement Of his adventures,
charged with murder
This story commences with last Friday
night, when, on the platform of the little
depot at Darlington. McLennan started
the memorable battle by shooting Frank
Norment. The victim died Instantly. In
the skirmish that followed McLennan was
shot In the side and fell McLennan could
not run, and he crept up to the dead men
anu s.retched himself across Frank Nor
ments feet, closed his eyes and feigned
death. In few minutes the citizens
rushed TO the spot. One Of them pressed
MS rifle against McLennan's temple and
was ABOUT to fire. when a doctor suggested
tnat IL would not be the right thing to
shoot a dying man, and said he was GER
talnly dying. 1t is against South Carolina
chivalry to fire into a man after he is
fleeing spies
Il felt right middlin' ticklish," said Nc
Lehman afterward when that man pushed
tnat gun against my face. The end of that
gun was mighty cold, and 1 thought was a
The people picked McLennan up and car
rled MIN into the jail. where his wounds
We're dressed. He was not badly hurt. and
laughed at his wounds and also chuckled
over the way he played 'possum" with the
man VINO was about to shoot him. All that
night 1t was feared they might lynch him.
out " happened that all Of the men folks
were riding after the escaping spies.
Il don't like to lie in Jail waiting for q
passed. OF men to come and lynch me-" naively
remarked McLennan the next morning
faint tall pleasant"
The people In authority did not want any
lynching at Darlington, so they concluded
next morning to get McLennan out of the
way. He was shaved, dressed in a different
suit of clothes, given a SLOUGH hat and In
!n, middle OF the day walked calmly out of
jail, through crowd of farmers around
the court house square, and stepped into
buggy that was waiting for him. He was
told to drive through the town leisurely and
take certain route up the country. When
he got out of town he quickened his pace
Il thought that old mule never would get
away from that town. said McLennan.
Seemed laik to me he just lift one foot
track again"
But Notwithstanding sandy roads and a
slow mule, he got away before his escape
was discovered, and for the next few days
he lay low in a farm house on the Peedee
river. eating cornbread and buttermilk and
RECALLING the neighbors with his moving ad-
ventures by field and flood.
The next appearance Of McLennan is be-
fore the coroner's jury, where he appeared
yesterday, and before testifying laid down
two big navy revolvers, which he had handy
In case Of trouble. He had come to Darling
ton this time under a military guard, but he
did not sit near open windows, and kept his
eyes on the door.
I came down from Darlington yesterday
with him on the freight train. He was sur
rounded by guard Of countrymen, who,
while they were not strong on drill, dress
and discipline. were mighty handy with the
rifle. McLennan sat between them-a shifty-
looking fellow, with hang-dog air. He had
his big revolvers, but one would never Judge
from his appearance that he was "a ba-ad
man" N O. NJ