Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-06-25
HAD TO TALK FOR HIS LIFE.

The kidnapers Fist Threaten to XIII
Him, but Relcnt Apparently.
Following is the story: after finding
himself surrounded by the kidnapers in
the Office of the hotel he was informed
that he was to be killed. He requested
time in which to write to his family, but
was informed there was no time to waste.
Then he was roughly hustled into the
hack and hurried away. When the open
country had been reached his captors
took him from the hack to a place great
ly removed from the road. The masked
men with oaths and imprecations formed
a circle about him and again he was in
formed that he was to be killed. at the
suggestion of the leader every man who
felt so disposed told the general all they
proposed to do with him, why they pro-
posed to do it and their opinions of him.
He was accused of waging war against
the mine owners and deputies; he was ac-
cused of handling the state troops in the
interest OF the strikers: he was accused of
issuing an order to the troops to fire upon
the deputies from the 12-pounders, and
finally, he was accused of indirectly being
the cause of the death of the deputies who
were killed during the Bull Hill cam
paign. For tn is, they proposed to kill
family was hurled against him. When all
those who wished had had their say, Cen
eral Tarsney was given an opport unity to
speak for himself.
Without IA thought other than that he
was in the presence OF death. but deter
mined to make every use OF his only
weapons-argument and persuasion-that
his life might be spared to his family, he
pleaded as he had never done in court. He
rehearsed the entire situation during the
time the troops and deputies were in the
field. He explained to them that he was
not il command of the troops, but that
General Brooks was in command under
Governor Waite, the commandeL-in-chief.
1t was true he mingled with the miners,
but he had not tried TO shield the leaders
by Withholding their names, for he knew
their names only by newspapers and COM
mon report. In this way for some time
the general pleaded with his captors
When he had concluded the men held a
consultation and decided to give the gen
eral 100 lashes. When informed of this
General Tarsney requested them to shoot
him. as he could never survive the punish
ment. and death by the bullet would be
merciful- Then the leader turned to one
of the men and told him to get his imple-
ments and do his work. The man spoken
to went away and u few minutes later re-
turned with pail of caal-tar, "a brush and
a rag and feather pillow. The general
was disrobed and the coat of tar and
feathers applied.
When the work was finished.-and the
general was daubed from head to foot
he put on his clothing. He was then faced
down the road amp the leader said to him:
Roswell lies i'll that direction. Go down
that way and don't turn back Keep
straight ahead. Don't ever set foot in
Colorado Springs or Cripple Creek again
or your life will pay the forfeit" He
started, and he did not look back. Once
he heard the steps of horse in the rear.
and fearing that his enemies had relented
of their mercy he concealed himself in the
woods until the hoofbeats ceased, and
then resumed his way.