The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-11-14
Caught in a "Freeze Out"

Ip the Greenville Ne,0s of Friday the
fact was narrated that three colored con-
yicts had escaped from Watson's farm
over in Anderson County after having
overpowered a guard and captured his
weapons. The police here were notified
TO be on the look ont, and were stimula-
ted by the offer of $50 reward for each OF
the absentees. People up around Travel
ler's Rest, ten miles above here, were not
officially notified but they soon had rea'
son to know that there were strangers In
the settlement.
One citizens house was raided and q
quantity of his clothes were stolen. The
thieves were seen, however, as they were
leaving the premises and dropped most
of their plunder, only carrying OH q
watch. There were other robberies and
lhefts during Friday and Saturday and
rumors of the whereabouts OF the con-
victs came thick and fast, 30 that by Sum
day large part of the able bodied popu-
lation was out on a hunt for the fugltlves,
one of whom was bare footed while the
other wore uniform consisting of striped
breeches and shirt sleeves. Nobody
knows what became of the third.
On Sunday Jasper Watson, James
Bates and Isaac Epps were out seeking
the conYicts. Jasper Watson foune
them. He was OH the G. K. q w. II. r..
track near the old terminus this side OF
Marietta. He saw the convicts. They
likewise saw him and gave him view or
the muzzles of Winchester rifle and a
3s revolver. These weapons were put IN
shape for attending to business and the
convicts told Jasper to drop his revolver
and leave. ''And he done 30" said a
.,,t.z-nonor<od tho nnnnrrnnr6 tn
the Greenville Mews. He came right
hack down the track without pausing to
discuss the matter or make any further
remarks or even stopping to ask for his
pistol. They had the drop on him and
Mr. Watson is philosopher enough to
know that argument doesn'nt 90 against
loaded Winchester rifles.
This incident put the community IN an
uproar, and the hunt for the convicSs be-
came more earnest than eyer. Yesterday
there was talk of organizing party and
giving chase over in Western North
Carolina, but later in the day it was
learned that the nien had been captured.
Thev bad got just beyond the line and
had kindled little fire over which they
we're crouchlng. The climb over the
mountains and the nights Of lodging and
running and starvation were bad enough,
but the cold snap which came Sunday
night was more Than they had counted
on. The mountain winds had made bad
work with their poor clothing and they
were farnished, bedraggled, broken down,
half frozen and miserable, with all the
fight and love of liberty chilled and starv-
ed out of them. Nothing else seemed 80
desirable as warm place by the fire and
full meal. When two men drove by In
a buggy the convicts called them and
offered to surrender if they would be
taken somewhere to get warm. They
yielded their arms and we're promptly
taken in charge. After having been
warmed and fed they were sent to Hen
dersonville jail. The two lucky men
who made the capture are Sl00 richer for
their experience literally "picked up in
the road"
The two convicts will be returned to
the Watson place as soon as the necessary
arrangements can be made.-Greenulue
Ne,US, 18Th inst.