The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-02-20

and our anyeties were increased Tie
army could Lot be far of. That was ar
interesting trunk. There was little Of
everything in it, except feather bed. On
the first alarm, she had began to pack, and
it was we'll done. don't suppose another
bodkin could have been crowded into it.
She had emptied her comfortable home Of
ell the beautiful things. She likely watca-
ed the driver and mule moving 50 slowly
up the street and wondering Why he did
not ''drive up" AS it slowly moved down
the hill and passed out Of sight, we Won
dered why our friend and ueighbor had
waited so long.
And now the wagon had passed. there
was nothing more to be seen from our win
dow, and We lay down again, wishing that
either Drs. Ingram or Higgins conid see
US, for the fever had never abated.
! Suddenly we were startled by the sud
den report of a gun, then all was silent.
We then heard voices in anger and strife.
and the confusion of horses in the street;
then continued firing All Of rs in the
house we're at once looking out, and there
was one of the soldiers on the black horse
who had ridden into the town en- hour or
so ago. Ut proved to be Charles H. Jones,
of Sum:er.) flying before five cavalrymen
Of Potter's army (white men). Jones Was
laying upon his horse as flat as he could
make himself His reins were in his left
hand he held his gun in his right. I had
never seen such Kidding. a 'Comanche
Indian" could not have managed his horse
better His life was in the balance; five
well mounted soldiers armed with s!Zteen-
shooters were at dis heels in mad pursuit
With no intermission, as they fired IN rapid
succession a. their retreatirg fee. Pur-
surers and pursued were doing their best;
the former to escape and the Latter to over
take him, or shoot him down. i moments
delay on their part with steady aim, aEG
they could Lave accomplished tkeir object.
Horse and rider would have ''tit the dust,
but in their rage they fired wildly. never
before witnessed such scene, nor did !
ever before listen to such blasphem!ng.
We would have withdrawn, but tie excite
ment kept rs at the window, expecting At
every puff Of white smoke from their sev-
ieral guns to see J. or his painting horse
disabled, and if the rider fell 10 see him
triddled with bullets. (My interest in this
soldier so hotlyspursued by these cnraged
men would have been greatly Increased If
had known at the time who be was, for l
had often shared his mothers hospitalities,
and had been kindly served by him and
his brother at Providence, Sumter County
And now the inquiry; Will he ride
straight on. or turn into the road to the
left byswhich he had ridden into the town
mot more than an hour or two before? He
may be overtaken if he keeps straight on.
He may escape if he takes the left hand
|road, provided be keeps the saddle in
making the turn. He nears the turn and
makes it safely, leaning forward and rails
ing his head a little and looking backwards
ias if to measure his distance from his mad
dened pursuerS. One of these, a dark
lcomplexioned, portly man, with raven
black hair, was nearest J. He rode clum-
isly, but kept his saddle well. We watched
him eagerly as he too approached the turn
in the road. His gun was emptied, and
he threw it quickly across his back, and,
standing il his stlrrups he drew his fash
ing sabre from the iron scabbard, which
: hung upon his left side. Just then he lost
his hat, and. bareheaded, he waved re-
peatedly the glittering steel high above lis
head, and swore most horribly: Ill have
him or 60 TO-" lie made the turn in
hot haste, leaning forward, but in the act
he lose his balance and fell hcadloug upon
the sand. was sure his neck was broken,
and so exclaimed, when one at my side
said: Il hope not" His fail, however,
did not in the least cause any hesitation on
the part of his four companions, aud | was
sure, until they passed, that they lad rid.
den over tis lifeless body. But saw him
crawling away into the shade moment
after HIS noble horse continued on with
the pursuers. From the winGoS where j
had been first seen, We witnessed the race
some distance longer, though when he
made this turn SO well our conclusions
were that he'd escape.
This paper will be incomplete without
informing my readers the cause Of S.
danger and flight. On riding into tie
town he had been invited, with his com,
panion, to drink coffee OF Mrs. rs. Put
ting their horses into Y. \. Buffers Ser.
wants Gacks) hands, with the very strict
charge, if anything unusual occura to bring
them there, they repaired to Mrs. NJ.
There was no delay. }. had drank one
cup and was handing it for the second,
when they were startled with the cry from
lone of the ladies cunning in: The Yam
KEGS are in the street," The Yankees are
in the street !" 1t vas the work Of 4 no.
ment for them TO throw aside their chairs
J. in the lead, to grasp their guns; AID
running down the steps, to enter tie street
His companion was close upon his heels ~
they got into the street. Here i was pan.
demonium" let loose. Iells and oa;h>
greeted their cars, and charging stee.'>
their eyes. Jack in moment was no"
throwing himself flom the sadie Of :
horse as his white pursue:> We're yelling
surrender. you black rascal. '''G:rcH
der, &c j. was IS quickly seated IL I.e
saddle. Jack" had done Lls best, 5u
now failed to produce the Secoic; Aoc,r
(He was q very valuable a.iGiNi.j =. cos!
panion lost her" "a that cup Of coli,ee,
j., as he steadied himself III his saddle
tightly srasped his guE. lie Aarric&:.t
took in the situation. He h;,i 0cen over
taken drinking coffee bs ts.e &I@anceo
guard of Potter's army. Looking before
him he saw !. confused mass .: Feeders.
cavalry and his boys" who had accom-
panied him from Sumter, and from WHOM
he had parted not long before catering tlt
town, by a read which led To the cour
house in the heart OF the town.
But u" had but . moment 10 consider
"a burly red-haired soldier, riding 4 larc,
cream-colored horse, vas bearing direct,
down upon him; changing his cry from
''black rascal, surrender, to other iEsnlt
ing words, and ms slNteeE-snootef pointing
at him. But -" sat seemingly perfect,
self-possessed. He tighthened his rein:
with his lett hand and cooked one of th'
barrels of his gun with his right, restin.
the butt upon his thigh. 1t was Il Question
what must do? 70 shoot and miss IL!
foe will likely Kill one or more Q: IN!
boys" for there was the confused mas
of men and horses just before him. Bu
on came this t;ashins soldier, crying sur
rende.,-." Their horses heads were II
near proximity Surrender, it was what h'
could not do. He fired upou bis angry foe
and he fell a lifeless corpse. All this tim,
his companion had been close upon - 5.
l., - all I r1,n ,l