The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-12-19
FRANK JAMES WAS FRIGHTENED.
He Tells How He Was Fooled by Drove
of Mules.

He Tells How He Was Fooled by q Drove
of Mules.
1.-THE nearest ever came to being down
right scared" said Frank James, was
once during the war. Jesse, one or two
of the boys and were on our way north
ward to join Quantrell, who was Matching
plan to go to Washington city and cap
ture President Lincoln. We were travel
ing by night altogether, and before reach
ing Columbia, Tenn, separated, in order
to lessen the possit lily of capture with
the intention of meeting again at some
point farther north. When l arrived at
Columbia, 1 found myself minus horse,
as the one I had been riding for several
days was pegged out completely. During
the early part of the night looked through
several stables, but could find no horse
and finally l came to a shed containing a
lot of mules. They were nearly all young
ones, but in the lot was one old fellow
that was quiet and gentle. The country
was full of soldiers, and so was forced to
appropriate this old mule in order to get
away as quickly as possible. saddled and
bridled the old mule and struck out in the
darkness. After riding about two miles I
fancied / heard body Of hOrsemen ap-
preaching.
1.-The horsemen were within half a
mile Of me and were approaching steadily
and rapidly. There was no fencing along
the road, and drew my mule to the right
and pushed into the brush to await devel-
opments. In a few minutes l could hear
them within a few hundred yards of me.
A little longer, and they were just at the
point in the road where I had left it.
could not see them, as it was the darkest
night l ever saw, but from the noise made
by the hoof beats I judged that there were
at least so men in the party. They stop
ped in the road opposite me, and l fancied
I could hear hurried conversation in
whispers. I felt sure that had been dis
covered and did not know exactly what to
do.
"A few of the horsemen started in my
direction, and then the old mule was on
! made noise. This was the signal for a
charge, and the entire company started
after nc like flash. / drove the spurs
into my mule and went headlong into the
darkness, determined to give them a race.
Not a word was said and not shot was
fired, but felt that was in tight place
and prepared to sell my life dearly. The
party followed me and appeared ito be
spreading out and surrounding me, leav-
ing me no avenue of escape. I saw that
as long as was riding my mule gave my
pursuers an indication of my whereabouts
and thought that if 1 dismounted l might
steal off in the bushes afoot and hide. I
halted and one of the pursuers passed
within 25 yards of me. peered through
the darkness, but could not see the rider.
Just then my old mule brayed, and then
the whole woods were apparently alive
with braying mules. The whole company
of supposed horsemen rushed rapidly in
the direction of my mule and / was soon
surrounded by a gang of young mules.
There was not a rider upon any of the ami
mails. They were the mules 1 had left at
the barn and had followed their leader
which had appropriated. never felt SO
cheap in all my life, but was compelled to
sit down and take a hearty laugh over the
righteousness of the situation. -