Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-07
TWO NEGROES K|DNAP 4 BOY Makes His Escape Stripped of
 His Clothes. WANTED HIM FOR RANSOM A Posse of Twenty Men Are Securing the Country in the Neighborhood for the
 HeartIeSs Fiends to No Effect

Charles Houston is the 13-year-old son of MT. D. w. Houston, merchant at Jonesboro, a small station about one mile south of Bessemer. Charles is a bright, smart little fellow and has em- ployment at the mines just across the mountain from his home.
 On last Saturday Charley became the victim of kidnappers and experienced the first real adventure of his life, which was indeed fraught with hardships and suf- fering.
 As will be remembered, last Saturday was a bitter cold day, the mercury in the mountains lingering about 10 degrees below the freezing point during the en- tire day. Early that morning the brave little fellow was up and trudging across the mountain to his work.
 When near the mines the boy lefn the path and went out into the bushes. He had proceeded but a few paces when two stalwart negroes sprang from their places of concealment and grasped him rudely before he could escape.
 They led him still further into the bushes and asked him if he had any money. He told them no, whereupon they searched him and finding nothing told him they intended taking him with them, and would make some money out of him some way.
 Taking the boy between them they started out in the direction of Gurney Junction, and proceeded seven or eight miles, until they reached an old deserted house. which stands some distance from the railroad. This they entered, and here the child S extreme suffering began. His captors searched him again, and then deliberately proceeded to strip him of his coat. vest, pants shoes and hat.
 Tho wind hlpuV a nd fairly whistled through the wide cracks in the dilapidated cabin, chilling the al- most naked little fellow and causing him to suffer intensely from cold
 One of the negroes then told his com panion to remain in the cabin with the boy, saying that he was going out to steal hog. The child, though suffer- ing keenest pain, was on the alert and watching for chance to escape, which opportunity was speedily afforded him. Shortly after the negro had gone for the hog the guard became careless, and ap- parently thinking the boy would not at- tempt to escape barefooted and thus stripped of his clothing, stepped out and aside for few moments. The boy, see ing this action on the part of his guard, took advantage of it and slipped out of the house and sped through the woods in the direction of the railroad The negro pursued the fleeing child, but fail ing to catch him before he reached the railroad, gave up the chase, seeming afraid to pursue him further.
 The little fellow, inspired by the hope of freedom and escape, dashed along over the rough and frozen ground as fast as his benumbed feet would carry him, and on reaching the railroad, he continued his flight up the track in the direction of Jonesboro He ran, he says, with all his might and speed, never once stop ping to look back. He continued rum ming for about three miles until he reach ed the house of MT. Jones, a section fore man on the road. Here he entered, pre- senting most pitiable sight, stripped as he was of all save his undergarments, completely exhausted and chilled to the very marrow. The child was utterly speeches. from cold and exhaustion and his feet were painfully lacerated from his flight over the stony and frozen ground.
 MT. Jones gave him clothes and warm ed him thoroughly, and then took him home. The entire neighborhood was aroused and indignant at the horrible treatment of the child, and this bold attempt at kidnapping.
 A posse of twenty men was immedi- ately organized and went In search of the villains, but were unsuccessful in their attempt to apprehend them.
 Charley says he was never so cold be- fore in his life, and came near losing con- seriousness several times, but staggered on, knowing that death would be the result if he once gave up.