Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-03-24
CAPTURE and ESCAPE.
By Lieutenant W. 4. SHELTON.
Copyright, 1885, by American Press Associs-
tion.l
CHAPTER vi.


gate leading into the back lane ant
strobe forth over the crunching snow.
1t was an intensely cold night, and no,
light or human being was visible on
the streets of Greenville. We walked nj
a vigorous pace, partly to keep warm
and partly to give rein to the energy
and excitement we felt.
Before daylight we were well in the
foothills Of the mountains and had Sc
lected nest on southern slope. where
the leaves were dry. and camped for the
night. At 8 o'clock we set out again
under clear sky, but lost our way and
were finally brought to standstill by
the black, icy waters Of wide creek,
which Smith, who was victim Of rheu-
matism, could not cross.
Half mile back, and in what be.
lieved to be the right direction, we
could see the glowing windows Of a
house. quickly decided that we should
make our way there. and in case the
family proved unfriendly l was to re-
treat as best could for the mountains.
l helped Smith along until landed hin.
in the lee Of the gatepost, when went
mp on to tho side porch and knocked at
the door a. bold rs brass Ii was opened
by tall woman, who stood against the
glow Of freight and answered my ques-
,ions until | was satisfied not only that
she was friendly, but that there were no
men in the house.
The one room was surrounded rs
usual with beds, and at the chimney end
a grand wood fire was burning, a splut-
tering pine knot giving u cheerful light
Smith and sat facing each other in the
corners Of the chimney, basking in the
welcome warmth, while the woman bus
tied about TO make us comfortable, tell
ing us meanwhile that her husband was
"A Union man, but that he had been
pressed into the Confederate cavalry.
A low trundle bed stood on the hearth
before the fire, III which very old
woman was feebly moaning with rheu-
matism. The younger woman helped
her TO get up and fixed her in chair
before the fire After covering her with
a sunbonnet she shouted at the old wom-
ans ear:
Granny, them's Yankees. "
BE they now" she said, looking
from one TO the other with her bleared
old eyes. BE We sellin tablecloths?"
II having been explained 10 her that
we were prisoners from the war, she
wanted to know II we were Britishers.
The captain and / slept comfortably
in curtained bed and passed most Of
the following day in the woods, coming
10 the house in the evening for supper.
which was spread on table on the
porch. We Jared bountifully, and our
haversacks were stuffed with crack
lins
The captain and had gone but few
yards from the house when rheumatism,
the relentless, claimed him for It's own.
II was now Tuesday, and he advised
mo to go on to his friends at Caesar S
Head and wait for him there until the
following Monday. On the crest OF the
mountain was to find the cabin of one
of Smiths friends, lame man Of the
name of Bishop.
l travelled very rapidly all that night,
hoping 10 cover the whole distance, but
day was breaking when / reached the
Saluda river worked up the stream,
through the woods, until found dam
ON which l made crossing. By this
time the sun was rising and / heard the
lowing Of cattle and the voices Of chill
dren and all the familiar sounds Of early
morning echoing i'll the frosty air.
kept behind the fences as much rs posi-
BILE until had crossed the open fields
and climbed 10 secure hiding place on
the side of the mountain. A cliff, which
recognized as Pompey's Pillar, reared
It's mass across the valley, and ~ the
sun got higher glitteriDg masses Of ice
ana snow tumbled over its crest, max
ing thunderous reverberation in the
valley below.
As soon as il was sufficiently dark l
cot around the little settlement and
ON TO the main road leading up the noun
tain, which was quite feat Of engineer
ing, zigzagging back and forth across the
steep ascent and turning on log abut-
ments well anchored with stones. had
but six miles 10 climb before reaching
Bishops house, which was at the top OK
the divide. and saw only one house on
the way half way up paused to rest
before big summer hotel, which loomed
up among the bare trees like window
less deserted factory. behind its rottins
gateways, making the bleak mountain
side more dreary than ever.
Shortly before reaching Bishop house
my shoes, the same for which ! had
traded my vest with an old negro soon
after leaving Columbia, and which l
had bound around my feet with stout
cords before leaving the Jail, began to
cut queer capers One Of them climbed
up my leg half way to my knee, and
when knocked at the door it was with
the wreck of the other in my hand.
Mr.. Bishop met me at the door on
crutch and received me cordially for
Smiths sake. Only day or so before
the establishment had been raided by a
band Of Confederates. the cattle driven
off and the bedding confiscated.
Bishop and his wife slept on the only
mattress in the house, and the best they
could offer me was bed ON the floor
before the fire. When the cold air came
up through the wide cracks between the
planks, it seemed to be cutting me in
sections with icy saws until l crawled
over to the side of the room and lay
lengthwise Of wide puncheon under
the table
In the morning it was quite evident
that disagreeable thoughts were domi-
nant in Mrs. Bishops mind as she pro-
ceeded sullenly and silently with her
preparations for breakfast. The bitter
bread of charity was being baked with
vengeance for the unwelcome guest.
Premonitions of the coming storm flash
ed now and then in lightning cuffs on
the ears of the children or crashed omi-
nously among the pets in the fireplace.
When breakfast was served, the table
still stood against the wall, and Bishop
now advanced good naturedly to assist
in removing it TO the center Of the room.
Mrs. Bishop was like charge OF dy-
Mantle, ready to explode at the first jar,
SO that when one of the table legs over
turned the swill pail the long pent up
storm burst upon us in torrent OF in
vectiye. The prospect of spending even
few days with this virago had no at
fractions for me- so after breakfast