The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26

away his tunnel. He admitted 10 Dart
lhat his place was a headquarters for
smugglers, but he didn't commit himself
any further.
Il had made three successful trips while
Dart was staying with Dumas, and guess
that my success had made me a bit care
less. My fourth trip was The last SNUG
Sing expedition that / ever engaged in,
and il came SO near being my finish in all
ways that it thoroughly frightened me.
1t was cold, nasty night in October, and
l reached Dumas place about o'clock.
Dart was sitting in the bar and i joined
him. We drank more than the usual guam
hty Of ale and when Madore came in
Whlstling 10 indicate that my key was
strapped on the gig said:
Well Dart, LIN going just as soon as
Madore can hitch up
L think III take a little horseback
ride myself he answered, and see if
can't clear my head of this ale
This disturbed me. for I couldn't say
anything for fear he might get on TO the
right track and suspect my gig. l have
since thought chat Dart suspected that 1
picked up my goods somewhere along the
road, and he expected to detect me in
the act. L hurried out of the barn and
drove out just as Dart came out of the
barroom to get his horse saddled.
Three miles down the road and inst
Il
horse salloping behind ne. l knew it was
Dart, and that he would overhaul me I'M
less could reach fork mile ahead and
confuse him as to which road had taken.
l whipped up my mare and we few. As
looked over her head into the darkness
saw a hight that was evidently Ian
tern just about where the forks of the
road were. Dart had cornered me.
knew it. As soon as l saw that lantern /
knew that revenue officers were with it.
Couldn't slip my key because the straps
were tangled. In an instant l had made up
my mind what to do. There was a fairly
level field on my left with no fence on
the road. Without stopping my mares
speed turned into it, My gig bumped
clean off the ground 1t was rough rid
ing, but realized that it was my only
chance The noise that l made going
across that field warned Dart and the
other othcers what had happened, and
they yelled to me to stop. l didn't, and
then followed a dozen or more shots from
their reyo-vers The balls whistled over
my head l didn't know how l got to
the woods. found a score of old wood
foaus, ana selecting one of them | walked
my horse in and waited. l heard those
fellows beating the bush around me for
TWO hours l had slipped the keg and
concleade 1t, but | didn't want to be cap
tured, even though they had no evidence
l drove home at daylight minus the kee.
nay mare was used up, and a friend OF
mine tipped me off that the game was up.
Dart was special agent, and he was
gong 10 arrest me- l thought it all over.
and | concluded that if 1 stayed so>near
the Canadian fine the temptation to SNUG
gle bit would be so strong that I should
weaken, and probably end by being cap
tuled. had saved a sung little sum. and
with 1t l went TO New York. l have Iived
there since, and | am heartily ashamed
OF my early smuggling.
Dart is connected with the secret ser,
vice, and few years ago l met him in
the Hoffman house in New York. Du-
mas place had been closed and Dart. af
ter we had drink together in remem-
brance of Dumas old ale said:
We're you smuggling or not the night
we chased you into the fields?
. That question is outlawed.' I answer
ed, and you didn't catch me. Let's talk
about something else
Coming over this railroad. where I
once drove with my smuggled goods. has
brought it all back to me. That's ali"