The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-18

VI HOHteIS were passing near the DdIkS
of the Saluda river, a few miles above
it's confluence with the Broad, and al
most within sight of the spires Of the
city of Columbia, S. c., they came upon
what looked to them like human foot
exposed in the water. Upon further
examination it was found to be such in
reality, and belonged to the body of q
man, perfectly petrified. After exca-
waiting the body and removing the mud
and sand which adhered to the figure in
this uncouth bath, the two men meas
ured it and found It's height to be al
most six feet. Nearly all of its limbs,
teeth and other members were in an
excellent state of preservation. There
was bullet hole in the chest, just be-
low the collar bone. From the size Of
the orifice made by the bullet entering
the body 1t was found to be of the
kind made by an ordinary army MIME
ball.
This curiosity petrified man was at
first supposed to have been an alb
original red man, but the scientists
who examined the skull declared it to
be that of white man. Following
this statement the theorists and those
the form to be that of patriot, or SOL
der of the Revolution OF &c, because
the fierce battle of CRANKY was fought
near there; but as the patriots and SOL
diers of the War of Independence gem
orally used sporting rifles, which car
ried a small projectile, this theory was
not tenable. T..
Col. D. A. Dickert, of Sunshine, S. c.,
now for the first time divulges the
facts which clear up the mystery of
the strange find, vouching for their &C
curacy. This marble man is one of the
characters in the daring and adventur-
Gus life of Dr. LleweIlyn P. Hobbs, of
Hope Station, S. c.. and the facts here
in are published with the consent of
his son. Dr. Hobbs died in 1883, and all
the other persons involved in the fatal
affair are also dead.
IT went to look at the petrified body, .
Col. Diclert said, land stretched at
full length, I fancied I could see the
remains of the one who lost his life
while attempting to capture DR.. Hobbs,
ana who was killed in his yard. Now
l am certain of it-as certain as any
man can be who puts together facts
which he knows and facts alone which
fit this find and this subject
The facts of the peculiar case are
these: Dr. Llewellyn Hobbs had be-
fore the war ended shot a negro outlaw
on his plantation. In 1865, during the
turbulent period of reconstruction, he
had killed a former slave in self de-
fense For this he had been court
martialed and sentenced to a term at
Castle Pinckney, in Charleston Har-
Dor. While yet under military guard
in Columbia he made a daring escape
and took to the woods, making his way
finally to the home of his comrade and
friend. Col. Dickert, who himself was
watched.
Meantime a squad of federal soldiers
had visited the doctors home, where
his wife and his children lived. These
soldiers kept up a continued espionage
there DR.. Hobbs, for fear of falling
into their hands, for a while avoided
them Col. Dickert had cut a door in
the floor of his own home to drop
through and make escape easy in the
event of trouble there, or an arresting
raid upon his house. For some days
DR.. Hobbs submitted to restraint in
this seclusion with good grace, but at
last he began to chafe and to express
desire to go to his home.
At times it seems, there is no earthly
power which can hold person from
visiting the scenes and locality where
he took the life of a fellow being. Be
that as it may, DR.. Hobbs urged and
persuaded two others, trusted friends,
to accompany him to his home, know
ing full we'll the danger and risk in so
hazardous an enterprise. But he had
great nerve. One dark, gloomy night,
armed with their weapons of defense,
the three men made their way through
the thick and tangled morass OF Can
mons Creek Swamp and came up to
the house from the rear. All was as
still as death. AS they cautiously
crept along toward an old clubhouse
near the dwelling, the one near which
the negro ''Meb' had been killed, their
voices were as hushed as the stiffness
about them. There they halted, and
held a hasty consultation.
H.
AS a result of the conference it was agreed
that the doctor should go into his house, and
If ANYTHING unusual should take place out
side the other two would give the alarm Dy
discharging their pistols. Then each man
was to make his way as best he could TO the
swamp and rendezvous at a place agreed
upon.
he discovered a man walking from the front
gate toward the residence. he thought 1t an
aged white man. who had, with his wife,
moved into his home as serVitoTs anu COLL
panions to his wife and family. Springing
back quickly behind the old house again, the
doctor sGuatted at the side of his friends and
made known his discovery The three drew
their weapons for any emergency.
Almost the next moment the man seen In
the front yard rushed behind the house, and,
thinking there could not be others besides the
DOCTOR called upon the latter to surrender.
Whether from accident or excitement it was
never known, but shot rang out and the
federal soldier, for such it turned out to be.
fell at their feet with deep groan.
The crack of the frearm awoke the guard.
In very few moments the three heard the
clattef of horses feet coming up the road