The news & observer., 1897-11-07

cidedly opposed to fighting under com
puIslon, on any account. Nevertheless
they were forced into service under the
various conscriptiOn acts, and on reach
ing the commands to which they were
assigned, some of them did not scruple
in deserving at the first opportunity.
Returning to their old neighborhoods,
they We're compelled to hide from search
officers and led miserable life, but held
it dear, miserable as it was.
Several parts Of the Blue Ridge Noun.
tains in Western North Carolina were
considered dangerous by the presence of
many Of such desarters.
The county OF Wake, in which is the
Capitol of North Carolina, also harbored
number Of these prosecuted and des-
perate men, who would risk death be-
fore capture
On one occasion a well known citizen
was shot and instantly killed in an un-
successful attempt to arrest a deserter,
about seven miles from Raleigh, and
this tragedy naturally caused much ex-
citement for miles around.
Not long after this event had quieted
down, Mr.. M, a jovial planter, who
lived some five miles from Raleigh, in
vited three of his city friends out for a
pOssum hunt. This farmer, Mr.. NJ,
was batchelor, quite a character in
many ways. OF great good nature and
convivially disposed, his house had open
doors and many were the dinings and
gatherings held under his hospitable
roof
The three city friends were well-known
gentlemen. esquire" R was exceed
inc SIv in,
pearance, and a gentleman all over. Mr..
S. was good companion and had ex-
perience in hunting opossums. The
third was Sheriff H, of the county
Of Wake. known far and near as he
had held this position for quite a long
time.
The host proposed that the hunt should
commence from his sorghum mill, which
would be worked until a late hour of the
night, and that the party should return
10 the same place. He excused himself
from joining the hunting party, as for
some reason he felt compelled to remain
at the mill with two Of his neighbors
to get through a press of work. He
further stated that the hest hunting
ground was around the section where the
deserter had killed a pursuer, but there
would send his dogs along under the
care of several slaves who often went
on such hunts, and for fear OF accidents
he persuaded two Of his guests, who
were armed, to leave their pistols at
the mill.
Our hunters would have preferred some
other route, but they abided by the re-
concentrations Of their host and the
4hnir fro oh
o'clock p. m.
The bright glare of the fat pitch pine
torches, carried by the negroes, served
to make the darkness, outside of a linz
tied distance, but the more intense.
There is no especial need of silence on
an opossum hunt, and our party walked
mile or so enlivening the time with
jokes until they reached the section
where game was expected to be found,
when, remembering the character of the
place, joking ceased, and conversation in
low key naturally turned on deserters
and the recent murder. Pausing for a
moment to listen for the bark of the
dogs, which always betokens game, with
out warning of any kind, from out of the
darkness ahead, "Blam, Blam," came
the almost simultaneous reports of two
shot guns, or muskets, and from the
flashes, which could all be plainly seen,
the hunters knew they were being fred
upon by enemies uncomfortably near at
hand.
''The desertens fred that volley at u.s."
cried one of the party in a low voice, and
a hasty consultation was held, in which
it was decided to throw away the torch
es, which now only served to make each
man good target for an invisible foe,
and take the back track as fast as their
heels could carry them. Scarcely had
they reached this conclusion, when,
! "Blam, Blamp' with ominous flashes,
almost made their blood curdle, especial
| ly as Mr.. s. declared that a bullet
/ from a Belgian Rife whistled by his
head.
! The negroes were ordered to dash down
the torches and it was agreed that each
man should seek safety in flight; for the
party to keep in hailing distance of each
other and meet at some other place.
All of this occurred in an incredibly
short time. They were convinced that
they had invaded the lurking place of
some deserters, and wondered that they
had escaped unhurt. Fear, lent speed,
such speed as one can make in a forest
WHcIS CucIC was SIGdL uuuSSE III
into some gully or running into tree,
,, in the darkness. But the fear Of the
desperate men behind the terrible guns
made them take all chances.
Only one or two scattering shots fol-
lowed them. and on reaching an open
field the three men, who had been hun
ters so shortly before and now were
hunted, paused to take breath and con-
slider what to do. The negroes had de-
serted them for secure hiding places, and
our friends were left alone. They were
deeply gratified in listening, to hear
nothing but the signing of the wind
through the forest from which they had
just emerged, and after a time were able
to find one of the main county roads
which they knew would take them in
sight of the sorghum mill, which they
would Oily find by the bright light of
the pine wood fire, and the creaking and
groaning of the heavy wheels crushing
the cane. They had, however, proceed