The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-14
DEsERTERs IN THE EVERGLADES

Corporal II. II. Walker OF Company
X, Sixth Missouri Regiment, now doing
provost duty here, Is relating TO his
comrades very peculiar experience
had by him.
About two weeks ago one of the men
from the Sixth Missouri deserted, and
IL was learned that he had been seen i'm
the Everglades near Stewards. a small
station about 260 miles south OF this
city. AS soon as this information was
secured Corporal Walker was detailed
to go and arrest the man IL possible,
and Saturday morning he started on his
mission. Arriving at Stewards late in
the afternoon. he secured a boat and
started into the Everglades in search of
his man.
About midnight the cabin where the
deserter was supposed TO be hiding was
reached, and 1t was found that I'm some
manner he had heard OF Walkers COM
ing. and upon the arrival of the COR
poral everything was as quiet as the
tomb. Walker continued his search,
and about daylight found himself many
miles into the heart OF the Everglades.
Just after dawn he met a soldier who
levelled Springfield rifle at him and
demanded his business
Il don't want you" said Walker. II
am from the Sixth Missouri Regiment
and only want the man connected with
my regiment. I don't want you and
wouldn't have you. i am not from your
regiment at all"
1T makes no difference what regi-
ment you're FROM said the fugitive.
but IL you are not from here in very
few minutes your friends Will have to
tnA NJ M
ALL"
After a few minutes conversation
Walker succeeded in convincing the de-
serter that he did not want him and
would not take him under any circum-
stances and they soon became engaged
i'm friendly talk. 1t was ascertained
that he was from an Arkansas regi-
ment and had deserted about two
months ago. He beat his way over TO
Tampa on different soldier trains and
then struck out across country Tor the
Everglades. where he has been since.
Shortly after his arrival two deserters
from Louisiana regiments arrived and
they formed a copartnership I'm the fish
ing and hunting business. They were
very friendly with the Indians, and as
they had brought with them large
number of cartridges they were secure
for the winter. They have fishing lines
and hooks in abundance and also some
ed one OF them ventures into one Of
the small settlements, always well
armed secures what they want and re-
turns to camp. There are several other
deserters in the 'Glades, so Walker was
told by them. but they have a camp OF
their own and don't worry these two
Louisianans and the Arkansas man.
'The place selected by these three
men for a camp is an ideal one" said
Corporal Walker. -Four large palmet-
to trees were found growing just about
20 feet apart and forming square.
over these long sticks and portions OF
trees have been placed. and brush and
mud placed on top of that, making
rainproof roof The sides have been
built-up- of logs and branches OF trees
and good floor also made. one or the
men is always on guard around the hut,
and il is impossible TO approach IL from
either side without a Springfield rife
being thrown i'm your face, and the
command to halt given you. IL this is
not complied with Immediately YOU
stand the risk of having n bullet
through your body. These men are
desperate and do not intend to be cap
tured. After I had become friendly
with them they We're anxious to have
me remain with them. but as / had no
desire to do that. / secured from them
the information desired, and started on
after my man. After searching all
around for him and not finding trace,
and as night was coming on, l decided
to return to the house first seen by me
and known to be the hang-out of the
man l was looking for / thought that
he would return to the hut that night.
My idea proved to be n good one. for
along toward midnight he came up, and
in less time than ii takes 20 tell 1t, I
had him under arrest and the handouts
on him. At daylight we started for
Stewards.
1--WE reached there several hours be-
fore train time. and l met an Indian
called Billy Bowlegs and started
halfway conversation with him. He
wanted TO know where | had been. and
upon being informed. muttered: White
man lucky soldier lucky. Go in 'Glades
and don't get nothing but 'skeeter bite.
Heap much wildcat, heap much bear,
heap much catamount. You be much
lucky soldier and with two or three
grunts he folded his arms. looked at
me i'm a peculiar manner and walked
toward the woods. l reached here Mon
day night WITH my prisoner all safe and
sound, but have been scratching at
mosquito bites ever since. e.'-F1orida
Times Union and Citizen.