The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-01-21
BURIED ALIVE.
A Victim Of White Caps Lives to Tel
the Tale.

Victim OF White Caps Lives to Tell
the Tale.
There was man in the city the 9th
er day who had about as sensational an
experience as ever falls to mankind. lie
was once buried alive by White Caps
after they had nearly murdered him.
The man is Ben Watkins farmer OF
Dekalb county. He was IN AtlanVa
with load of cotton and was at the po-
lice barracks in the afternoon talking
to several of his friends who are on the
police force. a
The old farmer was approached anu
asked about his terrible experience WIFI
White Caps. 80.
"Oh, it wasn't much, " he said, wl1n
a smile, "only I was once buried.
The old man then proceeded TO give
his experience with the White Caps. he
said:
"I was living in Gwinnett county at
the time, and it was 10 or IL years ago.
I have always tried to live the life OF
an honest citizen in my county, put
there be those who amt disposed that
way, and they amt too particular ABOUT
how they treat other people was
suspected of giving some information TO
revenue officers, which wasn't true, ana
I was told several times if l dldn look
out the White Caps would take care Oh
me. I went along minding my own
business until one day | was driving
along the public road near the old Burns
mill in Gwinnett. and was walking by
the side of my wagon to give the team
a rest as they were going up hill
Suddenly seven or eight men Jump
ed out of a thicket by the side OF the
rosd and put the muzzles of their guns
in my face. l stopped. Of course you
know l did that. Then one OF them
spoke up and said, you just. might as
we'll say your prayers, for we are sure
going to put you where you can tell
anv more news to the revenue officers. ,
tried little bluff, but it dldn t WORK
Every one of those fellows wore white
rags over their faces, and l couldn't tell
who they were. They dragged me down
into the woods and began to beat me
with sticks and the butt ends or their
guns. I yelled like wild Indian. All
of a sudden they stopped and ran away.
They must have heard somebody COM
ing. | tainted dead away, and when
they came back they must have thought
| was dead sure enough, for they took
me to where there was an old hole, and
into it they tossed me. Then they piled
lot of brush over me and threw SAND
over the brush. They were burying me,
and the only reason they didn't make
better job of it was because they dldn t
have shovels to handle the dirt. Ii any
shovels had been handy, wouldn't have
been here to tell the tale.
81 laid there in that grave all night.
The dead branches of the brush gave me
breathing places. The next morning
came to, and / had hard time scram'
bling out of that grave. was awful
sore and bruised up, but | managed tc
get home, and l told the people what
ilhad happened. You know, to This day
some of the people.in that neighborhooc
think rized from the dead. "
J Farmer Watkins is hale and strong
man for his age. He moved from Gwln
nett to Dekalb county few years ag(
and owns good farm which is all palt
for.
He never tires Of telling his expert
ence with the White Caps and Of his bu
rial and resurrection. Atlanta Consul
tution