The National tribune., 1899-03-30

is AIM-IF AIM IT COULD BE CALLED
TAKEN INTO 1NKY DARKNEss-WAs
TRUE
. at once. But we did not want word sent
advance of our presence in the neighbor-
ood, and she was told she could not leave
Under some loose boards of the floor was
ound lot of good. and a keg with about
i've gallons of whisky. This was taken to
the door, the bung knocked ont, and the
liquor allowed to run out. The woman
wanted a drink. As it was thought it would
loosen her tongue. she was told to yet some
thing to catch it in, and brought small tin
pail. As she was allowing it to fill, some
thing was said to attract her attention, and
turn of soldiers foot upset it.
With rough exclamation she caught and
replaced the vessel. only to have the same
Yankee trick" played upon her again.
This brought out round, solid oath, and
when she put it under the stream again she
gripped it with both hands. and soon raised
it to her lips, and in haste, lest she should
lose 1t, drank an enormous quantity.
The whisky did not loosen her tongue, but
it did loosen her feet, and the exaggerated
highland fling she danced outdid any cancan
ever seen on the stage. Just rs it began the
Sergeant was He'd out of the house to meet
the returning pursurers Of Gross, who had
not found him, but had a fine horse which
had been hidden in the brush At that mo-
ment man who had been sent to the spring
for water returned, and entering the house
empiied the liquid over the dancer The
scream and hoarser shout which followed
cs.lled -Veryone to the scene, but the program
was played out.
A second attempt at Gross's capture, made
TWO weeks later, was successful, the fellow
-unning into the hands of two soldiers as he
aed out of the rear door to escape those COM
ing In at the front one.
A citizen, who had friends in one of the
regiments, came down from the North, and
with team and wagon began a buckstering
business, going out to the country and pur-
yeying for the officers He was warned of
the danger, but refused to heed, saying he
was not connected in any way with the army,
etc.
One morning he presented himself at the
picket post on the Scottsville pike, minus
horses, wagon, money, and very thankful
that he was not minus life as well. He had
gone down to Jericho and fallen among
thieves, who had stripped him and frightened
him nearly out of his wits, as they had out
of his boots, and it was a person sore of feet
as well as Of mind who told his tale of woe to
the commanding officer.
Unfortunately for the robbers they had
compelled him TO drive his team some dis
tance toward their haunt in the hills, about
25 miles from Gallatin, and had kept him a
day, he escaping the second night during
drunken orgie of the band.
As he had very good idea of locality, he
was sent back with the mixed command Of
scouts and cavalry, made larger than usual,
as he gave the number of the band as ex-
ceeding 30 men. Capt. lawson, Of the 11th
KY, was in command.
A days hunt had been fruisless, and it
was evident that the plundered man had lost
his bearings, and halt had been made at a
fork OF the road, while an adyance-guard
went short distance down one to recon-
noiter, when through the trees, apparently
but few hundred yards away, light was
seen for moment, vanished and reap
peared, to disappear in a moment
It's someone opening and shutting a
door. Mount, men, quietly" whispered the
Captain. Sergeant, leave two men here to
bring up that party on its return. Forward
Quiet back there; no talking"
When the outline of the house could be
distinguished, six men from the head of the
column were dismounted and sent to its rear
to cut of retreat, if necessary, and the rest
matted on arriving IN front of the building
But, before the command to dismount could
be obeyed, horse in the column "blew it's
nose" vociferously. An instant after, a
man threw open the door, and Standing
very foolishly-in the bright light, called:
Who's there? Is that you, Dick ?''
Some reply was made. and the questioner
at once fired. His aim-if aim it could be
called, taken into inky darkness-was true,
cutting, as it did lock from the heard of
the speaker. dozen carbines and pistols
replied, and dead man lay across the
Threshold of the door, There was stam-
pede for the rear door, and broken thigh
stopped the first one who opened it.
Finding themselves surrounded, the re-
manning members of the band surrendered.
In the darkness the scouting party had