The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-07-24
Devoted the Agricultural Interests Fredericksburg

es. 10 second l sprAnk tu my
feet and darted towards a side door,
which had selected on fo-mer OCCASION
as the only way escape from that house.
Though the hands might have been
the hands Of Esau. yet the voice Yves the
voice of Jacob, and could not be mis-
taken AS laid my hand on the door.
knob and knew that l could secure my
liberty, thought of Captain Richards,
whom | had invited to the honse, and
who was stranger trere | dashed
back through the passage TO the parlor,
and was conscious Of passing some
ladies' but / did not SEE in the dark
that Richards was with them. They
had ieme mbered what had told them
about putting soldiers out at that IN.
finished door, end had shown Richards
the way Of escape. He spranR out on
the ground, the porch not yet having
been erected The guards ct the cor.
ners Of the house fired on him. lie ran
across the yard, aud as he leaped the
fence Yaokee sentinel ordered his
surrender. Some years afterwards l
saw Captain Richards. and be Informed
me that he escaped by seizng the bride
aud shooting the cavalry lie
mounted his horse and dlshed away
before he could be overwhelmed by
numbers.
As went back in the plrlor, found
CAPTAIN Richards had gone and the
room was deserted Turning rapidly. l
rushed back 70 the same door. thinking
IL was possible that the enemy night
neglect 70 put a guard there. even
though one man had escaped at that
place Turning the knob very cautious.
ly and forming little creek in the
door, l peeped through, aud saw a
squld Of men ready to receive me,
should / make the Jump. Again clos.
ing the door, ! turned and walked down
the passage into q larger hall and stood
az the foot of the stairs. l saw Mr.
5kinker and his son Charles holding
the front door, which was only q few
feet from me. They were trying to
gain time, that / might have opportun-
ity to hide in the building heard
the officer on the outside demand en-.
trance. and then there was humping
on the door with the butt Of carbines.
in order 10 crush II In. Mr.. Skinker
was very earnest in his appeal TO them
not 10 destroy his door, bat TO wait
until the key could be found, which
key was in his hand at the time, while
he and Charles were propped against
the door at an angle OF forty. five DO.
grees At this moment, not knowing
where | should 90 to conceal myself IN.
Gil the search Of the house was over, 3
colOred woman, whom | had never seen
before, came running down the steps
with a lamp In her hand. aud said :
Follow me, Southern soldier. and
will hide you. " l sprang up the steps,
and she led on until we reached the
garret, and, pointing to hole in the
side Of the wall, which had been left,
perhaps, for the purpose Of extinguish
ing fire in the upper part Of the build
ing, she told me to 90 into that, and 60
as far as l could, which instructions, il
obeyed, might have placed me beyond
all danger. But decided to go over
but one joist, and remain just at the
opening. because at this point, II
should be discovered. l could sell my
life at q good price. Up TO this time
the thought Of a surrender had not en-.
tered my mind, as was looking for an
escape first, and afterwards, when all
hope Of escape WAS gone, | decided to
fight as long as could pull the trigger
had hardly gotten in position before
heard the front door burst open, a
tremendous struggle In the hall. heavy
thud upon the floor, and shrek from
Mrs. Skinker One Of the enemy had
struck Mr. Skinker over the head
with his pistol, as he tried to
force them out of his house. Soon
he and Charles were pinned down
and made prisoners. heard an officer
demand of Mrs. Skinker that l should
be delivered up as prisoner, or her
house would be burned TO the ground.
1 heard her defiant voice as she said
Il will never reveal his hiding. place
and II he is here, you must find him "
When they insisted that they were going
burn the house, she said Burn
ahead. " Then l heard some one read
an order, which he claimed to be from
General Gregg. to the effect that
should be brought TO headquarters, dead
or alive. do not know that General
Gregg ever Issued such an order but | dc
know that 1t was meant TO intimidate
Mrs. Skinker in order to secure de-
livery of my person. The enemy had
reached more than their match in tn {
courage Of that family. While this was
going on, could hear below me par
ties Of the enemy as they rushed into
room after room in order to- search
them. In o few moments one party
reached the foot Of the garet steps, and
the coIored woman, "Marthi," who
had just hidden me. was leading them,
having the same lamp in her hands
which she was holding when she con
sealed me. The first thought which
came into my mind was that she hat
hidden me to find me but sooI
gathered from her conversation tha
she was really seeking my interest
The opening In the wall was nearly be
hind her as she went mp the steps, ant
whatever position her body assumed
after she had reached the garrett.room