Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-04-16
A NOVEL EXECUTION.


7 ND don't you find it very dull
IA up here all alone" 1 asked.
NO" he answered; mot SO dull
as you might think, by any means.
You see, there is plenty of game to be
had, large and small, for the shooting;
the scenery is delightful to me, who,
like you, am bit of an artist, and then
the banditti usually provide little ad-
ditional excitement. 'Whatp' 1 said,
'are there banditti around here, thenY'
"Yes," he answered; ''most certainly,
though not in the direction from which
you have come. But as you proceed
into Bohemia you will find the noun
tainS infested with them, and l shall
send an escort down with you to-mor-
row. Indeed, in these piping times of
peace it is chiefly for the purpose of
escorting travellers through the noun
tains that we are here. You will have
specially strong escort tomorrow,
though, as we have here at present con-
fined in the fort a notorious bandit we
captured but yesterday in a raid on his
hiding place, and tomorrow 1 shall send
him down to Robensburg for trial.
There is no doubt what his fate will
be. Two murders have been proved
against him, and there are numerous
improved ones and hundreds of rob-
berries down to his name. 1t is, as YOU
say, long way to send him, but
Robensburg is our headquarters, and
he will be tried by the military there.
But you must be tired and glad to get
to bed" Saying this, he showed me to
a small bedroom and left me to my
: slumbers.
- was awakened early by the sound
of bugle, and was soon out to enjoy
the fresh air and fine scenery. I-was
Immediately struck by the strong posi-
.. ton of the fort, the site on which it was
:. built being admirably adapted for de-
tense. The road, if road it could be
called-perhaps pass would be a better
word-here ran for a full mile in a kind
of glen or gully, lined on either side by
lofty and precipitous rocks, which,
towering up high on either side, left
only, a narrow way in the middle.
Standing in the center of this gully, you
could look along the path about half a
mile each way, at which distance it
came to stop, the road suddenly dip
ping down on one side to Robensburg
and on the other toward forest. 1t
was in the middle of this valley. or
rather cutting, that the fort had been
built, stretching across the narrow way
from one wall to the other, SO that. if
necessary, the road could be completely
blocked and swept by the guns of the
fort. In times Of peace the fort had
a gate left permanently open, allowing
travellers to walk right through it and
pursue their way to the other side.
My friend the lieutenant soon Joined
me, and remarked on the strong posi-
ton held by the fort. "Yes," said he.
smiling, 81 think we could give a good
account of ourselves before an enemy
could pass along the road from end to
end," and he pointed to the three guns
mounted on each side, commanding the
two roads. A large one was in the mid
die and smaller one was on each side
of it. and very formidable they looked.
He said l might leave them at noon,
when the escort for the prisoner would
be ready. Hardly had he finished
speaking when a shout was heard in
the fort, followed by the report of a
rife and a babel of cries. The officer
rushed down to see what was the mat.
ter, following him closely. Arrived at
the square, we found a crowd of sol.
diers assembled around man lying on
the ground, bleeding profusely from a
wound in the shoulder. The officer was
quickly told the cause of the tumult
The bandit, while being led out of his
cell, preparatory to being marched
away had suddenly stabbed soldier
with "a. hidden knife, and, taking ad
vantage of the surprise he created, haG
escaped from the fort, though a sentry
had. fred at him. He was soon de
scried flying down the road which lee
to the forest, and several men started
> in pursuit. The officer was about tc
follow them when a grizzled veteran
touched his shoulder and said a few
words to him.
"Are you quite sure you can do it
gunner" asked the lieutenant "Per