Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-10

Ing the darkness. There were other
small detachments all over the place
on the watch. There was big stone
church just a little way from where we
were stationed and there was mig
ger M in the tower hanging away at
us. lie was finding the range and the
bullets were coming too close for com
fort. got permission to so after him
and fhc still! hunt began. Talk about
hunting. big game in Maine. You ought
to try your hand at huntin. nigEers in
the night That fellow had n hole In
that stone tower and WAS firing through
that. The priests house was next to
the church and was also built Of stone.
I went out around back Of that. The
moon was Just coming up so we could
see nretty plain. didn't think the
cuss in the tower knew ! was over
from the States looking for him. but
he did just the same. I sneaked around
in the shadows and came out between
The house and the church where II was
dark. Then | waited for n chance at
the Niger.
He probably SAW. me when | went
into the shadow, for he began to look
FOR me with his gun. one bullet struck
another "spattca" on the tight. They
'vrre pretty close. ton. and l thought
it was about time was joining in.
SO after the third shot | got my old
gun a!l ready and when the fellow
opened tn, third time ! was ready for
him He made a good line sho; but II
was a trlie high and l escaped. ! let
go a. him then and yell told me
had him. We went UP into the tower
next day but all We found was big
pool Of blood.
we soldiers never went out alone in
4 town without q gun. II wasn't par
ticularly healthy at that time. There
was always pretty sure to be some mig
gers looking for stray sheep with the
a. $. brand and they liked to get en-
ono At n time. But one night forgot
mine and went off without any weapon
at ALL | was talking TO- a native when
| saw four men sneaking around down
the street sneilcd trouble right
there and kept 2 weather eye out. one
Of the four came straight up to me
while the others hung back. He could
talk a little English and opened con-
yersltion with me. There was ma
tive shack back Of us with a sort OF
fence about ii and "A gate. | kept my
eve on this while talking and saw the
other three fellows sneaking around
from behind the shack. That was the
declaration of war. ! struck at the
fellow in front Of me. intending to take
him under the jaw. but | landed fuil
IN his mouth. flooring him. The other
three men came on with a rush. but
they had To come through the gate one
at a time and ! was ready for thcm.
I piled the little fellows up and about
the time got through the first one
cot 10 his feet | jumped both feet
into him and put him out Of the game
for Keeps That was more than they
parcained for and the other three ran
II wasn't much scared while | was
scrapping. but while ! was going back
, to camp | got to thinking over what
might have happened and then my
hair began to stand. u did run some
along the last Of it, ri admit. I've
got the bolo that first nigCcr had in his
clothes when j thumhrd him, and It
isn't Il particularly nice looking knife
ooh. yes. guess II! let the other
/ fellows have their share Of il nov. FOR
| got al | wanted. It'll be good
country after they get Il opened up
but it's going to take time and Ia Just
as lief let someone else do it,"