The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-20


hit. Then down on my knees l sank
and put one arm through the great
latch OF the door, and thrust out with
my knife with the free hand, and stou,
arms were at my shoulders striving tc
drag me away, but they might as well
for time have tried to drag a bar OF
steel from Its fastenings.
/ thrust out here and there, and
trow my steel drew blood, and I sup
pose my own flowed. for presently
was kneeling in widening circle of
| red. l cut those forcing hands from
my arm, and others came. 1t was one
against multitude for the rabble, after
hitting wild blows as often at their
friends as at their enemies. had broken
and fed. except those who were taken
the last and fought like wildcats, with
the exception Of Madam Tabitha Story.
who quietly got upon her old horse and
ambled away. and cut down her own
tobacco until daybreak, pressing her
slaves into service.
AS for the other gentlemen, they were
fighting as best they could, and all the
time striving vainly to gather the mob
into Arm body of resistance None OF
them saw the plight / was in, nor in
deed could have helped me had they
done SO, since there were but seven
gentlemen Of us in all, and some by this
time wounded. and one dead.
1 knelt there upon the ground before
the door. slashing out as best / could
with one hand, and they closed faster
and thicker upon me, and at last
could no more. / felt singing pain
in my right shoulder, and then for a
minute my senses left me. But 1T was
only for moment.
When / came to myself I was lying
bound, with soldier standing guard
over me, though there was small need
Of ii, and they were raining battering
blows upon the door of Laurel Creek.
Somehow they had conceived the idea
that there was something Of great i'm
port therein by my mad and desperate
defense know not what they thought,
but gradually all the militia were cen
tered at that point, striving to force
the door. AS for the shutters, they were
heavily barred and offered no easier
entrance Indeed, the whole house had
the Indians before the Bacon uprising
and was near as strong as a fort. 1t
would have been well had we all en-
tered and defended ii, though we could
not have held out for long, through not
being provissoned.
At last Captain Jaynes and the other
gentlemen began TO conceive the situa-
tion, and / caught sight of them fore
ing their way toward me and shouted
to them with failing voice, for had
lost much blood. to come nearer and
assist me to hold the door. Then I saw
Captain Jaynes sink in his saddle, and
caught q glimpse OF mighty re-
treat OF piunging launches OF Parson
Downs horse. and indeed the gist Of
the blame for it all was afterward put
upon the parsons great fiery horse,
which it was claimed had run away
with him first into the fight. then away
from it, spch foolish reasons do men
love to give for the lapses Of the clergy.
However. to do the parson justice,
he did not fly until he saw the day was
lost, and, trow, did afterward better
service to me than he might have done
by staying. AS for the burgesses,
know not whittier nor when they had
gone, for they had melted away like
shadows by reason OF the great OBJ
IoGuy which would have attached to
them should men In their high off1ce
have been discovered In such work.
Ralph Drake was left. who made
push toward me with q hoarse shout,
and then he fell. though not severely
and then the soldiers pressed
closer. And then felt again the door
reid at my back. and before / knew it |
was dragged inside. and. In spite of |
he pressure OF the mob, the door was |
,ushed to with incredible swiftness by |
humphrey Hyde's great strength and |
he bolt shot
There 1 lay on the door of the hall |
veil nigh spent. and Mary Cayendish |
vas chafing my hands, bandaging nv |