The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-10-21
Wanders Day and Night in Wild and
Hostile Region Of Reelfoot Lake to
Kentucky Side.
THRILLING STORY OF MURDER OF CAPTAIN RANKIN
AND SUCCESSFUL DASH FOR LIBERTY OF TAYLOR
Governor OF Tennessee Aroused From Apathy Sends Troops
..-Bie Rewards Offered

Taptonville. Tenn, Oct. 81. (s
bayou and wandering In the wider
and last night, Col. X. Y. Taylor.
from the night riders on Reelfoot l.
Slough Landing, Ky, and has starte
escape, as related by him, is Thrill
enough to overcome a man in his
more than 60 years old.
When the night riders took {
into the woods on the bank of a ba,
Ing to carry out their hellish designs
after permitting Capt. Rankin a m,
him up and filled his body with bu
They had tied neither of the VII
gleefully pumping bullets into the
tim, Mr.. Taylor broke and ran tow;
attempt; for the guns were turned
indicate how many shots must hay'
woods at the fleeing figure.
None reached its mark and Mr.
knee deep, intending TO swim for Il
with him. He stumbled over a wa
on the other side of Il. The log pr
way the full length of the log, hol'
under water, while the bullets peel
water around him. Hundreds of S
from the point where he entered
he had placed himself below the ra
fifteen minutes he was relieved TO
horses and ride away. He renal
have been left TO make sure he was
Then Mr.. Taylor struck out a
with which he was not acquainted
swan forty yards to land. Then he
across the country in the dark. Il
Taylor had TO use great care, whom
fear of the night riders, and he was
phoned the good news of his safety
at Trenton.
The Visitation.
Union City, Tenn. Oct. 21.-1t wa
midnight when the band OF Righ
riders Weakened the sleeping inmate.
of Wards hosiery at Walnut Log
On their way there they stopped a
the house of a farmer named Fl
Powell and forced him to accompan,
them. He was wanted to rouse tn.
household and gain an entrance. !
being feared that Ward would no
open TO masked men, and they has
no grievance against him. ARRIVING
at Walnut Log. Powell, accompanied
by half a dozen dismounted riders
went to the hotel and easily got in
side. The company of black-facel
ghouls followed quickly. There wer
several men in the hotel and all wer
awakened and made to dress. Rankil
and Taylor were known, and whel
told to come out-they occupied th'
same room-Judge Taylor. suspect
ing nothing, it is said, called out
IAN right, Wen be there in mo
ment."
Fielding Burchett. Of Martin, wa
among the guests, ann the night rii
ers thought he wash civil enginee
that had been brought along to rui
the lines. When they told him thel
wanted him to- accompany them h'
wildly protested his innocence, sale
he was thers for the purpose of hunt
ing and az. not know either RanRfs
or Tayloy His statement being veri'
fed, thgfnight riders tod him to "ge'
up an1 git" and he flew.
Frgm Powell the sheriff and hi
posse learned the story of the muir
der of Captain Rankin. II seems
from his statment. that the Trenton
LAWYERS did not believe that an at
Tempt would be made on their lives
They could not conceive of such
thing as men of their prominence be
ing hanged and shot like dogs by mel
of their own color for no crime. AM
so they quietly accompanied the ban'
down the road from Walnut Log II
the direction of the lake. When abou
500 yards distant Powell was told 4
halt, and, leaving him with a guard
the band went a short distance FUR
Their and within the sound of voic'
held a parley with their prisoners
They were trying to entort some sor
of promise or confession from Cap
tain Rankin, presumably a promis'
to leave Walnut Log and not try Z
take up the land the court had de
creed to him and Taylor He resisted
and then they began to torture him
first putting rope around his necl
and drawing him of the ground until
only the tip of his toes touched. Thel
they struck him over the head viii
the butts Of their pistols and laeerate'
his scalp and face until his eounte
nance was badly dishgured. STARING
death in the face. suffering the agon,
that was only surpassed by Him OF
calvary, this brave gentleman woui'
not trucSle TO the towards and as
sassins that had him at their mercy
lbut rather gave up the ghost thai