The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-10-22
COY. PATTERSON
INVITES OTHER
GOVERNORS AID
Conference Called to Consider
Plans For Putting Down
Night Riding.
He Goes to ReelfOOt Lake I'm
der Heavy Guard.
MIR. TAYLOR TELLS HIS STORY

Tiptonville, Tenn, Oct. (Spe-
cia.. )-Governor Patterson was here
all night. heavily guarded. He went
ito keeifoot lake this morning to take
charge of the troops.
News OF the death OF Captain Ran
kin and the supposed death of Colonel
Taylor had already been received here
and when 1t was learned that Colonel
Taylor had escaped aud was then at
Tiptonyille all of the own turned OUT
TO see him. After making repeated
statements OF his miraculous escape
aud the death OF his partner. Captain
Rankin, Colonel Taylor had TO retire
to rest. II was not until late in the
day time that the effects OF the ex-
perience began TO tell on him.
In making his escape Colonel Tay-
Tor spent the balance OF Monday night
on an island in the lake, where he lay
hid in the tall "cut" grass. When he
reached the home of Luther Rankin
his arms showed cuts and bruises
from the grass and underbrush. These
were dressed before he was driven to-
Tiptonville. but he is still sore and
stiff. and Il viii be several days be
fore he will recover from the effects
of his long fast and rough treatment.
In telling OF the killing OF Captain
Rankin and of his own escape, Col
onel Tay.or said that his partner was
killed about 1890 O'Clock Tuesday
morning. As the rope was thrown
around the neck OF Captain Rankin,
Colonel Taylor said that he heard him
exclsim:
"Gentlemen. are you going TO kill
me?" when at least fift, shots fol-
lowed.
AS he saw the llfeless body OF the
mob's fury dangling in the air, Col
|onel Taylor said that he saw that hel
would be killed II he did not escape.
He made a dash for the woods ana
plunged into a bayou about 100 feet
wide. A number of shots were fired
lat him, but in the darkness they all
went wide OF the mark. Colonel Tay-
Tor then swan TO a sunken log. be-
hind which he threw himself. Imme-
diately volley after vo,ley was fired.
In all about 200 shots, but none c,
them penetrated the log and he es-
capped injury. The mob evidently
thought he was dead. as they with
drew, leaving him TO his fate.
Describes His Flight.
Colonel Taylor gave a graphic de-
scription OF the murder of Captain
Rankin and his own escape.
MONDAY night" said Colonel Tay-
Tor. captain Rankin and went to
Reelfoot AXE in response TO a letter
from Mr. Carpenter. OF Union City.
who wanted to lease some timber
land. on our arrival we went to the
log house. 'or Ward hotel, and afterl
an early supper retired. Some timel
|during the night we were aroused by
a knocking on our door. and on open-l
men standing In the hail The leader
OF the mob ordered us to dress say,
Ing that ne wanted to talk to us. anil
We were taken TO the hanks of thel
lake, some distance from the hotel.
"The leader of the mob talked with
rs. telling us that We associated with
Judge Harris too much. and were TAX.
ing too much interest in the lake. He
said that the West Tennessee Land
company and Judge Harris, in pro-
|hlbitlng fishing In the lake, were
causing women and chiliren to starve
and that something had TO be done.
Did Not Expect Mob's Action.
"Up TO that time had no idea that
the mob intended us any harm. With
out warning a rope was thrownI
around the neck OF Captain Rankin,
and,he was swung to a limb. He pro-
tested. exclaiming: Gentlemen, do
YOU intend TO kill me. the reply of
the mob being a yolley OF at least so
shots.
81 saw at once that my fate would
be the same. and before the roar OF
The shots died out | jumped into the
bayou and made for a sunken log. At
least 200 shots were fired at my flee
ing figure, but I was not touched.
The mob evidently thought / was
lead, for | heard one of them say:
He is dead; let him go, and the body
withdrew.
81 remained in the water until the
mob was out of hearing. when swan
to an island in the lake. remained
there the balance Of the night and all
lay Tuesday. Tuesday night / start
ed out to try and get home, and
walked all night. | reached Mr.. Jones
house at about Z o'clock. He drove
me to the home of Luther Rankin.
six miles away. reached there
about $40 o'clock. There go,
breakfast and had my scratches
dressed. and from there | arrived IN