Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-10-22
Is Result Of Thrilling Story Told
by Col. TayIsr Of His Escape
from Might Riders.
SIX, STATES WILL ACT
Taylor Gives the Account Of His
Escape and Of Ms Long Tramp
Through the Woods Before
Reaching Civilization.
peciaI By Umstsd Prsss Wsrs:

Nashville, Tenn, Oct. 22:-The
whole Reel Foot Lake section, the
scene of the murder of Quentin
Rankin by the night riders, Is un-
der martial law. Troops are search
Ing every house for masks, arms
and other evidences of participation
In the crime.
Important clues leading to the
Identification of some of the band
have been furnished by Colonel Tay-
lor, who escaped Rankins fate by
leaping into a bay and swimming
to safety.
A special court has been convened
In Union City to try all the offenders
and suspects arrested.
Taylor has reached here after a
miraculous escape.
ti-, =, he struck the
water, alu l-e ehrubbery on the op-
posite bank bore marks of the leaden
hail sent after the colonel. The con
clusion was that his body was at the
bottom of the bayou.
His escape, considering that he is
sixty years old, certainly was one of
the most remarkable Of fact or fiction.
He had been hidden for hours In the
mud and water. AT dawn he arose
and plunged into the underbrush to
fight his way to a friendly community.
After being informed at Union City
Of the safety of Colonel Taylor, Gov
ernor Patterson telephoned that he
would start for Tiptonville immedi-
ately.
Colonel Taylor made the following
statement Of his experience:
Captain Rankin and l went to Reel
Foot lake in response to a letter from
a Mr.. Carpenter of Union City, who
wanted to lease some timber lands.
On our arrival at the lake we went to
the log house, or Ward hotel, and ear
ly after supper retired Some time
during the night we were aroused by
some one knocking at our door, and
on opening 1t a mob of masked men
were found in the hail.
eve were ordered to dress, and as
the leader of the mob said he wanted
to talk to us we put on our clothes
and accompanied the men to the back
Of the lake, some distance from the
hotel.
"The leader talked with us, telling
us we were associa ting too much with
Judge Harris and were taking entire
ly too much interest In the lake. He
said that the course Of Harris and the
West Tennessee Land company In pro.
hibiting free fishing was causing he
sfa rva ttop Of uvnp,ap opd ohfIdra1 opd
that something had to be done
II never dreamed that the mob In
tended US any harm, but just then they
threw a rope around Captain Rankin's
neck and swung him to a limb. He
protested and said, Gentlemen, do not
kill me- and the reply of the mob was
a volley of fifty shots that riddled his
body.
"The band then began disputing
about me, some wanting to kill me and
others arguing to hold off for time
/ watched my chance, broke away
from two guards and plunged into the
bayou"
Under command of Colonel W. G.
Tatum of Nashville ia men Of the
Third battalion, First regiment, Ten
nessee national guard, are at Walnut
Log.
The body of Captain Quentin Rankin
arrived from Walnut Log. The left
side near the hip is riddled with small
shot. His arms were wounded, the
back of his head was blown Off, and
his teeth were knocked in.