Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-22
EXPERIENCES nlIi nlHSa|Ps
Lawyer, Supposed to Have Met Death
at Hands Of Men Who Killed Com
panion, Shows Up Safe and Sound
Governor Patterson On Scene
With Troops.
(Bv Associated Press).


TIPPONVILLE. TENNESSEE. Dc
tober 2l.-Unharmed save num-
erous scratches received in a
thirty-four hour trip through
unfamiliar woods and the fatigue in
ciden, to the trip without food i).d
the mental strain. Colonel r. Zacha-
ry Taylor reached here today after
miraculous escape from night riders
at Reel Foot Lake. who murdered
his partner Captain Quentin Rankin,
night before last. His own story OF
his experiences was told by him to-
day as follows:
Story Of Experiences.
Monday night last. Captain Rank
in and l went 10 Reel Foot Lake in
response to a letter from MIR. Car
penter. 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 early
after supper retired. Some time dur
ing the night We were aroused by
some one knocking 81 Our door. and
on opening the door. mob Of masked
men was found standing in the hall.
We were ordered to dress. and as
~, sccomDs "a lea IaR22h naaid be wanted
Of the lake, some distance from 'he
hotel.
Leader Reasoned With Victims.
The leader Of the mob talked WIN
VIC telling us We were asSociating
too much with Judge Harris and were
taking entirely too much interest," III
IN. lake He said that the course OF
Harris and the West Tennessee Lana
Company in prohibiting free nsnins
was causing the starvation OF women
,nd children and that something had
to be done.
Mob Suddenly Violent.
II never dreamed that the ::~S IN
tended us any harm. but Just tneh
the mob threw a rope around Cap
tain Rankin's neck and swung MIN 10
a limb. He protested and said gen
,,emen do not kill me- and the reply
Of the mob was . volley OF hfty saots.
| This was the first evidence OF any
intention to harm US. and when tne
firing began, ! jumped into bayou.
and made for a sunken log. Beh'nd
this l hid and the mob hred seSeIa'
hundred shots into the log. Tney e',
identity believed l was Dead Ior
heard come Of them say:
Hes dead: let him 60 and Win
that they rode away.
Remained Long In Water.
ct remained In the water until alter
the mob vas out Of hearing and went
to an island in the lake. where l re.
manned all day Tuesday. At night
started cut and walked all night com
ing to house at S O'Clock this morn
ing"
| Governor In Control.
UNION CITY. TENN. Oct. IL
Governor Patterson. who arrived here
las, night. began early today to d.
rect operations toward apprehension
of those concerned in the murder Of
cap.ain Rankin. at Reel Foot Lake
One hundred and Afty militismen. un
der command OF Colonel w. c. TAtom
arrived here today and we're distr'
buted throughout the district. Posses
started from this city to search 'o'
Colonel Taylor.
Governor Patterson gave out thu
following state ment today. before !
was learned that Colonel Taylor had
not been killed:
4 have offered the iaTsess rewarf
the Law vii. permit for the arrest ARK
conviction Of the ass.ssins anc nav
ordered out troops.
Time 10 Ues Force.
Il have believed that the mii'tar'
shoui6 be the last resort OF star
governed by Law. bu. the time ha
nov come when u Ii ny duty as gov
, ernor to use all the power az my CON
! mapd tn restore order In the regso
: where the assassinations have occu'
/ red. and 10 assis, the courts In tn
, apprehension and punishment Of I'd
RI guilty ones. II mus, b. taken by a
as a purpose deliberately formed. an
I'll hope no man or body Of men
; the state. viii fall Nc. have ha
enough Of iawiess acts. % threats. u
ltimidation and other methods Of To-
, | rorixinr citizens and communi'te
I'll This should be stopped and must
stopped.
o., 80 -, 49, rarnnaf~o far IN