The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-21
Escaped Murderous Night Rid
ers by Jumping in Lake.
He Arrives at Tiptonville Safe
and Uninjured.
MILITIA ORDERED OUT
Governor Patterson Issues Law
and Order Address.
Offers $4,000 Reward for Ap-
prehension of Assassins.

Tiptonville. Tenn. Oct 2I.-Un-
harmed save numerous scratches re-
ceived in u 30-hour trip throug un-
familiar woods and the fatigue Incl
dent to the trip without food and the
mental strain, Judge Zachary Taylor
reached here today after a miraculous
escape from night riders at Reel Foot
lake. who murdered his partner. Cap
tain Quenten Rankin, night before
last.
Judge Taylor's escape is due to
daring dash for liberty while the night
riders were disputing among them
selves the best way to kill him. During
the heat of the discussion at a mo-
ment when the guards attention was
diverted. Judge Taylor broke for free
dom. Dashing a few yards to the
bank of a shallow inlet of Reel Foot
lake, he plunged in.
A fusillade of bullets followed the
fugitive. whose figure was dimly dis
cernible in the growing dawn of ap-
preaching daylight. Wading and swim
ming, the aged attorney pushed for
ward. Bullets and shot fell on every
side, but none struck him. Near the
bank opposite the firing night riders
Judge Taylor threw up his hands and
pitched forward heavily over a log
and lay inert. Hundred of shots were
fired into the log by the night riders.
but not one penetrated far enough to
injure him. Satisfied that their victim
had met death and fearing that the re-
peated sound of shots would arouse
hood, the night riders did not attempt
to cross the slough to examine the
body, but left the scene after about
800 shots had been fired. Judge Tay
IA- Ix Iox, 60 To- y Il
and water, fearing that some one had
been left to watch. At dawn cautious
ly looking up and seeing that his ruse
had been successful. Judge Taylor
arose and plunged into the underbrush
to fight his way to a friendly COM
munity. Avoiding paths which might
lead to some unfriendly clearing,
Taylor pushed his way slowly through
the dense woods. For hours he trav-
eled in this manner, the sun his only
guide When night came Taylor. still
afraid to approach a house. made his
couch on a bed of leaves and slept
until early morning. About o'clock
this morning Judge Taylor deciding
that it would then be safe for him to
make inquiry at a farm house, follow
ed a path which shortly led into
rough road. Within a few minutes the
fleeing man came upon the home of
Luther Rankin, overseer for the extern
sive Harris estate, and where the fugi-
tive was given breakfast. Mr.. Rankin
then rode to the nearest telephone and
sent message into Tiptonville with
the news that Judge Taylor was safe.
Soon after Taylor and Mr. Rankin ar
rived here, being met few miles
from town by a posse of citizens.
After being informed at Union City
of the safety of Colonel Taylor, Cover
nor Patterson telephoned that he
would start for Tiptonville imme-
diately.
Militia Ordered Out.
Union City, Tenn, Oct. 21.-Gover-
nor Patterson who arrived last mid
night began early today to direct
operations toward apprehension of
those concerned in the murder of Cap
| tain Rankin at Reel Foot lake. One
| hundred and fifty militiamen under
| command of Col. w. E. Tatom. ar
rived early today and will be dis
tributed throughout the district.
Governor Patterson gave out the
| following statement:
II have offered the largest reward
the law will permit for the arrest and
conviction of the assassins and have
ordered out the troops. I have be-
| lieved that the militia should be the
| last resort in a state governed by law
but the time has now come when it is
my duty as governor to use all the
power at my command to restore or
der in the region where these
assassnations have occurred and to
assist the courts in the apprehension
and punishment of the perpetrators.
1t must be taken by all as a purpose
deliberately formed. 1 hope no man or
| body of men anywhere in the state
will fail to understand it.
| I'VE have had enough of lawless
acts, of threats, intimidation and other
methods of terrorizing citizens and
communities. This should be stopped
and must be stopped, or the con-
sequences Will have to be accepted.
For the present 1 have left the cam
paign for the governorship, believing
! the upholding of law and order in our
state is of more importance than
| political discussions"