The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-22
Colonel Taylor unharmes.

Tlptonvhle, Tenn. Oct. 2i.-Unharm. ed, save numerous scratches in a thir- ty-hour trip through unfamiliar woods and the fatigue incident to the trip without food. and the mental strain, Col. R. z. Taylor reached here this morning after a miraculous escapa from night riders at Reelfoot Lake, who murdered his partner. Captain Quentin Rankin. ,-
 Colonel Taylor's escape ts due to a daring. dash for liberty while the night riders were disputing among them selves the best way to kill him. Dur. ing the heat of the discusafon, at a moment when the guards attention was diverted. Colonel Taylor broke for freedom. Dashing a few yards to the bank of a shallow inlet of ReeIfOot Lake, he plunged in.
 A fusilRde of bullets followed the fu- gitive whose figure was dimly dis- cernible jn the growing dawn of ap. proaching daylight. Wadlng and swimming the aged attorney pushed forward. Bullets and small shot fell 0n every side, but none struck true.
 Near the bank opposite the firing night riders, Colonel Taylor threw up his hands and pitched forward heavily over a log. and lay inert. Hundreds night riders. to make assurance doub- iy sure, but not one penetrated far enough to injure Colonel Taylor.
 Satisfied that their victim had met death, and fearing that the repeated sound of shots would arouse too many residents of the neighborhood, the night riders did not attempt to cross the slough to examine the body. but left the scene after over 100 shots had been fired. Colonel Taylor. however, lay for hours in the water, fearing some one had been left to watch.
 At dawn. looking up and seeing that his ruse had been successful, Colonel Taylor plunged into the underbrush to nght his way to friendly community.
 Avoiding paths which might lead to some unfriendly clearing, Colonel Tay- Tor pushed his way slowly through the dense woods, stopping only to take a few minutes rest or to refresh him. self from some clear stream. For hours he travelled in this manner, the sun his only guide. When night came Colonel Taylor, still afraid to approach a house, made his couch on bed of leaves and slept until early morning. With the first rays of the sun he was up and pushing onward.
 About o'clock Wednesday morning Colonel Taylor, deciding that St would then be safe for him to make inquiry at farm house. followed 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 extensive Harris interests in that section, in what is known as Number Nine bot. tom Rankin, who is not related to Colonel Taylor's murdered partner, welcomed the almost exhausted man. and after giving him breakfast and dressing the wounds made by rough brush In the battle through the woods. rode to the nearest telephone neighbor and sent a message into Tiptonvills with the news that Colonel Taylor was safe.
 Shortly afterward Colonel Taylor and Mir. Rankin started for Tiptonvtlle in a buggy. They were met few miles from town by a posse which started out for the purpose.
 Colonel Taylor immediately after reaching town called up his home at Trenton by long distance telephone and informed his relatives of his es- cape.
 Tn his flight Colonel Taylor travelled about twenty miles through section which would have proved difficult even had he followed roads
 After being informed at Union City of the safety of Colonel Taylor, Gov ernor Patterson telephoned that he would start for TiptonviIle immedi- ately to interview Colonel Taylor in person.
 The Governor directed the local au- thorities to render every assistance possible and if he could give them a clue to the identity to any of the night riders which could be worked from this point to start out without further orders.