Willmar tribune., 1908-10-28
SWIMS TO SAFETY
IN LEADEN HAIL
COL. TAYLOR, REPORTED SLAIN
~ NIGHT RIDERS, ESCAPES
IN THRILLING DASH.
CAPToRS IN DISPUTE:
LAWYER TAKES FLIGHT
His Companion, Capt. Rankin, 10
Strung Up TO Tree Before Ten.
nessee Attorneys Eyes-0overno
on Spot 70 Hunt Out Perpetrators,

Tiptonville, Tenn, Oct. 22.-Un.
harmed, save numerous scratches re.
ceived in 30-hour trip through unfar
miliar woods and the fatigue incident
to the trip without food, and the
mental strain, Judge r. Zachary Tay-
lor reached here Wednesday after a
miraculous escape from night riders
at Reelfoot Lake, who murdered his
partner, Capt. Quentin Rankin.
Judge Taylor's escape is due to q
daring dash for liberty while the night
riders were disputing among them
selves the best way 20 kill him. Dur
ing the heat of the discussion, at q
moment when the guards attention
was diverted, Col. Taylor broke for
freedom. Dashing few yards to the
bank of a shallow inlet of Reelfoot
lake, he plunged in.
Escapes in Bullet Hail.
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 small 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. Hundreds of
shots were fired into the log by the
night riders, but not one penetrated
far enough to injure Col. Taylor. Sat-
isf1ed that their victim had met death,
and fearing that the repeated sound of
shots would arouse too many residents
in the neighborhood, the night riders
did not attempt to cross the slough to
examine the body, but left the scene
after about 300 shots had been fired.
Col. TayIor's Experience.
Col. Taylor Wednesday made the
following statement of his expert
ences:
"Capt. Rankin and I 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
early after supper retired. Some time
during the night we were aroused by
some one knocking at our door, and
on opening the door a mob of masked
men were found standing in the hall.
We 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.
Mob Talks Of Trouble.
'The leader of the mob talked with
us, telling us we were associated too
much with Judge Harris, and were
taking entirely too much interest in
the lake. He said that the course of
Harris and the West Tennessee Land
Company in prohibiting free fishing
was causing the starvation of women
and children, and that something had
to be done.
Il never dreamed that the mob
intended us any harm, but just then
they threw rope around Capt.
Rankin's neck and swung him to a
limb. He protested, and said: Gen
tlemen, do not kill me- and the reply
of the mob was volley of so shots.
Jumps Into Bayou.
"This was the first evidence of any
intention to harm US, and when the
firing began l jumped into a bayou,
and made for sunken log. Behind
this hid and the mob fired several
hundred shots into the log. They evil
IDENTIFY believed I was dead, for heard
one of them say: He's dead, and let
him co. and with that he rode away.
II remained in the water until after
the mob was out of hearing and went
to IN island in the lake, where 1 re-
NAMED all day Tuesday. At night
started out and walked all night, COM
ing up to a house at six o'clock this
morning"
Governor Takes Action.
Gov. Patterson arrived here and
was early astir directing operations
leading to the apprehension of those
concerned in the murder of Capt. Ran
kin at Reelfoot lake. One hundred
and fifty militiamen, under command
Of Col. w. c. Tatom, arrived Wednes-
day and were distributed throughout
the district. Gov. Patterson gave out
the following statement Wednesday:
Il have offered the largest reward
the law will permit for the arrest and
conviction of the assassins of Ran
kin and have ordered out troops. l
have believed that the military should
be the last resort in state governed
by law, but the time has now come
when it is my duty as governor to use