The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-03-16
A Midnight Raid.
w. THO M SON.
BY *s++

north or down river side OF Hog ISL
and, was too near the rapids for any
thing except very light craft to try.
Softly regaining the shore, got
loaded revolver from my Office, and
then hurried away to the shanty of the
duck hunters, and soon woke both.
They readily agreed to help me, and
brought their guns.
ITS sure to be the Schram boys"
said Bullamore. No one else around
here has grit enough for such a Job.
Them fellers has got rich since the be-
ginning of the war; but I'll he hanged
If l thought they'd steal whiskey!
Square, honest smugglin' isn't no great
sin, l s'pose but out an out Robin
Il didn't b'lieve the boys would de-
mean themselves to that"
Ignoring Bullamores fashionable dis
unction between robbing a government
and private individual, led to the
cut, which was about one hundred
yards long and fifty feet wide, separat-
ing Hog Island from the mainland. We
sat down under the clay bank midway
of it's length. The night was not so
very dark, but at a distance of ten feet
the sharpest eye could hardly have dis
nnguished our gray-clad ferns from
the background against which they
rested.
We knew what the thieves must In
tend to do. Their scow was SO heavily
laden that they would, of course, not
attempt to row it out on the Niagara
here. They would tow it up the Can
adam shore couple of miles. conceal
part of their cargo and use their long
sweeps to row the scow diagonally
across to Navy Island, where they
would probably send small boats for
the hidden whiskey. So somewhere in
the cut they must put a rope and two
men ashore. The third would stay on
the scow to steer it while the others
lowed
We patiently waited for more than
half an hour. Then we dimly saw a
shadowy black object floating slowly
toward us.
Presently, on striking the current OF
the cut, 1t began to move faster, and we
then saw single row of kegs ranged
on its deck Two men were sitting on
Kegs; the third, nearest the stern,
noiselessly worked a steering oar.
In minute or two as the craft was
abreast Of us and the steersman try
ing to put it in touch with our shore,
we rose to our feet, and l said,
Land right here with that whiskey.
men! I'm an excise officer"
Go to thunder!" yelled one of the
fellows in reply. Keep quiet, If you're
wisei"
Its the Schrams. sure enough! That
is Ike's voice. whispered johnson.
Then he called out. "The games I'D.
boys! Run right in, or wen fire on
you'll"
"Hullo, Bullamore! That's nice work
for you, isn't it?" retorted Ike. Fire
away and be hangedl"
Meantime the steersman threw the
scow's head toward Hog Island.
AS our design was to capture the men
without bloodshed, now fired pistol
shot over their heads
Guess both sides can play that
game!" exclaimed one Of the thieves
and three Tevolvers cracked. while
their owner instantly crouched behind
the kegs.
BY mere chance, I presume. one OF
the biindly aimed bullets grazed one
OF BullamOre's ears, which so incensed
him that he threw up his huge smooth
bore and pulled the trigger. Most of
the shot ratified against the kegs. but
a smothered and somewhat forcible
ejaculation showed that a stray pellet
had hit one of tho thieves.
Yet the boat did not sheer in to sur
render. She was fast nearing the
mighty Niagara. We became frighten-
ed.
Men, don't throw your lives awayl'
implored, as we kept pace with the
scoW. Come In and surrender. If
you run into the river, nothing can
aaye you from going over the falls.
you tend to your business and wen
mind ours!' was the defiant answer. [
suppose they did not know they we're
so near the river. But in another mo.
ment the clumsy hulk had cleared the
cut and entered upon, the current Of Nj
agara, which strikes against Hog ISL
and and takes q strong outward trend.
Doubtless they thought they could
by tightening their boat. work their
way diagoually up and across the
stream to q safe position; for now. as
The island hid them from view. we
could hear them pitching the wniskey
overheard and shipping their sweeps.
In only one way, however, could they
possibly save themselves.
Putting his hands. funnelshape. OF
his mouth, Van Wyck, hailed
Turn your bow down stream. You
fools, and scoot ashore just below the
old channcl That's your last chancelo
No reply was made TO this friendly
advice end we heard the men begin 10
pull desperately. But not for one min
ute could they hold their own against
That tremendous rush Of water A light
skin needs strong arms there Every
instant they were swept farther down
and out, while the sound OF their ran.
Id oar6trOkes grew fainter and faint
err
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