Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-26

John Williams, was so genuine man
and SO unquestionably in love with Sal
lie, and the girl was so infatuated with
him, that their scruples were finally
overborne and the wedding day was
set.
shortly after this took place, Jim
Evans, a cousin of Sallie's, who lived in
McNairy county, Tennessee, came on
visit to the family. This young man
recognized the overseer at first glance
and Immediately sought his uncle.
"Do you know who that man Isl? he
asked, pointing to the big fellow who
was out in the barn showing a colt to
Sallie.
"'Why, that's John Williams an
swered Mr.. Evans; that's the man
Sallie is to marry next month. What
do you think of him?
"'Think of him! You watch mel
answered the young man.
without another word he strode up
to the overseer and accosted him:
Hello, Davis!'
"The overseer dropped the halter and
whirled on the young man, at the same
moment reaching toward his hip pcck-
ct for his revolver. Before he could
draw it young Evans fired, but unfor-
tunately his bullet went wild. A mo-
ment later he was weltering In his life
blood, with Two-Fingered Davis's bull
let through his heart.
AT the first indication Of difficulty
old Mr.. Evans had run up toward the
little group, and as he neared them ne
caught a heavy stick Of cordwood from
a pile which he passed. At the same
moment that Davis fired he flung this
with all his might straight at the over
seer's head.
Davis ducked his head, and at the
same moment threw up his left arm to
guard 1t from the billet. The heavy
stick struck him squarely on the point
of the elbow, crushing the joint and
splintering the bones Of both arm
forearm. Davis crashed to the ground
like log.
Before Mr.. Evans could reach him
however, he sprang up again, and In
spite of his damaged arm managed to
grab the colts halter and spring upon
the animals back. The terrified colt
reared frantically once or twice, and
then broke away on the dead run
Davis managed with consumate skill to
guide the frightened animal into the
road, and never ceased his mad race
for liberty until the colt dropped dead
in it's tracks beneath him more than
twenty miles from home.
From that point the wounded man
made his way by night into the cane
bottoms Of the Reelfoot lake country.
where he hid and lived as best he could
for nearly a year. Meantime his injur-
ed arm, lacking surgical attention. had
grown perfectly stiff at the elbow, a
bony knot taking the place of the joint.
"It was about eleven months later
that Davis returned to the Evans plant
alton and stole Miss Sallie Evans away
by night. Efforts to trace the pair prov
ed fruitless. Three years later there
was a fight between sheriff's posse
and Fingered Davis at retreat
which the latter had built in the swamp
near the present site Of Barfield, Ark.
In this fight three Of the sherifrs men
were killed and Davis badly wounded.
He managed, nevertheless, to make his
escape with his common-law wife, and
no more was heard Of him for about
seven years more.
1.-The occasion Of his temperance
was the desperate illness Of his wife.
She had contracted swamp fever, and
Davis, Drawing detection, ventured out
into the settlements near Grenada,
Miss, in search Of medical aid for her.
Il was then practicing medicine about
ten miles from Grenada. One evening
1 was startled by the appearance Of a
wild-looking fellow, who dem .ded
that / follow him to a sick woman. I
went with him, and was led through
miles and miles of swamp to rude log
cabin perched on the larger Of two
mounds. Here 1 found my patient, a
young woman who had become dread
fully weak and emaciated with swamp
fever
Il saw at first glance that her re-
covery was impossible, but gave her
such medicines as I could to ease her
from the torturing fever which racked
her. When took up my saddle bags
to leave, my guide drew his pistol and
threateningly commanded me to put
them down and remain until the wo-
man either recovered or died. I obeyed
with more haste than dignity.
"She died near the morning Of the
second day. I helped the man bury
her, and gave him some remedies for
the three months babe she had
left. He piloted me several miles from
the mounds, winding tortuously through
the swamp in order, think, to confuse
my recollection of directions, and final
ly pointed out a course at an angle Of
about 80 degrees northward from the
sun.
keep that direction he said, and
you'll come out within half mile Of
where you entered the swamp day be-
fore yesterday
Il found his prediction true, and has
tened to my home. That afternoon
visited the sheriff and informed him of
what l suspected, for the whole coun-
try had heard Of Two Fingered Davis,
and his description was we'll known to
every man, woman and child in that
section.
There can be no doubt that Davis
had figured on this very thing taking
place. He was however, handicapped
by the presence of the infant. To car
~ the child into the swamp in an at
tempt to escape by flight meant its
certain death. He had cow at the
mounds, and If he remained the baby
would have at least an even chance for
its life-and it was possible that his
identity might not be suspected or that