Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-05-29
ENDS 4 MYSTERY
STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF
TEMPERANCE WORKER is
EXPLAINED
PATM0NT FOUND IN CELLAR
Preacher and "Dry" Lecturer
Thought Dead, Found Alive,
Bound to a Stake

1t was positively established Sun
day that the man found bound tied
to a stake in the cellar of an aban-
doned farmhouse near Columbia, ILL.,,
is the Rev. Louis r. Patmont, dry
lecturer and editor, who disappeared
from Westville, ILL.,, on March 20.
Rev. Patmont spent most of last
summer in Ladysmith
Accompanied by Rev. Mr.. Bickel
a minister from Danville, ILL.,, and a
deputy sheriff from the same city,
Mr.. PatmOnt arrived last night in
Danville. In a few days, when he
has somewhat regained his strength,
he will tell his story to the grand
jury.
Over the long distance telephone
yesterday, Mr.. Patmont told the
story of his abduction and impris-
onment as follows:
''To be snatched by ruffians from
a quiet countryside path, bound,
gagged and blindfolded, carried hun
dreds of miles away in a car that
prisoner in a dungeon for weeks and
finally to be rescued only a few
hours before 1 was to be burned
alive, are some of the things which
were happening to me while my
friends searched for me after my dis
appearance on March 20.
when I was walking on the rail
road track toward the foreign set
tlement in WestVille to talk in ia
vor of the dry campaign Oh March
90 four men attacked me as I was
passing them. They overpoWered me,
bound and gagged me, threw me up
on a handcar and drove to a road
crossing half a mile away. An auto
mobile of limosine type, with blinds
drawn, was waiting.
The four men piled in with me and
the machine started away from West
vile at high speed. For ten hours
we travelled. | was helpless and
could not find out where l was be-
ing taken.
1t was dark when we finally
stopped. I was carried from the car
down into a damp cellar and there
freed from the ropes and cloths
that bound me. | was thrown a few
scraps of food and all but one man
went away. After a few hours the
guard was changed and l was told
it was day No light came into the
cellar where l was imprisoned, for
there were no windows.
For weeks I was kept there.
Sometimes | was bound and at 9TH
er times left free to move about the
little place. 1t was ten feet wide by
twelve long. Food was passed to me
through hole cut in the floor When
l made a noise in efforts to attract
notice of possible passers-by, the
guards overhead would shoot through
the floor into the cellar and threat
ened to kill me, if I did not become
quiet.
ga few days ago the four men
moved me to the house where I was
found On Saturday the two Amer
lean men left the place, putting the
other pair, Italians, in charge. The
Italians tied me to a stake in the
heels behind me, gagged and blind
folded me and left me-
6 we are coming back tonight tc
set this house on fire, one of them
said You will be burned alive anG
that will be the end of our troubles
with you.
when they had gone I chewet
the gag in two. For several houri
| shouted for aid at frequent inter
walls. A farmer finally heard my erie:
and freed me.
Poor and scanty food, ill-treat
ment, worry and exposure have weak
ened me badly, but l do not thinl
| will suffer any i'll effects | hope
to be strong enough in few day.
to go before the grand jury in Dan
vile and tell my story. | can Civ,
good descriptions of the two Amer
leans and two Italians who helpe,
in my abduction.
Il am too happy for words at m
escape. More than anything else i
the world l want to see my wifi
and children"
Columbia, ILL.,, where the missin