The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-12
AN ANTE BELlUM Renaissance
Of EsCAMb|A COUNTY, FLORIDA

him, so Austin told me, and then
brought him back to Pensacola. 1t IS
probable that it was the first time the
captive, who was a large and stout
man, was ever confronted by a deter
mined, fearless man, who had the drop
on him, and he was paralyzed by fear.
So often it is that men like him show
themselves to be towards when con
fronted with danger. / knew Austin
we'll in the pioneer days in Birming-
ham where he lived He died there a
few years ago. His son. Conrad W.
Austin, is now and has been for many
years prominent there in police and
detective work.
The judge Of the United States court
at Pensacola, being unwilling to risk
the prisoner in the old Jail, ordered the
marshal to place him in the attic of
the St. Mary'S hotel, which was then
the tallest building in the city, to put
ball and chain upon him and guard
over him and make him secure from
rescue. | have forgotten whether this
was pending his trial or his execution,
| but the courts order was put into eff
! feet One evening while the prisoner
was taking his supper, the window
| having been opened for fresh air, he
with the ball and chain hanging to him
! plunged out of the window to the
ground below, thus ending in most
| tragic manner his despicable career.
/ Austins achievement made him quite
| famous locally and his aid was pro-
cured by a vigilance committee, organ
i lied to combat a situation to which the
| local authorities seemed unequal and
which had become unbearablS. Their
efforts brought about the capture 4
| two members of the gang near Bluff
| Springs one Saturday night in January
1861 The prisoners were carried to
1 the town securely guarded there until
| Sunday morning, when messengers
were sent to call in for consultation
other citizens of the neighborhood, my
/ older brother being of the number so
called. He not being at home, /, boy
seeming excitement, went over to tell
/ the committee of my brothers absence,
1 Those present 1.-THE adults organized
\ themselves into a court to determine
/ what disposition should be made of
/ the prisoners. After some time one OF
/ the number walked across to the oppO-
/ site side of the road and said "All of
! you who are in favor of hanging them
1 come over to this side of the road.
I All of them crossed over and took their
stand with the speaker, thus making
\ the NeTulCI lbOy NCA die-
| willing to again risk the old Jail. The
4 prisoners were then placed in wagon
1 which was pushed under a tree with a
! projecting limb. Ropes were secured
around their necks and tied to the limb
i above Their eyes were bandaged and
7 they were asked to make statements
INF they desired to do so. Only one OF
them spoke, saying, Lord, have mercy
i on my soul.' The wagon was then
4 pulled away, leaving them hanging tc
; the limb.
! This occurrence doubtless caused the
outlaws to realize that Escambia coun-
4 ty, despite the inactivity of the civil
authorities, could no longer be regard
; ed as a place of safety.
I Supervening closely upon these events
the war between the states soon blot
ted from the public mind everything
i else, leaving the people forgetful oil
Charlie Grower and his band. 1t was
i said sometime afterward, that Grower
! whose father was a man of high stand
4 ing in southern Georgia, served term
in the Georgia penitentiary.
/ The writer, like so many other boys
of his age, soon entered the Confeder-
i ate army thus terminating for a time
his citizenship as citizen of Florida
;! leaving his boyhood residence in Es-
| Gambia county only a delightful MEM
Dry, which still survives.
L