The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, June 01, 1909, Page TWO, Image 2
that night, and she proposed next morning to buy our horse. Tre
old "critter'" had taken several lame spasms the day before, and
hed delayed us considerably. We proposed to sell for $1,500, she
offering us $1,000. We took several drinks of her brandy while
we were haggling over the price. From her flor1* complexion it
appeared that she hierself had been a too frequent visitor at the
"wine skeins." She declared she had none to sell. We could not
agree upon the horse trade, and so we mounted and rode away. We
had not gone half a mile before the horse began to show s gns of
lameness. Telling Dixon to remain, I rode back, thinking if the
widow would give us a eanteen full of brandy we would give her
horse, saddle and bridle. She was in high good humor at this pro
position and gave me another pull at h-er bottle. Having filled my
canteen, we sat down on the steps for a little talk, while the old
horse stood innocently looking on not ten feet away.
While we were thus engaged, Dixon walked up. What ever
caused his return. ov gave ihim a suspicion of danger, he could nev
er, even to himself, account for. He said he seemed to have an in
tuition that danger was ahead for me. He sat down beside us, and
we began talking, in fine humor with ourselves, the lady, and all the
world. The brandy had set my tongue wagging at a great speed,
while the lady was in excellent spirits.
Before any of us had time even to think, several squadrons of
Yankee horsemen rode around towards the house from the west.
Momentarily we were thrown off our guard. The lady, recovering
herself first, directed us:
"Run, boys; run for the straw shed!"
This was the only possible means of escape, for, with the excep
tion of a few outbuildings and an orchard, vast fields extended in
every direction. So we took her advice and ran around the barn
up in the shed, and then burrowed deep down in the straw. There
was a big open gate towards the road, through which the troopers
came and began getting fodder out of the barn loft. We could hear
them talking all the while, but we could not catch the drift of their
conversation. It was, however, about "the old saddled and brid
led horse," minus a rider. What tale was told or explanations
were made by the widow we never knew, but no doubt she was fer
tile in her reasonings. Sometimes we suspected they suspicioned
some one was in the straw, for one of the soldiers spoke in a loud
voice:
"Won't she make a blaze when we set iher off! Tat woman is
lying about that horse."
Dixon pulled my foot, and we were both thinking of "the little
woman's prayer," as we told each other afterwards, wondering if
it would get us out of this place as it had got us out of the others.
After they had tied up the fodder, I heard the troopers ride away,
one calling out to 'another:
"When you axe ready, touch hrar off."
To jump out and attempt to run was certain death. To lie still
was to be consumed by the flames. We had to do something im
mediately and take the chances of death. We had fooilshly got
ourselves in this perilous position, when it could have been avoid
ed, and ,from present appearances, little hope for our lives remain
ed, and from present appearances, little hope for our lives remain
I thrust the straw off my head and peered through the planks,
and there at the gate was a Yankee soldier arranging his saddle,
while the others were turning in the road east, about fifty yards
distant. This soldier at the gate I thought to be the one who was
to "touch her off.''
Shoving my rifle through the crack, I com.manded the soldier to
keep quiet and not to move, or I would send a bullet through him.
In looking over,, Dixon discovered another one right under us. so
near we could almost touch him witih our guns. Dixon held him
with his gun until the others got far'enough away not to notice or
suspicion what was going on in the barn.
'Dixon~ then elimbed down and disarmed the two Yankees, who
were frightened almost of death at being in the hands of "bush
whackers,'' which they thought us to be. We took them a mile or
two up .the iolad. They, knowing we had heard every word said
about burning the barn, began pleading for their lives.
Now, what would any sane man, who~ knows anything about the
conditions of those times or the feelings existing between the two
armies, think those same two T:ankees would have done to us had
they caught us in the straw?i Taken us prisoners and crept along
at a snail 's gait, while we trudged along afoot ? Or turned us loose,
telling us to "run along home ?'' No, they would 'have shot us on
the spot as Southern "bush-wha.ckers,'' as they had done to oth
ers so many times before. So I leave the matter to the sober re
flection of candid men 'and women.
I hasten,to the end of my story, for nothing of importance hap
pened to us after 'that. - We lost our horses before reaching our des
tination, 'however. Mine was drowned in crossing some large river,
and Dixon's 'broke loose next night and took the back track to
'wards the South. We had no time to follow it, and even if we had
had the time, there would have been little hope of eatching it. We
knew the 'horse would make haste to rejoin his lost companions.
We had a long tramp before us, but we were out of the wake of
both armies, and we took it leisurely, apprehending no danger.
We were once more out from under a continual watch and excite
ment. It had been one long, eontinual strain.
We reacihed the army near Bentonville, and we had the honor
'of participating in the last battle of the war. Both Gen. Hlardee
and Gen. McLaws were surprised to see us again, and they com
plimented us to the skies for 'so successfully running the perilous
gauntlet of carrying t.he orders to Hood, or, rather, to G3en. Stew
art, commanding that army. We were the first to tell the true
story of the burning of Columbia, and there were many sad hearts
as I read the translation of Mr. James Gibbes' account.
With Dixon I parted, not to hear from him agai'n in nearly forty
five years.
Now, my story is done. What I have written is truth-not in
vention or fition--and 'it is written only 'to reply to many letters
asking for an account of the events that bound Dixon and my self
so closely together. As I stated in my letter asking information
about him that we had been strangers before undertaking the trip,
and had not seen or heard of each other since we rejoined the ar
my, people naturally thought we had gone through some stirring
scenes together.
Those who may be disposed to doubt or to disbelieve what I
have written are at liberty to do so. If there is any part that Mr.
Sam Dixon wishes to correct or deny. he e is igytadi tlb
erty to make any corrections he sees fit.
I sleced a a title to my story the last words spoken by Dixon
to me as we parted:
"Well, old boy, we certainly have had a dance with death."
In closing my story I will say that, in looking back upon that
trip after the lapse of so many years, and thinking of the many
dangerous incidents and hazardous adventnres through which we
passed (and, withal, the jolly good tim'e w;e had), it seems as an evil
dream, leading through the dim regions of uncertainty into the
shadows of death. Neither knew or thought of our danger at the
time, and, as I realize it now, I wonder if it was really a guardian
spirit that protected us, or was it, as th-e fatalist would say, "all
due to luck and chance?"
(The End.)
BANKING
THE NEWEY SAVINCS BANK.
Capital $50,000 - - Surplus $30,000
No Matter How Small, ti Matter How Large,
The Newberry Savings Bank
will give it careful attention. This message
ipplies to the men and the women alike.
JAS. McINTOSH, . E. NORWOOD,
President. Cas..er.
STI LL DOING BUSINESS
While the Senate is tinkering at the tariff and
the jobbers, and commission men are almost
scared to death, stagnation is the condition
over all of this great land, but
Mayes' Book Store
is still doing business at the same old stand,
and I will be glad to have you call and see my
large variety of Graduating presents.A
fhe eniu of he Bildr Eners nto ver
ofThe bie of te Builer Ethers inbt aEviey
ProteMason & a lain Piano
ht oes atheradavaraion ocp uh muian
all for:du apearances ctha, cntat be
ing thsbuilderfui,le the unmtchaer isbtnIe
Maso'&Hai Pianoo
LOCAL FACTORS
EVERYTHING KNOWN IN MUSIC E
al
P.ah!e Building 1. V. WALLACE, Manager Charleston, S. C. S
*:IFi1T
a
tlGood'to E,
AND YOU WANT I
?THE BEST j
$6
*
YOU WILL FIND IT AT
IJONES' GROCERYI
+* 'PHONENo. 212+
NEWBEREY UNION STATION.
rrva ad eprtreof Paeenger The NEW SUN No.!
Sunday, June 7th, 1908. j PIE$00
Southern Railway.
o. 15 for Greenville- .. ..8.57a.m..
o. 18 for Columbia .. . .1.40 p.m.
'o. 11 for Greenville .. . .3.20 p.m.
o. 16 for Columbia .... .8.47 p.m.
C., N. & L. E
N?o. 22 for Columbia .. . .8.47 a.m.
'o. 52 for Greenville .. 12.56 p.m
Fo. os for Columbia .. . .3.20 p.m.
NTo. 21 for Laurens .. . .7.25 p.m
* Does not run on Sunday
This time taba~ shuws the timies al This Writing Machine
hich trains may be expected to de--. *
at from this station, but their de. is Good Enoughfor
arture is not guaranteed and the 'Anybody, -
me shown is subject to change with
ut notice GL. IINVESTIGATE IT
.Station Master. e. L ROBINSON, Agent,
RF1E TRIP totke
ACIFIC CO0AST L ptr,~rno .M pes
ARE YOU ONE ten srqie ylw h oe
of the many thoue-stedthcite aeette ii
e nds who want t. er h aso hsSaei h el
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OTICE oF APPLICATION FOR thywl-eaade otoemk
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Ex parte, dtosgvrRn h -ad pl
eora G. Speers, Leland CoppockeatsfrS olrhs hul'wie
Speers, Lucy K. Speers and Hira.mtoPedn Jhonefetee
L. Speers,am atinfrShlripeana.
;tateof L M. peer, deeas. pee rs ciion. The ne of sL. il.es
otie isherey gien tat e easd S ep ibe d wi5 h 1909 For fur
ove naed pettione,ClprlGat~binomasin and catalopart to
eers wiow,andLelad Cpoktdem,s requ e D. B. lawo, Rh ome
esaid,L.uc. Speersediednseized and pos