Springfield Weekly Republican

SAVED BY LIGHTNING
A Real Blood-and-Thunder Story of Adventure at the West.

In the year 1854 I was in Illinois, and one night met with the adventure which I now propose to relate. I had been traveling a long way on horseback, entirely unaccompanied. My road lay through a thinly-settled, desolate region. The last house I had passed was many miles behind me, and I began to feel weary and depressed. The night was intensely dark. Neither moon nor stars were shining. The darkness, the silence, the long, weary way, exercised an oppressive influence on my spirits, and, though by no means a coward, I would have given anything for a little pleasanter situation.

I spurred up my horse and dashed onward. In this way I proceeded several miles further. Suddenly a low rumbling noise attracted my attention. I listened, and in a few moments it was repeated. It was distant thunder, and a storm was coming up. Here was a nice situation, and I shuddered in anticipation.

Again I spurred on, hoping to find some place of shelter before the full force of the storm should burst over me. Onward I galloped, but without any apparent success. Nothing in the shape of habitation greeted my eyes. I began to despair. All the time, too, the flashes of lightning were growing more and more frequent and glaring, the pealing of the thunder nearer and louder. Finally the storm burst in all its fury. For a while I beat against it determinedly; but the violence of the hurricane was at length too much for me, and I was compelled to stop and seek the uncertain shelter of a gigantic tree, much as I was opposed to such a course. However, I had no other alternative, for brave the storm I could not.

The deepest and most intense darkness enveloped everything. Except just when the heavens were lighted up by flashes of lightning, I could not see a foot before my nose, and every other sound was completely absorbed by the fierce bellowings of the tempest.

I dismounted and groped my way to the nearest tree. A flash of lightning showed me it was one of the largest magnitude. Beneath its far-spreading branches I might be as comfortable, if not as safe, as I would be beneath a roof.

After attending somewhat to my horse, I divested myself of my wet outer-garments and disposed my weary body to enjoy as much comfort as was compatible under the circumstances.

The tempest continued with no sign of abatement. Never before had I seen such lightning, never before heard such thunder. It was terrifying, and I could not resist the temptation to shudder. Ever since that night a thunder-storm has occasioned me considerable uneasiness.

In this manner half an hour may have passed. Still the storm howled on in the most furious and terrible manner—still the loud thunder cracked and roared—still the lightning flashed with blinding brightness.

Suddenly I felt, or thought I felt, something brush slightly against me. I leaped to my feet and quietly demanded: "Who's there?"

I listened, got no answer; and nothing was to be heard above the roar of the tempest.

The thought struck me that it might be some wild beast. If such should prove to be the case, it would be almost impossible to guard against its attack under such circumstances; and it made my heart beat like a steam engine to think of the danger in which I was probably standing. I felt for my pistols: they were in the holsters, and I dared not move from the spot where I was standing for fear of provoking the attack that I dreaded, and which I was in such a poor position to resist.

Some minutes passed, and all of a sudden the weight of a strong hand or the claw of a wild beast descended on my right shoulder. Almost at the same instant, and before I had time to think, I felt the same feeling on my left shoulder. I drew my knife—the only weapon I had about me—suddenly stepped back a few paces, and, without any thought or design, demanded who was there, if it was anything human.

At that moment a vivid flash of lightning illuminated the surrounding darkness, and for an instant rendered everything visible. I was no longer in doubt. A few paces before me two ferocious and blood-thirsty looking men were standing. Plainly enough they were both cut-throats and thieves; or if they were not, their brutal appearance belied them most wonderfully. Two more diabolical looking wretches it has never been my ill luck to encounter. That they meant no good I had no earthly reason to doubt; and, situated as I was, the prospect was anything but pleasant.

Both the desperadoes held a pistol in their hands, and the weapons were leveled at my heart. All this I saw at a quick glance, and then again the deepest darkness enveloped everything.

What should I do? I thought. Attempt to reach my horse and trust to providence for my final rescue? To my mind that seemed my chance, for, in an encounter with two such brawny villains, my prospects would be very slim. Whatever course I adopted, though, I must be quick, or the next flash of lightning would betray my purpose.

Quietly I stooped down to the ground, and prepared to crawl away in the direction of my horse. What the two cut-throats were doing, I could not tell, for the din of the tempest prevented me from hearing any customary sounds. Their ears, however, were sharper than mine, for at the very first movement I made, a loud, coarse voice exclaimed:

"'Tain't no use, stranger, for ye can't git away from h'ar till ye've paid toll. We steal for a livin', we do, an' we kil for the fun o'the thing, so yer may know what ye've got to expect. Keep still, is my advice, or afore yer know it, yer'll git a bullet inter yer carcass."

For a moment I hesitated, and in that moment another flash of lightning lit up the surrounding scene.

There stood the two outlaws, with their fiendish-looking eyes wickedly glaring on me. The flash of lightning also revealed my position to them, and at the sight they set up a loud and brutal laugh.

"Must think we are a couple of ninnies, Jack!" remarked one to the other.

"The cuss don't know we're sorter owls, an' kin see better in the dark nor in the light," responded number two.

"Fancies he'll 'scape us, hi guess!" continued the first speaker. "Well, if he does, he'll be the first man ever did that sort o'thing."

"When he gets away, hi 'ope he'll let us know it," rejoined the other, confidently.

That I had unfortunately fallen into the hands of two of the worst sort of outlaws, everything more and more betokened. I knew well with such men the life of a human being was of no more account than the life of a dog, and inwardly resolved only to part with it, if part with it I must, in an attempt to escape, however desperate the adventure might be, under such circumstances.

It was now about time for another flash of lightning, and, straightening myself up to avoid suspicion, I waited for it to pass.

The next moment it came, with almost blinding brilliancy.

The outlaws had not removed a step, but remained as at first, closely regarding the spot where I was standing.

"Come, stranger!" yelled the same one who had addressed me before, "it's about time we had a better understanding all 'roun'. Yer see, we don't like to fool long, an' we've been playin' with yer, till we're bout tired, we are. Yer money or yer life's what we want, an' if yer don't like that, we'll take both without askin'. What d'ye say, stranger—what shall it be? Ef yer for a fight, sing out, an' hi guess we kin accommodate yer. Fightin's our element, an' we're always ready for a scrimmage. Now, ef yer don't do somethin' at wunst, we'll fire a round inter yer, we will sartin."

During the time occupied by the outlaw in speaking, I had been preparing myself for my attempt. Summoning all my courage, all my energy, all my determination, I assumed an attitude most favorable to my purpose and bounded forward at desperate speed, in hopes of effecting my escape.

The outlaws uttered a loud yell, and then let me know that they understood my purpose and were following in my tracks. But I expected as much, and consequently was not at all surprised.

Two muscular bounds placed me beside my horse, and with a single spring I vaulted into the saddle. I thought myself safe then, but at that very moment I felt violent hands laid upon me; and a flash of lightning soon showed me that if I had been quick, my assailants had not been far behind me.

I desperately attempted to start my horse, but before I could do so the outlaws dragged me from my seat and bore me to the ground.

"No go, stranger," cried one of them. "Yer can't git away from us, no how; yer can't, so you'd better not try."

I was down on the ground on my back, and the desperadoes were stooping over me on either side, with their knees pressed tightly against my chest. Still, however, I resisted, for I was not exactly the man to give up without a struggle, desperate as might be my chances, and at the moment, they seemingly could not well have been in a worse condition.

My assailants grew furious, and handled me in anything but a gentle manner, but desperation gave to me a new lease of strength, and they found me no mean antagonist. By an effort of all my powers I at length managed to regain my feet. Unfortunately, I had lost my knife in the struggle, and was entirely unarmed. Not so with the outlaws, for they still had the numerous dirks which they were making every effort to use upon my person.

Meanwhile the tempest continued with its original violence, and, in the din of the storm, almost every sound of the desperate conflict was entirely lost.

At length my superhuman efforts began to weary me. I began to grow discouraged, too, seeing little chance of my rescue. My protracted resistance tended also to excite the blackest passions of my deadly assailants. They tore at me, and cursed and blasphemed in the most terrible manner.

Suddenly I caught my right foot and fell heavily to the ground. The concussion stunned me, and before I regained my feet, the outlaws were again pressing me down.

"Kill him! kill him!" cried one, as he clutched me by the throat and drew back his arm.

"Cut out his heart, cuss him!" rejoined the other, in a furious tone.

"God have mercy on me!" I inwardly ejaculated, fully expecting to receive my death wound before the expiration of another moment.

The arms of the outlaws were about to descend, carrying death to me—I could not see it, but I intuitively felt that it was so—when the whole scene was suddenly lighted up by the most blinding flash of lightning I ever beheld. Instantaneously with the lightning the deafening thunder pealed forth. That was all I knew at that time, for instantly I lost all consciousness. When I recovered my suspended powers the storm had passed away and the sun was shining brightly.

I was lying upon the ground, and felt weak and sore, but otherwise was not injured. Beside me lay the two outlaws, buried in the sleep of death. They had been struck by lightning, and just at the very moment when their hands were uplifted to deprive me of life. The great tree beneath which I had taken refuge was shivered into atoms, and the whole scene was one of death and desolation.

Under such circumstances my own escape seemed miraculous, and I humbly thanked God for his infinite mercy. The lightning had saved me from the outlaws, and the Almighty had saved me from the lightning. I had been doubly preserved.

Strange as it may seem, my horse had not escaped, and with a full heart, I mounted his back and started on my journey. That night in the wilderness I have never forgotten, nor is it likely I ever shall.