The Special Messenger (1911)

• 80%
• 1911
• Thriller
• Sidney Olcott

Royal, a gallant Southern lad, kisses his wife and mother goodbye and departs for the front. Two years later the young Confederate bearing dispatches through the enemy's country is discovered and pursued. Then follows a daring race for life and flag. His pursuers being thoroughly familiar with the country divide their forces, one part continuing after Royal, the other striking across country with a view to heading him off as he crosses a bridge. Royal eventually reaches the bridge and starts to cross. When he has about reached the middle, glancing ahead to the other end he sees he has been caught in a trap. A party of Union soldiers are blocking his way. To think is to act. Jumping his horse into the water, twenty-five feet below, he succeeds in reaching the bank of the river ahead of his pursuers. Making for a piece of woods close by, while his horse is going at a high rate of speed, he jumps and catches the limb of a tree, pulls himself up, hides in the branches and allows his horse to rush on. Not detecting the ruse, the Federals pursue the running horse and learn of the trick played upon them only after they have come up to him several miles distant. Desperately wounded Royal, who has been shot by the Federals while pursued by them, lies in hiding until night, when he manages to crawl to his own home not far distant. The Federals, however, are still on his trail. His wife and mother succeed in hiding him in the stable. The Federals come up, make a thorough search of the house and grounds and finally decide Royal has made a successful escape. The next day Royal's wife decides to deliver his messages herself, and after a narrow escape Nancy fulfills her husband's mission.