The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-05-28

hnshed the arrangement OF his accounts
Mr. +. conceives he had been two hours il
bed, "hen his attention was engaged by an
unusual noise outside his house. The room
In which he had supped and slept, was in
side his parlor; the windows of which lat
ier, alter a short interval, were oeat in, and
scarcely an interval elapsed before he heart
several persons, he believes twelve or thir-
teen, leap into the room in rapid succession
he had but moment to deliberate, and
although he found himself totally unprote c.
ted with any other weapon than the knife
which he recollected lay on the table, he.
with the mos, astonishing and unparalleled
bravery, resolved on defence. AS there
were two doors connecting his bed chamber
with his parlor, he was while in suspense
at which the robbers would enter, but was
speedily relieved from his dou BITS by hear
ing them remove a garde-cu-vent, which
obstructed one of the passages, and thereup
OH seeing the door thrown in by violent
blow OF a sledge, Mr.. P. now put his back
close agriust the wall, Immediately CONT
guous To he door. Although the darkness
OF Mr.. P's. room rendered him invisible to
those without, yet the moon shining
brightly through the windows which had
been broken, and through which the
party entered, gave him an imperfect
view of his assailants, and discovered
two men abreast, approaching him by the
door.
Mr.. Purcell, at this moment, only hesita.
ted to deCide whether a back hand or a
right forward blow would be most powerful.
and on preferrng the former. he plunged
his knife far into the breast of the nearest
man, who Immediately fell back with hor-
rible scream and expired. The Captain of
the party gave orders to fire, and a musket
uyac RI r.I
tually lay against his belly, but as from its
oblique position. Mr.. p. saw it could not
injure him. he pressed against the barrel in
order to indulge belief that it should
prove mortal, and permitted Is to be fred !:
he then gave this ruffian also a terrible
wound, with which he retreated a third
tellow undeferred by these examples, had
the temerity to attempt an entrance, but
met with a like repulse; the expulsion of the
entire gang from the house, it was imagined
was, by this, effected, with the exception of
one powerfully strong villain, who more
successful than his comrades, forced his way
into the bee chamber which the ruffian
presently notified in the loudest & most ex-
ulting zone.
During the whole of this most terrific
proceeding Mr. p. had not felt the influ
ence OF apprehension, until this, that when
greatly fatigued, his destruction seemed
Inevitable, bur yet, a hopeless effort, he
determined on continued resistance he clo-
sed on his assailaRt, and a very fierce
struggle ensued Mr.. P! finding that al
though he frequently stabbed the fellow in
his side, he nevertheless persisted in re.
peating demand If Mr. P's. money dread
| ed the point of his knife had been turned
and blunted, and such, on feeling it, he found
TO be the case; he was thus bereft of his
only weapon however, i'll the encounter
| he discovered q sword suspended to his Cd
Ponent, which he now strove to gain, but
during the exc. ion, The wretched man
expired in his arms, and thus Mr.. Purcell
found that his knife had not failed until
guided by providental intcrposition. it had
miraculously and faithfully secured his de
liverance.
The remainder of the party were now
eontented to depart, carrying off the dead
| and wounded, and MIR. p dreading the re :.
newal OF the attempt with increased num-
bers, pruden ly concealed himself between
two heaps OF culm in an adjoining yard from
whence he issued in the morning completely
covered with blood and whatever else this
ciammy matter Caused to adhere TO his body
and limbs. 1t seems third fellow named
Joy u native OF this county, who composed
one of this parry, died in Newcastle,
County Limerick, his wounds no. ha-
wing permitted him to escape further than
that town and it is thought few out of the
entire will go unpublished, as they were well
known.
The Gentleman who so valiantly re
pulsed this gang of ruffians, is more than
seventy years of Kerry Evening
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