The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-08-15
SIR JOHN PURCELL.

John Purcell, of Highfort in Dublin,
was attacked by desperate gang of
robbers, who forced the windows of the
parlOur adjoining to the room in which
he had just retired to rest They APP
peared to him to be about fourteen in
number. He Immediately got out of
bed, and, his first determination being to
make resistance, it was with no small
modification that he reflected upon the
unarmed condition in which he was
placed, being destitute of "a single wea-
pom of the ordinary sort. 1t happily
occurred 10 him, that, having supped in
the bed-chamber on that night, a knife
had been left behind by accident, and
ne instantly proceeded to grope in the
dark for this weapon, which fortunately
ne found, before the door, leading from
the parlour into the bed-chamber, had
been broken open. While he stood in
calm but resolute expectation that the
progress of the robbers would soon lead
them to his bed-chamber, he heard the
furniture which had been placed against
nailed-up door expeditously displac-
ed, and Immediately afterwards the
door was burst open. The moon shone
with great brightness, and when this
door was thrown open, the light stream
ing in through three large windows in
the parlour, afforded Sir John view
that might have made an intrepid spirit
not little apprehenslve. Ills bed
room was darkened to excess, in conse-
quence of the shutters of the windows,
as we'll as the curtains, being closed;
and thus, while he stood enveloped In
darkness, he saw standing before him,
by the brightness of the moonlight,
body of men, all armed, and of those
who were in the van of the gang, he OBJ
served that few were blackened. Arm
ed only with this case-knife, and aided
only by a dauntless heart, he took his
station by the side of the door, and in a
moment after one of the Williams enter
ed from the parlour into the dark room.
Instantly upon advancing, Sir John
plunged the knife into the robbers body,
who, upon receiving this thrust, reeled
back into the parlour, crying out BIAS
Phemously that he was killed Shortly
after another advanced, who was receiv-
ed in similar manner, AMI who also
staggered back into the parlour, crying
out that he was wounded. A voice
from the outside gave orders to fire into
the dark room, upon which man slept
forward with short gun in his hand
AS this fellow stood in the act to fire
Sir John had the amazing GOODNESS to
look at his intended murderer, and, with
out betraying any audible emotion what
ever, that might point out the exact spot
where he was standing, he calmly calca-
lated his own safety, from the shot which
was preparing for him; and in this
state he stood, without flinching, until
the piece was fired, and its contents
harmlessIy lodged in the wall.
As soon as the robber fired, Sir John
made pass at him with his knife, and
wounded him in the arm, which he re-
peated again in a moment, with similar
effect; and, as the Others had done, the
william upon being wounded, retired,
exclaiming that he was wounded. The
robbers Immediately rushed forward
from the parlour into the dark room, and
then it was that Sir Johns mind recog-
nised the deepest sense of danger, not
to be oppressed by it however, but to
surmount it. He thought all chance of
preserving his life was over, and he re-
solved to sell that life still dearer to his
intended murderers, than even what they
had already paid, for the attempt to de-
prive him of it. He did not lose a mo-
ment after the Williams had entered the
room, to act with the determination he
had adopted; he struck at the fourth
fellow with his knife, and wounded him,
and at the same instant he received
blow on the head, and found himself
grappled with. He shortened his hold
of the knife, and stabbed at the fellow
with whom he found himself engaged.
The floor being slippery, Sir John and
his adversary both fell, and while they
were down, Sir John thinking that his
thrusts with the knife, tho made with all
his force, did not seem to produce the
decisive effect which they had in the
beginning of the conflict, he examined
the point of his weapon with his finger,
and found that the blade of it had been
bent near the point. AS he lay strug-
Cling on the floor, he endeavoured, but
unsuccessfully, to straighten the curva-