The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1824-02-21

GUS bliouSH lilt SIioN ioNho olihSHIe Will
clotted gore, and passed his hand the pallid
features that struck to his heart with the icy chill
of death. With difficulty the guards
were able to secure him stIatagem at length pre-
vailed, and he was removed on board the convict
ship that WAS stationed off the coast opposite Fort
Cumberland. The. bodies of the mother and her
quietly committed to the grave, and the
circumstances of the dreadful transaction remcm-
bcrcd but as dream that once was.
Time rolled Oh, and as the hour of his trial ap-
preached, the spirit of the poor maniac seemed to
settle into calm melancholy. The heavy clogs
that had hitherto been attached to his feet were
now. therefore, removed, and he was permitted to
occupy the cabin that looked out upon the sea shore
Here he would sit for hours watching the vessels as
they passed to and fro and weeping at the rcmenl-
brance of former days At a distance the glib
bet, the at of his guilt and its probable
punishment. 4 shudder of horror passed over his
countcnancc whenever he beheld it, and the Wild
of insanity again took possession of his soul
But when the tit was past, tears would sometimes
come to his relief, and he would weep alone in ST.
lence. His disposition, naturally generous and kind
hearted, appeared softened by misfortune and even
his brother convicts would feclfor so lonely situa-
ton, as they him with eyes fixed on vacancy.
muttering to himself His health, in the mean time
failed and it was evident from the increasing de-
preston Of his spirits, and the hectic glow Of his
complexion, that his days numbered in the
the prospect of approaching death, and faint
smile would often pass across his face, as he SUI ~
cd his wasted features, and felt the increasing Ian
guor of his francois the hour of his dissolution ar
rived, he wished for the last time to behold the
grave where all that was dear to him lay buried
With this visionary idea, he seized the fitting oppor-
tuntv, when the windows of his cabin were thrown
open, and the guards had returned for the night to
emancipate himself from the shackles that bound
him, and swim to the ncighbosing shore.
At the dead hour of night, lights were seen mov-
ing in the convict ship, the alarm bell was rng, thu:
thunder OF cannon was heard echoing across the
ocean, and the universal confusion of the guards
sand seamen announced the escape of the prisoner
a. wcll-manned boat, in which two savage blood
Hounds were placed instantly rowed to the sea-
coast and the dogs, closely followed by their p,l,-
sucrs, sent to hunt out the residence of the.
maniac. They set forward on their chase, and soon
arrived at the little cottage where the sufferer once
dwelt, and which now was generally avoided as the
unhoy resort of evil spirits. The officers approach
ed at the instant, but had scarcely arrived when !;
FAINT shrek of agony heard 1t proceede from
the convict, who had been traced up to the ruined
home of his father, and discovered sobbing on
the matted couch where he had last slept. The
bloodhounds rushed upon their prey and ere
fewminutes had elapsed, the corpse OF the parrcdc,
torn i'll thousand pieces lay scattered III that man
gled state upon the ground.
He was buried with his murdered victims IN the
little knoll OF earth that have mentioned in the
opening description, and though the winds of ma
ny winters have sighed over his remains and the
seabirds have bll, Their nests upon his grave, he
lies quietly as all nature was flushed IN stiffness
around INN. HIS tale, meanwhile, is often told to
the passing stranger, AS he pauscs to contemplate
where Tho foar