Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-03-11


tellectual fire that shot through its stern
expression, /" | entered through that
door, and dead or alive, through that
door only will retire. Follow me-"
His companion darted a glance OF the
most piercing but gratifed scrutiny at
Edwards features, as he responded
Sings my friends voice TO that tune
Advance then: it is not the first time we
have faced death together; and come be
soon or come he late, he can never ind
me in better company"
Without further preface or delibera-
ton, the two friends advanced side by
side, to the door, and throwing ii sudden-
ly wide open, discovered in the room
they were approaching, the sheriff oil the
county and four assistants, we'll armed,
and in an attitude to dispute their pas
sage. They halted an instant TO survey
the numbers and bearing OF their antago-
nists, while the sheriff, TO whom they
were personally known, advanced little
in front oil his companions, and said
You perceive, gentlemen, that you
are fairly cornered, and that resistance
would be useless. In the name and by
the authority of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, | arrest you, Edward
Pelton and James Shurtliff, as traitors
and rebels, end command you quietly TO
submit to the laws and justice OF your
country"
As he said this, he cast significant
look at his companions, and supported
by them, made a step iowa ards those
whom be had addressed; when Edward,
presenting with each hand a cooked pls-
tol, called out in tone oil deliberate and
despera frmness, which astonished, al
the same time that it awed his auditors
:" Stand ! on your lives / charge ye,
stand !"
These words, and the m amer in which
they we're uttered, caused an instan!ane-
Gus suspension OF the movements OF the
sheriff and his party, and Edward CON
tnued " Sheriff Robinson, | honor the
zeal with which yon attempt TO discharge
what you conceive to be your duty, and
it, but your prisoners we are not, and,
living, never will be. You see | am
for the instant and inc, table
despatch of two OF you, and my COM
panion is ready TO answer for as many
more. Stand back, therefore, and give
US undislurbed passage from the house,
or take the consequences Of our own
obstinscy."
Without waiting further parley, Ed
ward and his friend, still presenting their
weapons of death, advanced with firm |!
cut hasty steps towards the outward door |
Robinson, though a determined man,
and an excellent officer, was not in |
mood to encounter certain and useless |
destruction; and such he easily perceiv-
I'd would be the resul, Of attempting TO |
rive to the last extremity, two men,
Who were so desperate and so we'll pre- !
Jared. His assistants had as little sto- |
mach for the encounter, as himself. The |
1atural, though considering the disparity |;
IF force, singular consequence was, that
Peton and Shurtlif proceeded, without
ur,her moleslation, TO mount their hor-
;es, and with all the cool and provoking
assurance OF perfect safety, and the#6s,
nn,axed and imper,urbed leisure, pro-
ceeded slowly on their way towards YER
mont.
The reader will have already antici-
pated, that the two fugilives were of The
number Of those who at that period were
called, indifereutly, rebeis,' Sbsyites,'
or Sbaymen.' In that daring, but COM
paratively bioodless rebellion, they bad
indeed performed most active and con-
spicuous part; and were now fleeing
from the wreck of their towering pro-
jects and sanguine hopes, to hide their
fallen fortunes, and secure their personal
safety in the province of Canada.
Shur,lif, after their arrival at a place
of comparative safety in Vermont, took
an affectionate but mourDtul leave of the
companion of his tolls, perils, and mis-
fortunes, and without further Interrupt
ton proceeded to Montreal. But Ed.
ward, in the detection Of defeat, and the
hazard Of lot pursuit, had suddenly
quilted his home, left behind him private
and urgent affairs of deep moment, in
great disorder; and what was of yet
greater consequence to his youthful and
aHectionate heart, lovely and disconso-
late wife, and two tender infants. Weigh
ed against these, his personal safety was
to him Of little consequence. He halt
ed, therefore, resolving, when the heat
and fury of pursuit had abated, TO renru
clandastinely to the town of Springfield,
and either conduct his little family to the
place Of his retreat, or effect such ar
rangemens as should enable them speed
ily 10 follow him. With this view, in