Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-11-14

ne you are engaged" IL thank YOU madam. !,
piled he'll can, stay but aimnment-y where
se these rufians that saw hereef .They wen
wards the village, sir, and weIiear they are de-
'armined to injure you-perhaF they will attack
Gu from an ambuscade." ''AeSer fear tina 8
,ys he, am well prepared for bnqh ieIIows. H.
he mean time, comfort yourselves with the hone
letter times" So saving, lie bid them GOOD
| ght, and was off in moment1 8 f1a "a
They looked from the window, but saw nofb
rg except the sparks of fire whlch his horse
hoes struck from the flinty rockg, over which he
punded with full gaiop, as flev Judged f.
ne sound OF his teet. ''Heavep preserve him, ,
! ried the mother. 'The daa.htsr looked ns
md family uttered 81 hope so.'I
During this time, tho lawycHhad been toth
image nnu hired two more ne1. armed viii, 49,,
sets, and all five had planted themselves il II
anewocds, at propei distances, to seize The rob-
er, as they called him, dad or alive; for tha{
Understood from another min IN the village, VIII
| ame with the stranger, AM who they SUPPOSED
was his accomplish in robifry as he would give
40 direct answers to thef inquiries, that III
stranger would positively te there that night.
| Ii was about ten O'clock when our stranger left
the log hut, and as he entered the pine woods d
awful black cloud lowered over the tops of III
gloomy pines, rendered visible by now and then
a flash of lightning, and beginning towave brisk
Ivy to and fro by The gusts Of wind that began /.
roar among the branch,s witt claps of heavy bel
lowing thunder. 90 b'al4 f
He had proceeded little more than half wa
through the woods, when he found his horse SUD
denly stopped by two men sezipg him bv .he
| lridle, one on each side He drew his psI
fror lie eli
down the other with the butt Of hill whip, as h.
put spurs to his horse; but had mo- gone but fev
rods, when two muskes were dncharged at him /;
the ball from one went throughthe top of his h9
crown, and the other Cut button from his vest,
but did not iniure him. Al tie same instant, ali
three sprang in the path befoJe him, and with the
butts of their nlskes laid hi horse over the head
and so staggered him, that |, with the others be-
hind, who had now come~p,b being recovered from
their wounds, they succeeded, after violent
struege, in tearing the stranger from his horse,
who had discharged another pistol among them
without mich effect, and lhG fought most despe-
rately win his heavy loaded whip, and given sew
Ieral severe Commissions. They made him their
prisoner, pinIoned his arms behind him, and led
him in triumph to the village, where they secur-
I ed him under keepers Unit! morning.
We shall now return'for few moments to the
cottage. In the thunderstorm which we have
mentioned, the cottage Of Mrs. Thompson was
struck by lightning, and in moment was
in blaze, and the son of Mrs. Thompson
was knocked down for dead few steps from
| the door without, as he was listening to the
reports of the muskets in the woods. The moth
er and daughter rushed shriekng from the house
and the first object which arrested their attention
was the son and the brother lying lifeless on the
ground. In this sight they lost all thoughts Of
trying to extingush the flames, and the cottage
was consumed with all its contents--no great
loss, to be sure, but in their situation most If
tiictivc one. No tongue nor pen can describe
the heart.rending agonies Of the mother and the
daughter. The night was dark--the rain poured
down in torrents--the house was demolished
they had no other sheter--hey were two miles
from the village, or any habitation that woule
afford them any shelter, and the boy was still
lifeless, though not stiff and cold.
| In this dreadful dilemma, they concluded TO A,
for the village, and carry the dead body with them
But they had not proceeded far before hei
strength was exhausted, and they were obligec
- stop Resting awhile, they took him up ae ain
aad after few rods were again compelled to halt
Ia this situation, what was to be done?-the DO,
| appeared to be warm, and might possibly be re
covered, with medical aid. Finally it was con
sluded that one or the oihe, of them should stay
aud the other should 90 10 the village. Sophi
| vent and left the mother. She arrived at tn
village, and went to the house Of beneyolen
physician, awoke him from his sleep, and in few
pathetic words informed him Of the dreadful ca
'amiiies. He called lis servant, had his horse
| Immediately harnessedto covered wagon, tool
H. lantern, servant, and Sophia, into the car
iiage, not forgetting his medical apparatus, ant
made all speed to the scene of distress. He toun'
he boy with some faint symptoms of life, and b,
The application of the lancet, and other means, h
-oon began to breathe BY day break they g.
him to the village, and they were landed a: tn
ian where the stranger vas detained as prison
ar and as robber. il
Here we shall leave them for short time, an
| pay our respects to the unfortunate husband an
parent of this afflicted family.
Mr.. Thompson was one Of those hapless be
mgs who possess noble, generous, and feeliu.
heart--a keen sensibllity, and of course warn
attachments and strong antipafhies His natur,
| penius was by no means contemplate, and aith
he had received what might be considered Ii.
raj education, yet he had not studied any of ~
earned professions, and had not in his youth be
accustomed to regular business. He had, h.
yer, served rs a clerk in respectable countir
.ouse, for q few months, and having some ca
Al, though small, and being in good credit !
'mbarked in the mercantile business, married
4niahle and higl accomplished vile, The dan 9
ter of a broken down oentlauan. md for nuns