Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1833-12-05
EFFECT OF Cool 81 STEADY COURAGE.

1FrECI VI OOoL N OIEaD1 SOUHAGE.
Several years ago, when the south
of Ireland was as it has ever been with.
in my memory, in disturbed state,
a gentleman advanced in years, lived
in retired country house. He was a
bachelor, and whether trusting to his
supposed popularity, or imagining that
the general alarm among the gentry
was groundless, he continued in his
lonely mansion long after his neighbors
had quilted theirs for safe residence
in the town. He had been indisposed
for several days, and on the night he
was attacked, he had taken supper in
his bed room on the ground floor, and
inside parlor with which it communi.
Gated. The servants went to bed; the
house was shut up for the night; and
the supper tray with its appurtenances,
by provdential oversight, were for
gotten in the old mans chamber.
Some hours after he had retired to
rest, he was alarmed at hearing a VIM
dow lifted in the outer apartment, his
chamber door was ajar, and the moor
shone brilliantly through an open case
ment, rendering objects in the parlor
distinct and perceptlble TO any person
in the inner room. Presently man
leaped through the window, and three
others followed in quick succession.
The old man sprang from his bed, but
unfortunately there were no arms in
the apartment; recollecting, however,
the forgotten supper tray, he provided
himself with case knife, and resolute-
~ took his stand behind the open door.
He had one advantage over the muir
derers; they were in full moonlight,
and he shrouded in impenetrable dark
ness. A momentary hesitation took
place among the party, who seemed
undecided as to which of them should
first enter the dark room; for acquaint-
ed with the localities of the house, they
knew we'll that there the devoted VIC
tim slept. At length one of the vii
lains cautiously approached, stood for a
moment in the door way hesitatingly,
advanced step-not whisper was
heard, a breathless silence reigned
around; and the apartment was dark
as the grave itself. SEQ on, blast vel
what the devil are we afeerd of? said
the rough voice of an associate behind.
He took a second step, and the old
mans knife was buried in his heartl
No second thrust was necessary, for
with deep groan, the robber sunk on
the floor.
The obscurity of the chamber, the
sudden destruction caused by that
deadly thrust, prevented the ruiians in
the outer room from knowing the fate
of their companion. A second pre-
scented himself, stumbled against his
dead associate, and received the old
mans knife in his bosom. The wound,
though mortal, was not so fatal as the
other, and the ruffian had strength to
calculate that he was dead mani
Instantly, several shots were fired
but the old gentleman's position shell.
tered him from the bullets. A third
assassin advanced, levelled long fowl.
ling piece through the door way, and
actually rested the barrel against the
old mans body. The direction, how.
ever, was slanting one, and with ad.
mirable self possession, he remained
steady while the murderer drew the
trigger, and the ball passed him with
out injury; but the flash from the gun
unfortunately disclosed his place o.
ambush.
j Then commenced desperate strug.
gle, the robber a powerful and athlet
Iic ruffian, closed with, and seized hi;
victim round the body; there was nc
equality with regard to strength, anc
', though the old man struck often ant
furiously with bis knife, the blows were
Intellectual and he was thrown heavily
on the floor, with the murderer above
,, him. Even then, at that awfnl mo
ment, his presence of mind, saved thu!
heroic gentleman. He found that thu
lblade of the knife had turned, and HI
: contrivcd to straiten it on the floor
The ruffian's hands were already upol
Ibis throat; the pressure became suite
;, eating; a fewmoments more and the col
test must have ended; but an academia
movement of his body exposed tn
y murderer's side: the old man struc'
!, with his remaining strength a dead,
II blow: the robbers grasp relaxed, an
el with a Veil of mortal agony he fe
2 dead across his exhausted opponent
IS Horror-struck by the death shire
of their comrades, the bandlttl wante
" courage TO enter that gloomy chan
IS Der which had already been fatal to
e many. They poured in an irregula