Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-02-05

ne SERVANT ODeyeu-tne WIDOW haStened
to escape the con6agration, and her pretend
ed friend to seize the spoil of her splendid
house for himself But fire seemed to en-.
velope every thing in the widows path, and
borne on by fierce winds, threatened the
whole city. Cries Of grief terror, and des.
pair, were fearfnlly commingled with the
roar of the raging element and the crash
of falling tlmbers. Persons in attempting 10
save their property, dashed their furniture
from their windows, and made il but one
heap of ruin on the pavements. If money
or plate was thus rescued from the fire. II
was only 10 be snatched up by the hand Of
incendIarles, who IN groups were watching
Tor the prey Many, in attempting TO secure
little from the devouring flames, lost their
limbs or their lives and those who at such
risk had snatched a part from the general
ruin, were often laid PROSTATE by the lawless
arm OF the robber, and their all wresled from
them. But the voice of kindness was every
where heard calmly saying Trust me with
that purse of gold-I am your friend-com-
init to my care your plate, and | will secure
all can, and restore it,
| And who are these calm friends p thought
the widow as she struggled on her way
through every impending danger-'who can
be so selfpossessed, so benevoen, and disin-
tereSled, at such a moment as thisT At
last she reached quiet part of the city, and
pointed out TO her attendant the dwelling
of her friend.
| Then deliver your watch, madam, or
die said he, presenting pistol She tore
| It from her bosom. and dashed il on the
pavement; he snatched it from the ground
and fed prccipi,ately, and she saw him no
more.
In state Of terro: and exhaustion she
reache the house Of her friend, aud was
admitted. In the morning she visited the
Smouldering RUNS OF her late splendid abode
and shed tears OF agony over the scene oil
desola,ion TINT ever where met her eye
A few days more, she was seen vending
her solitary way to her fathers house in the
country, in a stage coach little coffin lay
in her lap, containing the las, relct of her
earthly treasure But the case of the wild
ow is but one solitary, selected page in the
history Of the great fire at Albany 49,.
Hundreds of other families who, like her,
sat down 10 plentiful board on that lrful
night surrounded by all the comfor, and
elegancies Of life. were on the following
morning without where To- lay their heads
pensioners on public benevolence-.iheir
! property and their homes, accumulated per.
iaaps by years Of pa,'en, industry, f.VsFa "a
| pile of smouldcring ruins-given to utter
destruction by the hands Of a cruel incendi
airy and his accompices, to crafty the lust
of unlawful gain, regardless OF the misery
i, cost their iellow-men But the sequel
of our story will show the infa,uation oil
those who thus sell themselves to work
wickedness and bear testimony 10 the truth
that 'Seriiy Mere is a God teho judgeM IN
The earth
For several months there had been little
sloop plying between New York and A ba
ny. commanded by Captain Vincent Thai
sloop was constantly employed in conveying
stolen property from the one place TO the
other, or deposlting the goods in some favor
able place along the Hudson; they were
transported by teams to towns contiguous
where they were usually sold at auction by
unsupported accompices. The season was
one of those desolating ones when the vel
low fever prevailed in New York, Tn,
inhabitants had fled from the city by thous
ands, and business was in great measure
suspended, as in the time of the recent chol
era this gave an excellent opportunity fol
plumber Vincent, by means of false keys
entered the desoated stores, and freighting
his sloop, assembled the Hudson, sold tn,
goods, usually reloaded his sloop with lum
Der or wood and returned 10 New York Il
commit new depredations on the property
Of others Emboldened by his success, h,
at last ventured to offer his goods for sal,
in the city of Hudson. He was suspected
and arrested with four of his men, and com
mitted to the county Jail for trial. Eviden
ces from New York were expected to ap
pear against him; but at the sitting OF thu
Superior Court as mono appeared, they wer'
discharged. A few hours after the cour
had risen, and Vincent and his gang wen
safely out of reach those evidences arrived
they had been retarded by head winds from
reaching Hudson in season for their oonvic
ton He, therefore, who had been guilty
of the most fragrant robberies, thefts ant
burglares, for IA time escaped the ju't re
) ward of his crimes. One incident which
occurred during the confinement of Vincen
may be worthy of notice. He had Otter
complained OF the neglect of his family
who neither visited him or answered his let
, tiers, though living within twenty miles o
; the prison. One morning Captain Vincen
} solicited the jailor to go some ten or filteer
miles on important business for him, and a:
an inducement, offered to give him hand
some reward, and pay him in advance. =
The jaior objected that his family was sick
T but on the whole was induced to go. Afte
he was gone, brother of Captain Vincen
( called and wished to see him. He was tolC
II was not convenient for him 10 see hi,