Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-03-10

ire bot be grew weaker, and my courage re-
vived. About tins time a man came down the
stairs behind. and throwing his high, iransiently
upon US, discovered our position. and closed
II again. changed my position. and placed
my back against the wall, 10 defend myself
from my new nssailan, lie approached us ia
the dark. and when passing | sent blow at
random that telled him in the corner ofihe hall
next his companion siil standing.
! avallcd myselfof the opportunity TO retreat
into my office adjoining the hall, with the hope
OF escaping through the window on 10 the side
walk | had scarcely crossed the Threshold
of the door when received blow behind the
ear and on the neck that staggered me about
twelve feet IN TO large office chair, which
fell over, and withii. BY the time ] rcgained
my feet, felt the gasp ola hand on my Shout
der we closed, and got what wres,lers call
the under-hold, but il awaited me little ] was
thrown with great force upon the floor, and my
antagonist on top of me. | kept my arms
clasped firmly around him, and pressed him
closely TO my chest and face, that might pre-
ven, him from striking or using his knife, II he
had one. In moment he said Il am stabbed"
and the warm blood poured so profusely into
my face, that turned aside my mouth and nose
to free my breathing.
He grew weak at once, and | turned him
off from me, and half rising with one knee on
the floor, received blow on the pit Of ille
stomach that deprived me of all farther apprc-
hension and consciousness, ami when awoke
| | found myselfsolus, and in cold perspira,ion,
with no other suffering but sickness and vom-
iting. Vomiting seemed to restore my circu-
lation, and became warm, and in a short time
was able to get in the ID story, and ring for
the servants, who slept five stories above the
afiray. They furnished me with warm water
and dry night clothes. and went TO bed less
exhausted than agitated, and slept but little.
| When daylight shone in upon the battle floor,
il presented terrific scene,-The hall, from
the front door to the office door, distance of
Is feet, was covered with blood, and in many
places so thick and clotted as to cover the floor
cloth. The office chairs were overthrown,
papers scattered about and despatched with
blood About 90 square feet of the carpet was
red, and about seven square feet was soaked
in blood. Out on the steps 10 the side walk
it was traced in streams, and on the opposite
Greene street corner it was renewed, and from
there, in the centre of Greene street, it was
traced to Fourth street, and again in Greene,
near Houston, the position of a man sitting
was marked in blood
have received no very serious injury. The
stab in the arm has wounded but slightly the
tendon of the bicebs muscle, and as precau-
tionary measure hang II in ribbon to keep
It from motion and prevent inflammation. The
stab in the side was stopped by rib The
heart is under obligation to this rib for pro-
lection, and to God for placing it there The
} blow received in my neck causes most pain,
and fatigues II in carrying the head. My ner-
vousness and agitation was cured by hours
good sleep.
| have every reason TO believe that there
were four men in the house that but one fol-
e.. tb-t tl,
guarding the upper front door, suspecting
what was going on below, abandoned his pos,
and fled {; that the man in the Office was in the
| subordinate capacity OF carrier of booty, as he
took no part in the ARRAY until retrealed there
on my way to the window and that he was
unprovded with lights or weapons, as lie used
none that the knife found in the blood where
he lay was dropped by his companion, when
the mistake was discovered, in the utterance
of his friend, II am stabbed :" and that ! am
, indebted to this circumstance for the blow that
ended lhe afray, instead OF the knife.
There was a remarkable agreement among
them ia the concealment of lights and voices
. The last lgh, that | saw was the light thrown
upon us in the ARRAY at the basement door
when the man first came down stairs, the light
of my antagonist being already extinguished
in the scuffle.-
There was no voice heard, except the one
= ] have alluded to, Il am stabbed'-and my OWL
, preservation is owing TO the observance o
their rule, perfect silence as in this way the
! man was stabbed by his friend. If they had
t, a light left them 10 ascertain my farther abili
ty for resistance, a single glance would have
satisfied them that it was all over. Ny nigh
dress when dry, would stand alone from tho
stiffenng of blood, and my face and gray
. hairs were of the same color. My fantinl
continued till was relieved by Vomiting.
The crime of house breaking and robbins
has become so common that every rejecting
man has thought OF it, and thought of what h'
should do in such an event. ! had marked
out my course with great precision and cool
ness, never doubling till | was put upon thu
trial that had courage enough TO spare II
meet all emergencies.
But this experience, and the amount of al
my experience in life, satisfies me that maj
cannot anticipate what he will do, or how he
will act in any given circumstances that have
not tried him, and when ne thinks he is acting
for himself, and in his own might, lac forget;
I the eve that sees for him, the ear that hears
for him, and the arm that sustans and gusdes
him, and that guidance and protection is as
important TO him in the sunshine as IN The
storms and tempests OF life, and lfitbe for one
moment withdrawn from him, he would be e.
qually taken by surprise whether that storm
or the tempest or that sunshine only, was
; present.
! am truly your friend,
+. VANDENBuRGH
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