Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-09-24
For the Telegraph.
GEORGE Brennan AND THE FLIGHT

OF COOPER.
an account of the emigration of Mr.. r.
Cooper, from a small Village about 90
miles from Bristol, England, to English
Prairie, Illinois.
The account of Cooper flight from Eng
land was given by Miss Caroline, ms only
daughter, in l.42, FIVE years after her
fathers settlement in Illinois, and is ad-
dressed TO George Brennan, an old acqu in
lance and lover OF Miss Carolne's. and
one to whom she had intended to be mar
ried, had her fathers stay in England been
pro;racted few weeks longer Young
Brennan, Of whom | shall speak first, was
a house Carpen err by trade, who, though
poor, had by sober habits and perscvering
industry, always maintained respectable
standing in society, end was in fair wav
OF acquiring property suffioien; Tor com
Portable living. AT the time Of Cooper's
sudden departure with his wife and ugh
ter from England, Brennan had gone 10
London on business 10 which he wished to
attend previous TO his marriage with Caro-
line. Having settled his afIairs in London
he was returning as speedily as possible to
his native village his mind was filled with
the most lively and pleasing emotions ;
prosperity and gladness appeared 10 be I'M
denlably the enjoyment OF all his future
days. lie considered that nolhing was
then wanting 10 seal his happiness but the
hand OF Caroline her heart he knew was
his already, ADD upon the pleasing task of
making her his own he was then prepared
TO euter. But what his surprise when
Within ten miles of home, Of being told by
ach-driver whom he CHANGED to meet,
that a matster in The village by tn. name
of Cooper had murdered the Collector Of
the Excise, and made his escape with his
wife and daughter. The charge o. murder
against one who had always sustained the
character Of Cooper was anything but
agreeable TO the ears Of Brennan Cooper
had been malster twenty years in the
village, and was respected by al who knew
him for his integrity and straight forward
course of dealing But the report Of Car
dimes elopement lit upon him like an
electric 81 ock A; he remained rhotorIess
and speeches. for several minutes, then
resuming his self possession, he turned
suddenly 10 ask some question Of the coach
driver with regard 10 the matter, but 10 his
utter establishment no living soul was to be
seen, he had remained SO long insensible
that the man had driven entirely out Of
sight and hearing. When Brennan consi
dered lo' moment the character and mo-
raj standing of Cooper's family, he pro-
nounced the report false and concluded it
was merely a trick bat still the disatfect-
ca appearance Of his informant in announ-
cling the news, had the affect Of making a
great change in his feelings during the re-
mainder OF the journey. Instead Of happy
prospects and gliterng hopes, the future
appeared to be overspread with darkness
and his mind was filled with che most gloo-
my anticiPalions. On searching the viii
lage his worst fears we're realized. it was
all uproaI and confusion. The Collector
had been almost killed by Cooper, and Sc
veral different reports were III G regulation
through The village concerning the eau e.
of the outrage. But the report most to be
relied upon appeared to be this Cooper
had gone as usual to the Collectors office,
about cgh; O'Clock in the evening, for the
purpose Of paying the duty on his malt
A dispute arc o between him aud he Col
lector about part of the money hard words
were exchanged Cooper, in it Of rage,
knocked down the Collector with a chair
and left the room. He was SO severely
hunt that his recovery WIS very 9hub lul
and no trace of Cooper or his family had
been found after he lett the Col ,ectorS of
hce, although dlligent sea CHI had been
made throughout the village and the sur
rounding country. This was almost the
finishing stroke for Brennan How could
it be possible that Carroll had deceived
him with all her vows of cons'ancy, and
with all her charms In what way could
she be concerned in the fray with the Col
leCtor, that she had 10 abScond with her
father? How could she have the heart 10
leave him in Ibis hopeless condition. with
out leaving the least token by which he
might be able 10 Find the place OF her des-
tinatlon ?-and above all, what could have
led Cooper thus ,oIishy 10 bring disgrace
upon his family and destruction upon him
self! TWAS altogether too much for Bre-
man 10 bear he was attacked with VIC
lent hea lache, which was followed bv
fever, and he lay PROSTATE for three months
without evincing The smallest sign Of re-
c0vcry. He however regdlncd at last his
strength and health, but he was a changed
man. Ills energy was gone, aud he ap-
pearcd 10 have no regard for himself or
any OF his friends lis effects we're soon
sQuandrrcd through neglect, aui he lived
during -four years in the lowest state of,
dependency. On the evening of the iO.h
OF MAY, which made exactly four Years
from the time that Coopcr'S family dlsap-
peared, Brennan received letter from
Caroline. This was the first account he
had got of the course they had taken, or
Of the part OF the void in which they had
taken refuge He learned from This that
great many letters bad been directed 10
him and other individuals OF The will &c by
some Of Cooper's family. which il appeared
had been miscarried, not enc before this
having been received, Caroline, notwith.
standing she had almost given up every
hope Of ever coming to reconciliation
with Brennan, or even OF ever again hear
ing from her native village. had continued
To write regularly every month since her
loptip, -,