The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-20
WooDsTO0T1, THURSDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 30, lea5.


0 All the villagers had collected outside, to
Q geher with The tory band; but they sa,
that all their efforts to stay the fury OF tb
: conllagration would be of no avail, am
} they stood by, looking cooIIy at the worl
of destruction. Meivalc, and his gallan
, assistants continued their exerlions at the
door OF the cell in which was the object o
their cndcavors. They saw with horror
the frightlnl increase Of the flames, and
they well knew, that in short time they
would be completely hemmed in by burning
walls, although they were safe for the mo.
ment from the flames. The inmates ofrhc
cells had all become aroused, and they
were screaming and shouting like demons.
Some laughed, and appeared to rejoice al
Witnessing the frightrul spectacle, whilst
Others oyinced symptoms Of the utmost
terror. Meryalo and his friends could
distinctly hear the shouts and cries, and it
increased the horrors Of their siluation.-
1t seemed as if the CRATE at which they
were at work, would resist all their efforts
TO force it. They gave up at length in
despair, aud stood gazing at the terrified
girl within. Jacob, however, soon shout.
ed again, courage, GOODNESS, and persever-
ance! and then apparently redoubled his
c%crions at the CRATE
Once moren cried he, and altogether
Again the whole band came against it.,
with both weight and strength and to
their ne%pressibIe joy it yielded. Mcr-
vale rushed IN, and caught Alice in his
arms.
BY this time, the cell doors had all been
burst open blythe inmates themselves,
and they stood huddlcd together i'll the cx-
tremc end Of the narrow hail. Meryac
still held Alice in his arms, in a perfect
transport OF joy; but he had not yet over
come the frightluI obstacles in the way
Of his escape, How were they to leave
the burning building? And if by miracle
they should escape from the burning pile,
how were they to combat with the tories
without, upon whose maIignitY they could
rely. A few feet beyond the spot they oc-
cupcd, was the end Of the building As
well as could be determined from appear
anccs, the fire had not yet reached it, as
the wind, judging from the inclination of
the flames, vas in its favor, Through this
end, ii was necessary for them to escape,
for it was madness TO think of making
the attempt at the other extremity of the
pile. Bat how were they to effect an O.
pcning? They were destitute of an axe,
or any o.her weapon that could avail them
aught.
Jacob espicd large beam over their
heads, and by the hercuIcan strength Of
his arms, he drew his body up in such a
manner, that placing one knee upon the
top Of the beam, he soon reached the floor
beyond it. To his great JOY he found that
it was but slightly secured at either end.
Those securities he soon Iooscd, and with |
the assistance OF those below the beam was
quickly lowered, followed by Jacob. Him.
self and two Of his comrades quickly seized
the beam, and with its end commenced bat
tcring the walls Of the asylum at lis cxtre-
nifty, Contrary TO their expectations, the
fire had been at work, and altogether 10
their advantage, for the half burned tim
bers and boards readily yielded to the hcav-
y blows Of the beam, and in short time
a hole sufficiently large to admit Of their
egrcss, one at time, was made.
An exclamation CT joy escaped from
their full hearts, as they witnessed the sue
cess Of jacobs experiment, Led on by
Meryale with Alice, they commenced their
departure, and all, together with the freed
lunalcs, soon found themselves at liberty.
The collected villagers and tories were all
standing in front OF the building, and con-
sequently had not noticed their cgress UNI
til their attention was directed that
way by the yelling Of the !una,ics. Then
they all rushed to the spot and before Mer-
vale and his friends could attempt to flee
in the direction of their boats they were
by the excited multitude. ia
cob Dash saw them rushing towards him
and his comrades, and instantly Selling
the doctor bvthe throat, he hurredly wins
pered in his ear,
Tell them we were assisting You TO cs-
cape, or d,-n me, I'll stab you to the
heart!'
Come, said Jacob, turning to his cont
rades, let's take this young woman to the
inn. We can't save The building, though
some had better stay and watch it, come
doctor, you must 60 too, you are not dress
ed, and yon might CIT cold by s:andin in
the night air!'
As Jacob addressed the doctor, he gave
him very expressive look, and then TAX
lug that worthy very tendery by The arm,
he started in the direction ofthe inn, fol-
lowe by his little band with Alice.
The tory leader was entirely at fault. 1t
appeared to be plainly the case, that the
strangers had pered their own lives, TO
save the inmates Of the asylum and the
doctor. This fact was further corrJbora-
led by the garuons landlord, who stated
that Schuyler and the doctor were intimate
friends, and from the circumstance that the
doctor very readily walked off arm in arm
with Jacob Dash.
Under these circumstances, Jacob, and ;
his companions were permitted to walk of
,,,,olos,aI CoIlovod hv No ono ,he-n hr.