The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-20

- wa Ju", oalu FoChuyICf, uTdWlH
, his pistol and cooking it. Lead us t
the cell of Alice Van Loan, or you ar
a dead man. Mako no cutlery, for tn
r moment you speak above your breath,
send bullet through your hearth
Spare my life, for Gods sakc;' erie,
the doctor, trembling in every joint.
Then do our bidding; fcrccIy return
, cd Schuyler.
: 4 wiIl!' cried the doctor. Strike
, light, There's finder and matches upol
! the table. Only spare my lie, good gen
tlcmcn; only spare me-.
, Meryalc struck light, from the tnde1
) box, and finding lamp close at hand, he
conveyed the flames to its wick. The
doctor looked around in amazemcnt, a
the stalwart men with which his room
was filled, nearly spccchless from alright
Lead on said Mcryale, impationtIy
approaching him. Certainly, sir, sale
the doctor, elcyating his trembling arm
and taking down his keys. Come on
gentlemen, come on; cried the doctor
leading the way, followed by the whole
band, Jacob brought up the rear, care
fully closing the doors behind him, and
making the few haSty obscrvanccs which
offered IN respect to the situation, and
shapes of the different objects that met
his eye. They passed on through mar
row passage way, one side of which was
occupied by the cell doors, until they
came to the passage which led to the cell
occupied by Alice Van Loan. This
passage was closed by narrow door,
which the doctor pulled open, but the
current of air that rushed in was so strong
that it cXtinguishcd the light, and they
were left in utter darkness. This was
truly unfortunate. The darkness of Egyp,
was not more complete, than that in which
they were cnyclopcd, There was no
window along the narrow passage way,
or opening oiany kind, that admitted the
least ray ofIight The doctor was the
only individual who was enough acquaint-
ed with their locality, and the windings Of
the asylum to return for light, and al-
ter few moments debate, it was deter
mined that Schuyler and Merval should
return with him for that purpose, whilst
the others remained where they Stood
They had not reached half the desired
distance, when the piercing screams Of
female, as if in distress, saluted their
cars, and they suddenly halted. The
sound did not seem to originate in any
part ofthc asylum, but appeared to come
from the direction of the Doctors resi-
denco. What it could be, they could not
divine, but they determined to wait for its
repetition. Soon again thew heard it,
and presently the appalling cry Of fire,
was family heard, issuing from the streets
of the village.
'ln Gods name, what can have taken
Piace' cr!cd schuyler we must pro-
ceed at all events
On they went. IN few minntos they
came TO inc door, Icadihg TO the doctors
room MefFaI was ohead, ana raising
the latch ne pushed 1t open but ileFco
volume OF ilame and smoke drove him
PACK upon the doctor and Schuyler.
'oreat 200! he exclaimed; the build
ing IS on hfo'
1t was even so, and already the flames
burst out from the windows Of the room
in which it originated. A spark from the
finder used in Lighting the lamp, had
caught the cloths npon the doctors bed,
which beng OF light and lnHamabIe ma
ture, had speedily spread the conliagraiIon,
Inc screams that they heard, came from
the doctors female assistant, whose lodg- |
ing was near the scene OF the tire, who mad
discovered 1t, and made her escape, CIV.
ing the alarm to the villagers, Several
had already c0ngregated around the odi-
flee, and were Generously lnqnlrlng for
the doctor
I'VE can never escape through that
blazing room! cried the doctor. oh
dear | am ruiued man; | am a dead mani
Goodness, courage, and perseverance,
cried Jacob Dash, who with those left
standing at the narrow passage, came up
lust a, this time. They also had heard
the screams of the assistant and when
Mefvae pushed open the door, they saw
the bright fame and rushed to the spot.
is there no door that opens beyond