Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-09-16
From SCOTS Weekly Paper.
THE BLOCK HOUSE TRAGEDY.
A Legend Of Smcdes Church, Southwark
BY JAMES REEFS.
CHAPTER 1.
THE GRAVE YARD-177S.


another sleeps here.''
These words we're uttered by beautiful girl, as
she stood beside grave in the yard of Old Swedcs
Church, and were addressed to an aged man, over
whose head ninety winters had scattered their
eyes, daughter Rebccca Raubo sleeps here-she
died. let me see, ah, mem'ry fails Yet-lct me sec
lit in 1865; no. no, that would make you twen-
ty- one; let me sce." the old man now muttered to
HIMSELF and counted with his fingers. 81 have it
now, she died the very day the Rev. Carolus Magnus
WrangIe eft,-that was in l76S.s remember it
well, we had all assembled in tho vcstry to Of
fer up prayers for bis safe journey home, when the
news came to us that sister Rcbccca more !;
an! that was mournul day-a day Of fasting and of
PRAYER You were then about eight years Of age,
threw the first earth on her coffin and it sounded
mournful, and tears come into my eyes for knew
your Mother Mary when she young and blythe
some like you Your father an honest good
man has never ceased to mourn her loss, you her
very image ciild, and it must be a blessing for him
to look on you.''
"Father often tells me that resemble my mother;
alb, here comes William, with the sods; we
shall make poor mothers grave look green and fresh
IL
old approached with whec-barrow heavily laden
with green sods which he had dug up in ncighbor
ing field, they carefully deposited the ground
and then, with much care and in silence assisted by
the old Sexton, they were ineeniously laid on the
little mound beneath which slept one they all had
loved, and whose memory still dear to them.
0Sister, that officer spoke to about you again,
and told him he had better mind his own business
as the boy spoke these words his dark eyes flashed
fire.
"What did he say, William"
Gle wanted to know if you and would accompa-
nv him to the south street Theatre tonight, some
of the officers going to play piece in rdicue
of this country"
ale would first insult country, ana then u.s.
he is very kind
"He is villai n, sister,
oYou are right, my son, he is villain Step this
way; do you see yonder grave there just beyond the
old blasted oak. must cut that old tree down, and
should have done SO long since but an owl has made
its nest in it's trunk there just beside it is little
marble slab with these words-"Sacred to the men,
ory of Martha Wilcox" Like you my child she was
young and beautiful; like you she believed in the
world and all that is in it-pure. Alas! how often
is youth mistaken; sorrow is the best tutor. She
trusted, believed, and confded in one-that very
oficer-thls Col. Ripka, she deceived it is a
sad tale-you both have heard it; she sleeps now;-
and her memory is toasted in yonder bock-house,
with mockery on the vile seducer's lip. Hank! they
have music now; it comes from the officers mess;-
they have no hearts-and we in their estimation are
rebels
sCome Father, let us sit down here, beneath the
willow, and tell us something about the old church:
whenever hear the name of poor martha feel SO
sad"
s'Come my children it is simple history, and you
may look upon it as the first regular church erected
in this city, atho there were two others built tenn
porally Cor the worship o: our maker. 1t was built
in the year 100, seventy eight years ago. The
Swedes having landed in 1929, the history of the
church begins at period much earlier than these
haliowed walls. The first minister, or rather we
should say the first missionary sent over by the
Protestant Church, was the Rev. Recorus Tokillus
minister of the Swedish Church, who accompanied
the early settlers; he died in l643. The next who
came was the Rev. Companus Holms; he arrived
here in l643 and preached at Christina and also at
Tinicum where the Swedes erected Church, and
which he consecrated on the 4th of September l64S
Ale arrived in 1859. During his ministry the
church prospered exceedingly Hewas highly es-
teemed, and her departure much regretted.