The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-08-07
From Noal's Times and Messenger.
THE MYSTERIOUS RIFLE
MAN.

THE MYSTERIOUS RIFLE
MAN.
AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION.
group Of youngsters, ten years before
the revolution, stood on Il level green in New
York with mark before them and their fire.
arms ready They were on the ground oc-
cuped by Charlton aud portion of Euricl
streets, but which then formed part of the
open and romantic country. The outskirts
of the then abbreviated city were what may
be termed POLITICALLY picturesque, made of
rocky, sandy, uneven, but yet elegant grounds,
which afforded opportunities for the enjoy
ment Of field sports aud the prosecution of
other matters, MS well as for The agricultural
occupations which give men bread. The fire.
qucnt appearance Of Indians IN this quarter,
from the time of Peter Etuyvevant TO tho pc
riod of which we write, created desire u
mong The young men in all directions to en-
uutc their skill as mnrksmcn. 1t was no UNI
usual thing to get land by shooting the best
shot, and many lot which is valued at this
day ut thousands Of dollars, aud affords its
owner the means Of becoming season sub
scribcr TO the opera, was obtained by the bulls
eye of a target. The group we would call
the attention of the reader to was one Of five
persons, four were striplngs but the fifth
Il gray haired man, whose ruhCUud yisagc.
and rotund proportions published the fact
that his birth place was Great Britain. He
was admriug mark in the target, and adj
dressed the lad who had made it, aud who
was leaning carelcssy on rifle that show
ed better condition than any other piece on
the ground.
"Why, Charles, you are second Tell, or
will be. You must have pwctscd coutinu-
ally TO have acquired such proficiency.
,Why, to say the truth good LecksIey,' re-
piled the young man to his venerable inter
culuior, Il do little else than shoot My
rifle is my mother, wife and childrcn-ihO'
ofthc Inter am scarcely old Cuougilo speak.
At any rate, Bcss llhc rifle is my banker,
for the silver use is nearly all produced by
her.
Il never saw such unorring Oim,' remark
ed the old man wonderiugly.
1T merely shows what inclination and the
constant pursuit otan object, vii! accomplish.
Ones ambition sometimes runs in strange
currents. Mine directs me to excel all 9TH
or persons in shooting. Every mark that
my bullet pierCCs produces more delight than
can we'll describe: and i'll had the choice of
the greatest general or marksman 9th cworld
would unhostatingly choose the latter.
While thcyoung man was speaking these
words he loaded his rifle. The old gentle
man listened as he surveyed surrounding OBJ
ICNtS' hilNi CNAbAGIlN lblAItNN " Il lDCNSl tltt,
upon the extreme end one of the branch
cs OF which sat robin that made the viciui-
~ vocal with its song. Pointing to the bird
with one hand and holding piece of silver
money in the other the old man said,-'Now
Charles, this is yonr reward for that Bird
q cannot was the young mans reply.
Cannot exclaimed the old man, IN Il sur
prised tone-Why"
because, | never kill birds
'Wcl, then, the twig that he sits upon is
as slender as pipe stem. Can you cut that
OFF,
Charles Pigot-thc young man--noddcn
in affirmative, brought his rifle to aim, and
pulled the trigger. Rcdbrcast rose in the
air and sailed away with strange twitt,cr
while the twig of which he had made Il perch
dropped, in cddying circles, 10 the ground.
Charles young companions raised Il loud
shout and, at the same time, lie blushing
with pride, received the silver guerdon OF
his skill.
IIumphn muttcrcd old Lockslcy. Who
ever saw or heard oCthe like; Why, the Indi-
ans only do these things, but not with lead.
say Charley, you must turn this great tai
eut, Of yours TO account. Never rcliuquish
lis practice
Not II exclaimed Piggot, poclcting the sill
yer. When die il ,cW be rife in hG11d.
After few unimportant trials of the sub
stance ofthc well riddIed target, the party
shOuderCd their arms and came across the
Kings Fjpm into the city. The scene de
scrbed actually occurred and the last men
toned remark ofthc young riheman WAS of
ten spoken of at later and more interesting
period by his friends and relatives.
Ten years from the time of the above
scene. NNashington's forces lay cncampcd on
New Y ork and Long Island, awaiting the
sanguinary struggle i'll which we lost about
seventeen hundred men, and during which
more hcroism and bravery was evinc-
ed than in any other action that took place
on tho American Continent.
On the path of August, ZIG, n small
group of rihemcn were collected OIL the road
TO the Narrows. There was every sign Of
suffering among them. They were badly
clad, unclcanly; and looked as ifrest g. food
were luXurics they had not INDUCED i'll for a
day. Among them was II tall, muscular,
fierce whskered man, whose brilliant eye
aud llorid compleXion-thin lips and aquc-
! line nose-betokencd the carnestmCss Of his
! feeling and the tirmncss of purpose with
which he addressed his comrades. lie was
making known his determination to engage
! in the expected contest to the death. Give
| linn, he declared, Il protected position where
he might remain undiscovered during the &C
ton, and he would kill rs many oithe enemy
as he had hairs on his head. He was the
STRIPPING who ten years before astonishcd
Locksley, but now how changed! Instead
OF the mild light which then shone from lis
eye, ihc concentrated fires of hate and re.
vcngc shot their rays from his optics, anC
he clntched his weapon with the blood t1irs
~ and wild air supposed to belong TO a p
rate.
why do you hate these EngIishmen worse
than the rest of u.s.? asked one. 'Wc love