Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-03-02
y Grlrrt Gale.
THE WILKINSON'S BLUFFS.
A TALE OF LOVE, MURDER AND SUICIDE.

The iac,s am about to relate are not
the less true, because they wear the air OF
romance and resemble many OF the ground
works Of the fctionS which ianciful wri-
ters weave from their imaginatious. Not
enly the incidents OF rnv story are familiar
to the people of this venerable town, but
there are now living kere, descendants OF
those who played prominent parts in the
events which shall relate.
AT the period of my story, which was
shortly before Burr's attempt TO raise an
expedition against the Spanish possessions
in Mexico, this country presented some of
the NEST sublime and romantic scenery in
the world. The valley of the Red River
riva!.rd in richness, and vaftrty of views,
the famous Vale of Avoca, and lar Exceeded
it in grandeur and sublimi,y. The dark
waters of the Red River meandered without
murmur, through a country beautifully
diversified in Hill and dale, now gently
stretching through broad preities and
spreading out into wide lakes, then gath
ering its waters within narrow banks, and
rushing like torrent down a precipice
madly foamng along somp high bnff, and
then boldly rushing its onward course
through dark primeval forest, where the
Sound Of civilization had not aroused the
s'umberins echoes, or disturbed the wild
beasts in their airs. Amid all this rich
and beautiful scenery, there is not more
attractive and romantic spot on Red River
than Wlkinson's Bluffs, near the town of
| Nalchitoch-s. These Bluffs ascend to an
immense height from the river, and are
perfectly perpendicular. The river moves
in quiet and steady CURRENT al the foot OF
thu heights, and the scenery around is full
Of sombre sublimity and impressive granda
eur.
On top of the bluffs, and not far from
their edge, there stood at the time of my
story, plain and rough, but strongly built
house, the domicil Of Frenchman of the
name of Jean B. Villrmont. This Vile
mont was about forty years Of age, and was
a man OF strong passions and terrible wrath.
He had cmi grated from France few years
before, bringing with him his wife and a
lovely daughter, Just fifteen, and fresh and
blooming as a May-llowpr. Shortly after
his arrival at Natchitochas, his wife died
and thus was the principal restraint re-
moved from his passions. At this remote
period o the settlement Of Louisiana, there
existed all through the frontier portion q
the State, organized hands of robbers, whC
!. kept the settlements in continual terror by
their violence and depredations. The in
dn niduals constituting these bands, wer'
well known 10 the coloniSts, few OF whom
had The boldness to incur the awful re
venge which usually awaited those who in
formed upon the malefactors. No srttle
ment suffered more from these depredator
than Natchitoch-s, which at this time wa
the principal trading point OF the North
wesl portion of Louisiana.
A man OF the evil passions and restles
character OF Vilemont could not long re
slst the inducements which were Off red I
, Join tn fnhb+rs OF Rcd River, (Who wet
then commanded by celebrated Spaniard
He applied for admission into their society
but found much opposition from the fra
. trrnity. The ground ofthis opposition wa
the fear that the secret of the band mlgh
leak out through the beautiful daughter c
: Villrmont, at whose shrine all the youu
were accustomed to worship. This opposl
tiun was, however, so far satisfied, that
/, was agreed to admit Vilemont on cond
tion OF his giving earnest of his valor an
IF determination by disposing Of some Of th
& numerous enemies OF the band. He wi
u lingly accepted the condition, and took
s. most horrid oath to destroy whomsoevs
u y the Chief might designate.
y Shame him." exclaimed Villemon
grasping hls knife, and grinning with ier'
D. clous desire to prove a yalor which ha
been called IN question--''and il be wei
my own father, brother, or son, this kni
shall find bis heart !"
"The man you are TO kill is Augns
: Prudhomme," slowly and oracularly pr
N nounced the grim captain of the robbers.
At the mention of the name OF Pru
homme, the face of vilfmont grew dead