The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-05-15

Ic41y lOi ihe tuttffIlkr. &fsfuocfiuk
up "a II d. K, with their victim in their
midst. The cables were cut. and the liHle
bark. like llighiened bird, dew oul 10
sea-
Perhaps no scene ever painted itself on
the canvass Of zeal life 80 startling. Wild
and strange as this. While The Stout
hearted skipper sieered the bark, The con-
sicf assisIed'by his four companions. lsed
W 10 the zen boat. and the preach
or. kneeling upon The deck. WIS heard be-
tween the pauses Of the thunder. far above
waves AMI wind. calling upon Heaven 10
bless their unholy act.
The open lake was gained. and the
wrelcled man, regardless ol his loud en-
treaties and screams. was given 10 the
iosming waters. In glare Of lightning.
that was followed by ssleafening peal Of
thunder. they saw lheiI victim rise upon a
huge wave, then plunge into darkness and
deaill- beyond.
Short time had the execuiioners 10
dwell upon ileirs ruthless deed. Their
lives were IN jeopardy. A storm so sio-
lent had seldom been equalled. and the
linle craft was worked. save the skipper,
by unskillful hands. Desperate efforts
were made 10 regain'ihe Bay, bul The en-
trance was narrow and intricate. while
commands. grossly misunderstood. we're
promptly executed. so that the bark ran
upon ledge Of rocks and quickly went
TO pieces. Two only OF its strange crew
were saved-ihe clergyman and The con-
vici together reached the shore.
Some three years after these strange
events, the Rev. Mr.. H. was awaken.
ed one night by request TO come inn
medialely. and administer religious con.
ISOLATION 10 prisoner, who in attempting
an escape from Jail had been MORALLY
wounded by the sentinel on duty. The
reverend gentleman folded his cloak about
him,. and accompanied by the jailor,
threaded his way shro' snow and sleel- TO
the prison.
They yfound The prisoner writhing in pain
upon his bed in the gloomy cell, lii by a
dim candle, and alone, for the surgeon had
pronounced his case hopeless.
.You've come q. lssI.n he growled, az
the clergyman, approaching the bed, tool
from beneath his cloak book, and begaI
the duties pertaining 10 his sacred mission
/" You've come al last--i thought Id gt
down before you got here"
May you be spared for repentance
lei us lose no time."
/" No you don't! I'm bound 10 60
downtown. Don't be fooling--ldon',
send for ihail'
.The sands of life are running fast. Ii
few moments you will be in the pre-
sence Of your Judge. and repentance sher
will be Of no avail"
alt will moi avail me now" said the
criminal.
.Think Of your past life-,hink Of the
punishment, that is 10 iollowr"
The answer 10 this was frantic roar
OF laughter, that made even the jailor's
b.ood tingle with alarm.
81 will not remain" said Mr.. Ii,
'steruly, sand hear this awful morkery.
| warn you now--bewaTc !"
"Well listen, then-don'l you know
met" ~
The clergyman held the candle to the
q nyict's face, and started with astonish'
m nj.
"Oh you know me, doyoul You
re member the night we tossed W
overboard-how he prayed! Oh, ho
look 10 yourself!'
81 did my duty"
"Ah. ha you did, did you' You did
your duty in drowning poor fellow for
murd, he never commilied!"
A tremor like an ague rar through the
listeners frame, and there he stood as one
dIsmayed.
Is He never did the deed. murdered
Milly Woods--I chased her TO the gauel
and killed her. | was there robbing the
house when W came. heard him
speak cheerfully to the child, give her the
luirrel and then leave. A minute after
she was dead baby, and " had
The hlame!'
.L,rd hare mercy on me y groaned
the Divine, in an agony Of spirit.
- slipped the gold pieces in hispock.
ct. How he prayed and begged for mer.
cy! It's our turn now! don't beg-l
want-i'lld die as | have lived-bui you can
howl. He had a widowed mother. We
all went uader-bul you aud !, parson,
came up togelher-now we go down
down-town!"
The voice ceased-a shudder ran
through his iron frame, and the wretched
criminal was no more. -
In time, the village Of s. grew to
city. Many o its old citlzens had en-
igrateJ, or were dead, and. among the
remaining, the events have narrated had
faded almost in.o an uncertain legend
when one sunny afternoon. an elderly
gentleman Of slaii, respectable appear
ance, accompanied by his wife and chill
dren, made his way fromahe evening steam