Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-05-02

membered as child Of their own, and she to be
butchered for gold the law seemed too slow and
mild for vengeance, and the great crowd now
swelled to hundreds swayed too and fro, shouting
angrily for blood.
convict hut lately from prison, hastened for
ward with rope, threw it over post. while some
of the citizens in answer to this mute suggestion,
hurried the unfortunate prisoner towards the i'm
promptu gallows.
Oh, gentlemen Z screamed the young man,
frightened at what appeared his inevitable fate
Have mercy upon mel am innocen,-indeed
am-have mercy
His voice was drowned in roar from the crowd
Who had mercy on little Mile Kill him, kill
him and again they pushed him towards the "a
tai post
! Oh, God cried the unhappy man in bitter
anguish, and trembling like child " will no one
| pity. have a widowed mother-mercy, mercy
wait little while-only a little while
One, alone. answered this last appeal. A young
sprung forward, severed the rope, and then, in
clear, silvery voice tha. rung out high above the
tumut, said:
My friends, be careful of your acis. You are
about to do what in this man you condemn-an
awful murder. Chain him down. do what you
will to secure the criminal, but respect the law
And give Squire B--a chance to clear
him., interrupted the convict have mentioned.
To that man, fresh from the cells, have moth
ing to say. But to you, my companions, neigh
bors and friends, | appeal-earnestly appeal
Why will you do this cruel thing What right
have you to commit a murder! How will you
answer to the great Giver of all good for this =
Where is your authority
He whose sheddeth mans blood, by man shall
his blood be shed,' responded harsh, soumn
voice, and the crowd turning saw, where torch
waived over stern, unfeeling face, the counten-
ance of their preacher 1t was time when the
gathered feeling, checked by some great obsta
Gle, pauses in its rash career and, for moment,
there seemed a doubt which way the tide would
flow. The awful passage solemnly quoted, fell
on the crowd at that moment, when the slightest
word would have turned them from their purpose,
and stimulated, as it seemed to them, by a COM
mand from Heaven, they once more seized their
trembling captive, when the old captain, whom w.
heard:
Comrades, said he, Squire B--,hinks we
hadn't ought to hang this fellow. Well I'll tell you
what well do. He wanted to sail with me this
day. He shall do so. Well take him outside
the Bay, lie him in an open boat, and set him
adrift Then the Lord have mercy on him. Wha,
say you 2
chn nf nhatio nd
they hurried W---to the shore. In the mean
while the storm grew loud, and when in the dark
night, their torches beaten out by wind and rain,
the crowd heard the angry waves dashing over the
rude pier their courage failed and seven only
were found ready for the enterprise. Clambering
upon the deck with their victim in their mdsl, the
cables were cut, and the little bars, like fright
ened bird, flew out a, sea.
Perhaps no scence ever painted itself on the
canvass Of real life so startling hord and strange,
as this. While the stout-hearted skipper steered
the bark, the convict assisted by four of his COM
panons, tied W--to the open boat, and the
preacher kneeling upon the deck was heard be-
tween the pauses Of the ,hunder, far above waves
and wind, calling upon Heaven 10 bless their un-
holy act.
The open lake was gained. and the wretched
man, regardless of his screams and enreates, was
given to the foaming waters. In glare of light
ming, that was followed by deafening peal of
thunder, they saw their victim rise upon a huge
wave, then plunge into darkness and death be-
yond.
A short time had the executioners to dwell up
on their ruthless deed. Their own lives were in
jeopardy. A storm violent has seldom been
equalled and the little craft worked, save the
skipper, by unskilfu hands. Desperate efforts
were made to regain the Bay, but the entrance
was narrow and intricate, while commands. gross
ly misunderstood, were promptly executed so that
the bark run upon ledge of rocks, and quickly
went to pieces. Two only of its strange crew
were saved-the clergyman and the convict to-
gether reached the shore.
Some three years after these strange events, the
Rev. Mr. H--was awakened one night by a
request TO come Immediately, and administer re-
leous consolation to prisoner who, in attempt |
ing an escape from Jail, had been mortally wound
ed by the sentinel on duty. The Rev. gentleman
folding his cloak about him. and accompanied by
the iailor threaded his way through snow and sleet
to the prison.
They found the prisoner wrlthlng in pain upon
tho he'd in his oloomy cell liz by dim candle and |