Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-08-15
Select AlistelIang.
AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN.
BY II. G. CHAPMAN.

BY II. G. CHIPMAN.
Late in the Fall of 1880, Grand Prpirie in IL
linois, was burned over sone night, sahd an i'm.
mense amount of damage done 10 the farmers
living in and along its edge. Numerous fences
were destroyed, and crops Of corn ready for the
gathering, were laid waste while numberless
stacks of grain and hay put up for hc winters
use, were set on fire, and burned to The ground.
The havoc was worse because of the cOnhagra.
tion's coming suddenly and quite Unexpectedly,
as when the night came on no fire was dlscerna-
BILE, and such burnngs were invariably perceiv-
able long before night set in, warning the far.
mers to be prepared.
But the evening of this catastrophe, when the
sun went down, and darkness covered The prar-
lie, no smoke arose from the Southern edge of
the plain, nor could any lurid glare bel seen rest
ing upon the sky, to indicate the grasE was on
fire-and as ii generally took whde night
for the flames to cross the prairie, all the far
mers living on the Northern edge retired to their
beds in apparent security, But in the middle of
the night many of them were aroused to find
their fences OF fire, their habitations surrounded
by flames, and in some instances, even the hous.
es in light blaze, from which they with difficult
ty escaped alive.
A farmer, whose family was composed of a
wife and only daughter, the latter some seven
teen years Of age, who resided some six miles
in the prairie, had his house destroyed, while
himself and wife pershed in the ruins, The
daughter was saved by the daring energies of
young man named Clyde, who had discovered
the fire, and arrived just in time to tear her from
the burning ere the roof fell in.
The morring after the conhagration, the IN .
habitants Of the little village of Button, situat-
ed on the edge of the plain, were set in commo-
ton by rumors of The fire being the work IF some
heartlcss scoundre, who had thus gratifed his
malice upon some individual, by iniufiPg the
entire community
Theso runors Mt longth became fSed fact I;
~s, about ten ssaIoe L a named Gray
ing character, with no ostenslble means ofllVe-
lihood, appeared before the Squire of the village,
and stated that he wished warrant issued for
the apprehension of David Clyde, for setting the
prairie on fire the previous night, by which so
much waste of property and wanton sacrifice OF
lives had occurred
The warrant was issued, and placed in the
l., tbo oonetohlo for cnrvinn and Whllp
this official was absent in search of Clyde, the
Young man himself came into the Squire's office
and entered like complaint against Gray, but
was informed that Gray had first appeared, and
obtained warrant for his arrest, which was
then in the hands of the constable.
He seemed taken aback when he was first in
formed of this, but promising the Squire that he
would be present at one o'clock that nlternoon
to undergo an examination, he departed. Wore
was sent to Gray to be present at the appointed
time; and as the case was an unusual one, the
room of the Justice was crowded, to hear the
statements of the two.
Gray's stoly was short;
He sworc that, having wolf trap set somt
distance out in the prairie, he had taken up hi
lodgings near by it, on the night of the fire, ant
about l2 o'clock he was aroused by the how'll
and sra-les of wolf, which had been caught IL
the trap lie arose to go to it, when he dscov
cred horseman near by, who dismounted from
his steed, drew out st9 flint and tigdsr from
his pocket and striking a light thrust tin the
> dry grass, which instantly blazed up, andavore(
, BY a strong Southern wind, spread away towards
the settlement, and in the exact direction OF Mr.
Fishers house. That the horseman, whom nj
recognized as Mr.. Clyde, then mounted his horst
j and rode away.
u This statement had been listened to with thu
greatest attention, and as Gray had deEered !
> apparently in cool and truthful manner 1t hat
{ considerable weight upon the audienc. But
- produced no effect upon David Clyde. The tea
lures of the young man were as calm as ever
and his countenance underwent no change dur
n ing the recital of Gray. When the latter wa
a done, he Clyde arose to his feet, and excIalm
ed:
! "My statement of the facts as they occurre'
! upon the evening of that most depIorable hre
a will be much more minute than that of ny &C
40 cuser, and will occupy moro time; but hop
~ that not only the Justice but the audience also
a. will Listen patiently to what | have to say 1t
Xuell GnnNvD D., horo thotT I how n bfOthe
no residing in Walnut Grove, and upon thelnlgt
of that fire was returning from visit q hin
When about 10 miles the other side of Mt9F
3 er's, as I was riding leisurely along, lsaw
ur man short distance ahead ofme kneeNng b
lie the roadside, and apparently endeavClhg
Cd light fire with steel and tinder. snrte
- my horse into galIop, at the same instant giV
n ing shout, and the man sprung to his feet, br
ng dropped burning lock ofgrass, as he did @, If
cd to the prairie, the dry hay of which was ilsan
in ly in blaze.
mt Scoundrel! exclaimed in a loud vdee, {
he came close 10 him; but with coarse hb, h
- ha, he retorted-
"a, "Don't be angry, Mr.. Clyde, for getting ma
Ii won't stop the FIRE. guess old Fisher III cate
a it to night, and his naughty laughter, too
To- "Villain, you shall answer for this" replie
IT. as turned my steed, and spuued him afer tt
ge rolling flames, which were sweeping swiftly
a way before a strong South wind, and rolling c
ce in the direction of Fsher's house. In vain ur
er- ed my horse to his utmost speed, for the auc
we ing fire sped far ahead Of me, and when over
" mile and half distant, behed the lurid blai