The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-08-27

Then the Lord have mercy on him. Wha
say you?"
Ashout Of appreciation was the response
and they hurried W to the shore. In
the meanwhile the storm grew loud, and
when in the dark night, their torches beat
en- out by the wind and rain, the greaI
crowd heard the angry waves dashing over
the rude pier, their courage failed, and
seven only were found ready for the enter.
prise. Clambering upon the deck, with
their victim in their midst, the cables were
cut, and the little bark like frightened
bird flew out to sea.
Perhaps no scene ever painted itself on
the canvass Of real life so startling, weird
and strange as this While the stout-heart-
ed skipper steered the bark, the convict,
assisted by four Of his companions, tied
VT to the open boat, and the preacher
kneeling upon the deck, was heard be-
tween the pauses of the thunder, far above
waves and wind, calling upon heaven to
bless their unholy act
The open lake was gained, and the
wretched man, regardless Of his loud en-
treaties and screams, was given TO the
foaming waters. In glare Of lightning,
that was following by deafening peal oil
thunder, they saw their victim rise on a
huge wave, then plunge into darkness and
death beyond. ., w
But short time had the executioners to
dwell upon their ruthless deed. Their
lives were in jeopardy-a storm so violent
has seldom been equalled, and the little
craft was worked, save by the skipper. by
unskillful hands. Desperate efforts were
made to regain the bay, but the entrance
was narrow and intricate, while commands,
grossly misunderstood, were promptly ex-
ecuted, so that the bark ran upon ledge
OF rocks and quickly went to pieces. Two
only Of its strange crew were saved-the
clergyman and the convict reached the
shore.
Some three years after these strange
events, the Rev. Mr.. H was awaken
ed one night by request to come imme-
diately and administer religious consola-
ton to prisoner, who in attempting an
escape from Jail had been mortally wound
ed by sentinel on duty. The reverend
gentleman folded his cloak about him. and
accompanied by the jailor threaded his
way through snow and sleet to the prison.
They found the prisoner wri,hing in pain
upon his bed in the gloomy cell, lit by a
dim candle and alone, for the surgeon had
pronounced his case hopeless.
"You've come at last" he growled, as
the clergyman, approaching the bed, took
from beneath his cloak book, and be-
gun the duties pertaining to his sacred
mission. "You've come at last-I thought
I'd go down before you got here"
"May you be spared for repentance; let
US lose no time"
"No you don't! I'm bound to go down
down. Don't be fooling-i didn't send
for that!"
"The sands Of life are running fast.
In few moments you will be in the pres.
ence of your Judge, and repentance then
will be of no avail"
at will not avail me now," said the
criminal.
"Think of your past life-think Of the
punishment that is 10 follow"
The answer to this was frantic roar of
laughter, that made even the jailor's blood
tingle with alarm.
81 will not remain," said Mr.. II,
sternly, "and hear this awful mockery.
| warn you now-beware''
"Well, listen, then-don't you know
me?' -
The clergyman held the candle to the
convict's lace, and started with astonsh-
ment.
"Oh! you know me, do you! You re-
member the night we tossed W
overboard-how he prayed! Oh, no, look
10 yourself!'
81 did my duty"
"Ah, ha! you did, did you? You did
your duty in drowning a poor fellow for
a murder he never committed!'
A tremor like an ague ran through the
listeners frame, and there he stood as one
"He never did the deed. murdered
Millie Woods chased her to the garret
and killed her. was there robbiDg the
house when W came. heard
him speak cheerily to the child, give her
the squirrel and then leave. minute
after she was dead body, and W
had the blame!' aa !
"Lord have mercy on mel" groaned
the Divine, in agony Of spirit.
81 slipped the gold pieces in his pocket.
How he prayed and begged for mercy!
It's our turn now! don't beg-I'll die
as have lived-but you can howl. He
had widowed mother. We all went un-
der-but you and |, parson, came up to-
we 60 down-down-down!'
The voice ceased-a shudder ran
through his iron frame, and the wretched
was no more. as
=
In time the village Of S. grew to
a city. Many Of its old citizens had en-
igated, or were dead, and among the re-
naming the events have narrated had
faded almost to an uncertain legend: when,
- n = -. IL