Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-02-21
The Infants Appear.A Brief but Thr,lllng sketch.

In the year 1886, the inhabitants living in dis
trct bordering Rock River in the northern part
of the State of Illinois. were much ncensed by the
deprcdations of band of horse thieves who infested
that portion of country Every exertion had been
made to discover the engaged in this nefarious
business but hitherto in vain, and valuable animals
were stolen, and lost to their owners, in defiance of
the utmost vigilance and care.
During such state of affairs the citizens residing
in the region of the thieves became thoroughly ex-
cited and were wound up to such pitch of indig-
nation that body of men were formed styled Ran
gers whose explicit duty was toexpunge the district
of all suspicious characters and endeavor to pat
stop to the depredations of the horse thieves.
Shortly after this band commenced operations,
word conveyed to the leader Of the Rangers that
valuable horse which had been stolen the night
previous, could then be found on the premises Of
man named Burt, locked up in the stable. Although
Burt heretofore had been looked upon as an honest
man and an upright citizen, yet the captain deem
ed it his duty to least examine his farm and learn
the truth or falsity of the report.
Accordingly he summoned some half dozen of his
Rangers to meet him at a spot not far from Burt's
house, and before morning, set out for the same
place himself. Daylight was hardly discernible in
the east and the hazy light of coming dawn had not
yet penetrated the bottom, where the suspicious
man resided, the Rangers. charged with the fear
full mission of life DEATH silently approached, and
surrounded the dwelling. Leaving three of the
band to guard the entrance the Captain proceeded
with the other to the stable, broke open the door,
and found the missing horse, as had been stated,
i safely stalled inside.
! Not lingering doubt now remained of Burt's
guilt and with stern determination to make such
an example of him as would deter others from like
transaction, the Rangers returned to the house In
the meantime Burt had arisen and upon coming to
the door, was seized by those in waiting, and upon
demanding the reason. informed that a stolen
animal found in his stable, and that he was con-
sidered a thief. Mutterlng something about = he
knew twould to this at last" he quietly sub
mitted to whatever his capors had in store for him
/ A short consultation held, and it was resolved
to hang the criminal upon large elm tree that grew
in front of his own house, it being deemed that such
an act would strike and dismay into the ranks
of horse thieves.
! Burt had asked half an hour to prepare for his
DEATH and the had risen in all his golden maj
esty ere the fatal moment had arrived which would
launch him into eternity. In vag had his grey
headed father and mother pleaded for his life, with
trembling tongues-th the old lady lettering forth from
the dwellings and kneeling IN suppliant mood to lis
apparently merciless captors In vain had the wife
OF his bosom kncIt in Of agony. and entreatec
them as husbands to spare his lfe-for each Ranger
had suffered less in person, ana they deemed
the example absolutely necessary to deter others
and it seemed as though Burt must die.
The dreadful preparations were compcted-th'
half hour had expred-and the cri mnal was arlan e
ed under limb of stout elm. which rope
was thrown, one end being nosed around the prison
ers neck, and the other held by three of the Ran
gers.
! Then came moment of dread full silence; that
awful stiffness, which preudes the launching of a
fellow being into eternity-while the three strong
men who held the ropes end. gazed fxedy upon the
Captain for the signal 1t was given by raising the
right arm; and already the Tightening
around the doomed mans neck, when the wife OF
Burt issued forth from the house holding an infant
a little more than year old, in her arms.
Rushing forward, she fell on her knees directly il
front of the Captain and raising the child with
outstretched, towards him she exclaimed in tones
that would have pierced heart of steel
If you will not spare him for the sake of his grey
haired parents, the wife of his BOSOM spare him,
the name of God for the sake of his infant hoy"
Another dead silence reigned like pail over the
spot then, though inspired by heaven itself tn
child also stretched out its little towards it
father, and exclaimed, in voice heard by ALL tn
single word
''Father! -
THE muscles of the captains face quvered i
every fibre, and the men who held the ope slowl
relaxed the pressure around the neck of Burt Whe
the infant again uttered, in distinct tones:
} "Father father"
And then as though despairng of success, hue
died into its mothers bosom, and burst into sol
bing cry.
1t was more than the Rangers could stand, an
after short consultations She rope taken fron
the criminals throat and the band left the spot
Burt became reformed man through the powerft
effects OF his IGfunts 1PpeGt.n
Coi,mbica and Great FEST.