Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-04-21

upon Heaven to bless their unholy act.
The open lake was gained, and then the
, wretched man, regardless of his entreaties
and screams, was given to the foaming
waters. In glare of lightning. that was
followed by deafening peal of thunder,
they saw their victim rise upon huge
wave, then plunge into the darkness and
death beyond.
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 the skipper, by unskil-
ful 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 this strange crew were saved
the clergyman and the convict together
reached the shore.
Some three years after these strange
events, the Rev. NJ. II was awakened
one night by a request to come immedi-
atel y and administer religious consolation
to prisoner who in attempting to escape
from Jail, had been mortally hurt. The
Rev. gentleman, folding his cloak about
him, and accompanied by the jailor, threa-
ded their way through wmtry streets to-
ward the prison. The demand for cler-
gyman, and Mr.. Il in particular,
by the convict, the jailor informed his
companion, while on their route, aston
ished him greatly. The prisoner was one
of the most hardened offenders that it had
ever been his fate to meet with. Twice
in the state prison, and sentenced for
third time, he had attempted to escape by
filing off his irons, forcing lock, and
climbing to the roof of the Jail, intending
to lower himself by means of bed clothes
into the street. But the roof being all ice,
he lost his footing, and was thrown thirty
feet upon the frozen ground.
They found the prisoner writhing in
pain upon his bed, in the gloomy cell lit
by single candle, and alone, for the sur
geon had pronounced his case hopeless.
You've come at last" he growled, as
the clergyman approached the bed. took
from beneath his cloak Bible, and began
the duties pertaining to his sacred mission.
you've come at last. l thought I'd go
out before you came"
"The Lord spares you for repentance,
let us lose no time"
"No he don't; I'm bound to go down
-dOwn-down. Don't be fooling-I
didn't send to you for that"
The sands of life are running fast
In few moments you will be in the pres
ence Of your Judge, and repentance will
be too late %
"It's space too late now"
Think of your past life-think of the
eternal punishment awarded by an ofren-
ded Maker"
The answer to this was an impatient
roar Of oaths, that made even the jailor's
blood chill
." will not remain" said Mr. B,
stcrnly, " and hear this awful blasphemy.
l warn you now, beware"
"Wcl, listen thcn-stop your cursed
| palavcr-dOn't you know me? ?" The
clergyman held the candle to the convict'S
face, and started with astoniShmcnt
40 you know, do you? You will lis
ten now You remember that night we
tossed W overboard-how he howled
and prayed. Oh, oh look to YOURSELF"
{" did my duty as minister"
"Ah, ha you did, did you? You did
your duty in drowning poor devil for
hear that? for a murder-a murder he
never did ?"
a tremor like an ague ran through the
preachers frame, and then hc stood as
one dismayed to dumbness.
"He never did the thing. murdered
Mille Woods l chased her to the gar
ret, and killed her, 1 was there robbing
the house, when W came. heard
him speak kindly to the child, give her
the squirrel, and then leave. A minute
after she was dead baby, and W
had the blame"
Lord have mercy on me !' grOaned
the divine.
How laughed to see you run that
poor W down, when l slipped the
gold in his pocket. How he prayed and
! begged, poor devil, for mercy =
The preacher wrung his hands in agony,
and still groaned, "LOrd have mercy on
me-"
Yes, yes it's your time now won't
! beg-I WON'T I'll die game, but you
can howl-he said he had mothOr,-we
| all went under-but you and /, parson,
came up together, now we go down :"
The divine twisted his gaunt fingers,
and moaned as one afflicted in his sleep.
| "See see % shouted the convict, half
rising with the delirium that ushered in
death" there he rides, howling-don't
hurt me, o please, dOn't-there, 1 choke
heTe-hear him-now, hear him-a wild
owed mother! We strike we're going
downtown !" he cried. and throwing
his muscular arm round the preacher and
pulling him to the pillow" down, down,
we 90, down''-but his hold relaxed the
voice ceased; shudder ran through his