Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-09-09
NUMBER, 6
Strange Ln1 .. = Ynmr Man

| :
writer in the Thomacvilc tvu.h7e..
Gives the following singular biography Of J4.
iii"it"Wc', recently convicted oi ular.Iau"htt.l
il that county. Three year in Gungcon !,
&cfmF, l. no!hn" 10 what he has endured
'Nbout t"cmty~onc year, aro You're lalv
ot tins section Of country, bclon"inr TO . re
"rcciablc l:tlni'y, became the victim of 2 vie
&cduccf; the iiuit was boy, who is the sub
lo't ct our narrative. His mother, as is the
case usually, with those Of her Eek who arc
unfortunate, married 4 man Of low Ercctin~
ana IN adverse circumstances, ,conseuucnt!y her
son was destined to receive bat limited share
oil education or moral training At Il tendcl
ace his Character was peculiar and in some
respects very extraordinary. When only seven
| years Old, he was attending 4 sugar cane mill
by some means his left arm and hand were
crushed, by which accident he forever lost The
use OF his hand. at the agc Of ten years he
was tittcn by 4 rattIcsnakc; being nearly alour
on the place, he had to call TO his aid all the
| presence OF mind Of which he was master
| Fortunately he used the proper an,ilotc, and
thereby saved his life. In the short space Of :;
| few months he was again bitten by one Of the
same species of reptiles; by pursuing the same
course as heretofore, he was again rescued
from the jaws Of death.
"Bctwecn the aye OF twelve and fourteen he
made several attempts 10 take the life of hs
stcp-tathcr, which shows that he would not be-
imposed on. About that amc he also snapped
several times Il loaded muskct at a ncglbor
When fourteen years old, he was knocked
down by lightning, and did not recover tos
some time. At the age Of sixteen he was at
tackled while hunting in the woods by very
large panther. The panther soon tore hin,
down-hc exhibited great presence of mind l.
feIgning death. The panther then carried Lin
INTO the swamp, covered him up with sticks
and grass, after which he took his leave in
search of more prey. Our hero, after the pan
ther's departure, arose and made his escape
home. He was badly torn-two of his jaw
teeth were bitten out, and many wounds were
inflicted.
"But he was not thus to die, for he soon re-
covered, and very soon after his recovery gave
his step-father severe whipping and left him
Excepting another slight shock by lightning,
his path was smooth, until nineteen, when he
becama enamoured of young lady though
figuring in higher sphere, his superior in in
tellect and family, yet she was smtten by the
boy of misfortune, and resolved to marry him,
Notwithstanding the opposition of her relatives,
who made severe threats against our hero
But what cared he, vino had successfully bat
tied against rattlesnakes, panthers, and even
the high power of heaven, for the threats Of
man. Nothing dauntcd, he continued to urge
his claims; after finding all his efforts or com.
promise unavailing, he commenced deter-
mined course. He procured his lisence, placed
a magistrate at a conspicuous point in the
woods, and proceeded himself on foot, TO the
house that sheltered her whom he loved-se-
,retly forced the door Of her chamber, and con.
iucted her about five miles through the woods
o the place of rendezvous.
"Beforc arriving at the place upon which the
lymenial altar had been temporarily erected,
Illuminated by the blaze Of lightwood knots
md the pale rays OF the moon alone, our hero
ell into his former path Of bad luck, for he
vas bitten by moccason snake; but he Wa.,
90 well used 10 snake bites to suffer that Oc-
urrcncc to retard his progress at such mo-
ncntous crisis, and like brave and undaunted
10Y pursued his course, and in accordance with
lis anticipations, was lawfully married, about
welve or one o'clock at night His moccason
lite did not long keep him in bed, for he then
Ossessed nurse OF unceasing attention. After
nal recovery, he carried his wife to the home
'hich he had provided for her, hoping that his
up OF misfortune was then full, and that he
'ould then enjoy that Llsa attending ular-
ed life
"But he was not destined long TO enjoy that
pose which he so much sought. lie aoop
tcaine entansled in 4 quarrel with one M,
Wheeler; the result Was-Whccler was killed,
nd our hero, after regular trial in a court Of
stIce, was convicted Of manslaughter and
ow, at the age of twenty, has gone, leaving
IS wife, his anticipated babe, and bis sweet
'me, to the pcnitcntiary, there TO be incarce-
ted within its dismal walls for the space oi
rec ycars--whch to him must be long! long,
Tho can contemplate his past life and notsay,
rely he is tho child Of misfortune. Has his
ended? Alas. who can tell That
ct is yet concealed by the dark curtain OF
tufity."