The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-15
SINGULAR ADVENTURES.

a writer IN the llOn1aStOn w aIcnman gives
the following singular biography of James
Hightower, recently convicted of manslaughter
in that country Three years in a dungeon, it
seems. is nothing to what he has endured:
About twcnty-one years ago young lady
of this section of the country, belonging to q
respectable family, became the victim of a vile,
Iseducer; the fruit was a boy who is the subject
Iof our narrative. His mother as is the case
usually with those of her sex who are unortun-
ate, married a man of low breeding. and in
adverse circumstances, consequently her son
was destined to receive but limited share of
education or moral training. Alta tender age
MS character was peculiar, and in some respects
very extraordinary. When only seven years
old he was attending sugar cane mill; by
some means his left arm and hand were crush
ed by which accident he forever lost the use of
his hand. n ~
At the age of ten he was bitten by rattle
snake; being nearly alone 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 antidote, and thereby saved his life.
In the short space of few months he was again
rescued from the jaws of death. V4sss
Between the age of twelve and fourteen he
made several attempts to take the life of his
STEP father, which shows that he would not be
imposed on. About that age he also snapped,
several times, loaded musket at a neighbor.
When fourteen years old he was knocked down
by lightning, and did not recover for some time.
At the age of sixteen he was attacked while in
the woods, by a very large panther. The
panther soon bore him down-he exhibited
great presence ofmind by feigning death. The
panther then carried him into the swamp, cover
ed him up with sticks and grass, after which
he took his leave in search of more prey
Our hero after the panther's departure, arose
and made his escape home. He was badly
torn-two of his jaw teeth were bitten out and
other wounds were inflicted. bf5
But he was not thus to die, for he soon re-
covered, and very soon after his recovery gave
his step-fathera severe whipping, and left him.
Excepting saother slight shock by lightning,
his path was smooth until eighteen, when he
became enamored of young lady; though
figuring in high sphere, his superior in intel
lect and family, yet she was smitten 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 who had successfully bat
tied against rattlesnakes panthers,and even the
high powers ofheaven, for the threats of maa.
Nothing daunted he continued to urge his
promise unavaiIing he commenced determin-
ed course He procured his license, placed a
magistrate at Conspicuous point in the woods
and proceeded hinlselfon foot to the house that
sheltered her he loyed--secretly forced the door.
of her chamber, and conducted her about tive
miles through the woods, to the place OF frendez-
vous. ,.e.-
Before arriving at the place upon which the
hymeneal alter had been temporarily erected,
illuminated by the blaze of lght-wood knots
and the pale rayssof the moon alone, our hero
fell into his former path ofbad luck, for he was
bitten by a moccasin snake; bat he was too
we'll used to snake bites to suffer that occur
renee to retard his progress at such moment
Gus crisis, and like brave and undaunted boy
pursued his course and in accordance with his
anticipations was lawfully married about IL or
Ia O'Clock at night His moccasn bite did not
long keep him in. bed, for he then possessed a
nurse of unceasing attention. After his final
recovery, he carried his wife to the home
which he had provided for her. hoping that his
cup of misfortune was then full, and that he
would enjoy that bliss attendinga married
Il fe sa.a DCe .aeau sa4 eHes
But he was not destined long to enjoy that
repose which he sought. He soon became
Ientangled in a quarrel with one Mr.. Wheeler;
the result was, Wheeler was killed and our
hero, after a regular trial in court of Justice,
was convicted of man slaughter; and now, at
the age oftwerty, has gone, leaving his wife
his anticipated babe and his sweet home to the
lpenitentiary, there to be incarceratd within
its dismal walls for the space of three years
which to him must seem long, long. Who can
contemplate his past life and not say, surely
he is the child of misfortune. Have his mis-
fortunes ended? Alas! who can tell! That
fact is yet concealed by the dark curtains Of
lfuturity.