Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1856-09-24
A Brave Resistance.

Ireland was, as 1t has ever has been with
in the memory Of the oldest inhabitants.
in disturbed state, gentlemen advanc-
ed in years, lived in retired country
house. He was bachelor, and whether
trusting to his supposed popularity, or
imagining that the general alarm among
the gentry was groundless, he continued
In his lonely mansion long after his neigh
bors had quilted theirs, for safer resi-
dence in town. He had been indisposed
for several days, and on the night he was
attacked, had taken supper in his bedroom
which was on the ground floor, and inside
parlor, with which it communicated
The servants went to bed, the house was
shut up for the night, and the supper tray
with its appurtences, by a Provideutial
oversight, were forgotten in the old mans
chamber.
Some hours after he had retired to bed
he was alarmed at hearing window lift
ed in the outer apartment; his chamber
door was ajar, and the moon shone brill
iantly through the open easement, render
ing objects in the parlor distinct and per-
ceptible, to any person in the inner room.
Presently man leaped through the win
dow, and three others followed him in
quick succession. The old gentleman
sprang from his bed, but unfortunately
there were no arms in the apartment, rec
ollecting however, the forgotten supper
tray he provided himself with a case
knife, and resolutely took his stand behind
the open door. He had one advantage
over the murderers-they were in full
moonlight, and he shrouded in impenetra-
bic darkness.
A momentary hesitation took place
among the party, who seemed undecided
as to which of them should enter the dark
room, for acquainted with the localities
of the house, they knew well where the
devoted victim slept. At last one Of the
villains cautiously approached, stood for
a moment in the doorway, hesitated, adj
vanced a step-not a whisper was heard
breathless silence reigned around, and
the apartment before him was dark as the
grave itself.
$50 on, blast vel What the devil are
We afeerd of ~ said the rough voice of an
associate behind he took a second step,
and the old mans knife was buried in his
heart. No second thrust was requisite,
for with a deep groan the robber sank
upon the floor.
The obscurity of the chamber, the sud-
den destruction caused by that deadly
thrust, prevented the rufins in the outer
room from knowing the fate of their com
panion. A second presented himself,
crossed the threshold, stumbled against
his dead associate, and received the old
mans knife in his bosom. The wound
though mortal, was not SO fatal as the
other, and the rufin had strength to ejac-
! ulate that he was a dead man.
Instantly several shots were fred, but
the old gentlemens position sheltered him
from the bullets. A third assassin ad
vanced, levelled long fowling piece
through the doorway and actually rest
ed the barrel against the old mans body.
The direction was however slanting one
and with admirable selfpossession, he re-
NAMED steady until the murderer drew
the trigger and the ball passed him with
out injury, but the flash from the gun I'M
/ fortunately disclosed the place of his am
bush. Then commenced a desperate
struggle the robBer, powerful athletic
rufin, closed and seized his victim around
/ the body. There was no equality be.
| tween the combatents with regard to
strength, and although the old man
struck often and furiously with his knife,
the blows were Intellectual, and he was
thrown heavily upon the floor with the
murderer above him. Even then, at that
moment, his presence of mind saved this
4 heroic gentlemen. He found that the
blade of the knife had turned, and con-
trived to straighten it upon the floor
! The ruffian's hands we're already upon his
/ throat-the pressure became suffocating
"a few moments more and the contest
must have been ended; but an accidental
movement of his body exposed the MUIR
derers side-the old man struck with his
remaining strength deadly blow-the
robbers grasp relaxed-and with a yell
of mortal agony he fell dead across his
antagonist
Horror struck by the death-shrieks of
their comrades the banditti wanted cour-
age to enter that gloomy chamber which
had been already fatal to so many. They
poured an irregular volley in, and leap
ing through the open WINDOW, ran OH,
leaving their lifeless companions behind.
Lights and assistance came presently
the chamber was a pool of gore, and the
old man nearly in state Of insensibility.
was covered with the blood, and encom-
passed by the breathless bodies Of his ir-
tended murderers. Herecovered howev-
er to enjoy for years his well won reputa-
ton, and to receive from the Irish Vice
ROW the honor Of kniohthond which never