Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-10-30
Magistrate ,Outwitted.

l IA Nh
The following anecdoteis related of the
emineht Riehard d3B axter. IN hiicoh sets off
MS natural shrewdqess and knowledge of
human nature to- greaF adv snfage:
Several oftthe ministers rejected by the
Act OF Uniformity, in 1692, united with
Mr.. Baxter in establishing a1lecture in q
Epriyate house. The. time Of worship be-
ling at a very early hour, Mr.. Baxter. one
evening, left home with a view Of being
there early in the mornings The night
however, being dark, he lost his way,
and after wandering for, long time, he
came to gentleman's house, where he
asked directions. The servant informed
his master of this fact, who thinking it
unsafe that so respectable a looking man
should be wandering on the common at
SO late an hour, invited him to stay. Mr..
Baxter readily accepted the invitation
and was treated with great hospitality.
His conversation gave his host high
opinion of his good sense and extensive
information. The gentleman, wishing to
know the quality of his guest, after sup
per said: .--...f ,....-.
Gas most persons have some employ
ment or profession in life. have no
doubt, sir, that you have yours"
Mr.. Baxter replied with a smile. ayes,
sir, | am man catcher .....-'.
" A man catcher, are yon?'' said the
gentleman, l am very glad to hear you
are the very person / want. am JUS
tiee of the peace in this district, and
am commissioned to secure the person of
nick Baxter, who is expected to preach
at = cHuventicale in this neighborhood
earIv to. morrow morning, you shall go
with me- an6' ,1loubt not we shall easily
apprehend the rogue.
Mr.. Baxter very prudenttY consented
to accompany him. Accordingly, the
gentleman. the; following morning, took
Mr.. Baxter to Che place where the meet
ing was to be held. When they arrived
there a considerable number of people
were lowering about, but on seeing the
justice they suspected his intentions, and
were afraid to enter the house. The JUS
tice now intimated to Mr.. Baxter his fears
that B. had been apprised of his atten.
tions. and would disappoint them, and
proposed to extend their ride, that the
people might be encouraged to assemble
and give them an opportunity of fulfilling
their commission. They did SO; but on
their return they still found the people
unwilling to assemble. The magistrate
now supposing he would be disappointed
of his object, said to MIR. Baxter, that as
these people were much dissaffected to
the government, he would fee obliged to
him if he would address them on the sub
ject Of f'loyalty and good behaviour. Mr..
Baxter replied that, as they met for wor-
ship, it was probably that such an ad>
dress would not satisfy the people, but
that if the justice would engage in pray
er. he would eudeavor to say something
to them. The gentleman replied that he
had not his prayer-book with him, or he
would readily comply with his proposal;
but expressed his persuasion that Mr..
Baxter was able to pray with them, as
we'll as to talk with them, and requested
him to begin with prayer.
They entered the house, followed by
the people; Mr.. Baxter prayed with great
devotion and fervor; the magistrate
standing by was soon melted into tears
The good divine then preached in his
usual." faithful and Jealous manner; and
when he had concluded, he turned to the
justice and said: " Sir, l am the very
Dick Baxter of whom you are in pursuit.
[ am entirely at your disposal"
The magistrate, however, had felt
much during the service, and saw things
so differently to what he had done be-
fore, that his enmity was changed into
love, and ever afterward he became the
friend and advocate of the prosecuted,
and it is believed also sincere Christian.
| FoUNrA1N OF BLOOD IN A CAyERN.-E.
G. SQuiers' note on Central America de-
scribes wonderful etfusion of a fluid re-
semblipg blood near the town of Vitud,
in the State of Honduras. 1t appears that
! there is continually oozing and dropping
from the roof of a cavern there red IL
quid, which upon falling ooagulates so as
to precisely resemble blood. Like blood
it corrupts, insects deposite their larvae in
it, and dogs and buzzards resort to the
cavern to eat it. Attempts have several
times been made to obtain some Of this
liquid for the purposes of analysis. but in
ali cases without success, in consequence
of tis rapid decomposition, whereby the
bottles containing it were broken.
The small cavern or grotto during the
day is visited by buzzards and hawks, and
at night by a multitude of vampire bats,
for the purpose of feeding on the unnat-
ural blood. 1t is situated on the border
of rivulet. which it keeps Redeemed with
a small flow of the liquid, which has the
color, taste and smell of blood. In ap-
preaching the grotto. disagreeable odor
is observed, and when it is reached there
may be some pools of the apparent blood
IN state OF coagulation.
The pecularities of the liquid are con-
sidered due to the rapid generation in this