Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-10-02

dangers to which they were hourly ex-
posed. 1t was one of those wild tempests
known as an equinoetial storm, and the
wind shrieked and howled around the
mansion, as if warning the inmates that
trouble was at hand. As the clock struck !
the hour of midnight, loud rap on the
door awakened the colonel, and he put
his head out of an open window, and in
quired what was wanted. But what was
his horror on beholding by a fash of
lightning that for moment illuminated
all around, his lare f9ed with armed
men.
"Open the door you old REBEL open
the door," shouted the voice of the lead
er, but it was the last words he ever ut
tered. The colonel had aimed his trusty
rife at him-and a fash--a sharp re-
port, and with loud groan Lindsay
sank to the earth a corpse.
Rush on, my men rush on, and
burst open the door p called out Louns-
bury, who the day before had been elect
ed lieutenant of the band, and who now
by the fall of Lindsay had become the
chief, crush on there's plenty of money
and plato in the house-plenty of good
liquor-rush on my boys p
Again the deadly rife sent its. sharp
report upon the stormy night air, but
this time it missed its mark. A huge
tory by the side of Lounsbury was struck
down pierced through the heart, but the
new leader escaped.
Crowds were now rushing against the
door with all their might, but still it did
not give away. The old rife from the
upper window was sending death and dis
truction among the ranks of the tories.
whose powder had become wet by the
storm so that they could not return the
fire.
One after the other had fallen to the
earth, while efforts were being made tc
stave in the door, but still, however, il
did not give way. The rife continued
to do his work with the most unerrins
certainty. Every discharge brough
down loyalist, until at length feal
spread among them. Lounsbury nov
bethought him of plan to open the door
ard Immediately acted upon it. Taking
heavy rail from the fence, he ordered
ten men to seize it as a sort of battering
ram to burst the door from its hinges. II
this he at last succeeded, and the mis-
Grants came pouring into the house no
sorry to escape the terrible rife of tn
colonel.
An indiscriminate slaughter now en-
sued On first entering, Lounsbury ha
placed a sentinel over the door of Mary
room which was in an upper story, wit
l orders to admit none but himself, so ths
she was in a measure out of danger, bu
every other member of the household, ii
cluding the old planter himself who fougf
desperately to the last, were slain. Eve
the poor defenceless negroes, who ha
taken no part in the defence, were bay
i oneted in cool blood-the monster
i spared neither ages, sexes or condition
1t was not long ere Lounsbury entere
the apartment of Mary, where he foun
her sunk in a deep swoon. Orderin
l four of his men to take her up and carr
her carefully down to the lane and ava
i his coming, he repaired to the celia
e where one Of the negroes had informe
/ him the colonel kept his treasures. TheI
P he found some ten Or fifteen thousan
: dollars in gold besides large quantit
ot Of valuable plate, and entrusting the la
h ter to some of his men, while the formt
n he secured about his own person, he too
if his departure, having first caused ii
al building to be fired in several places.
1T It was not many minutes before IL
IS flames burst forth in every direction, ar
Is threw their bright glare upon the storm
IN night air, the crowd of armed tories
IN the lanes, the giant poplars waving
IS and fro as in distress, the pale featur
"a of the unconscious Mary, and the fer
If ike face of Lounsbury bending over b
tn and endeavoring to restore her to sens
ce bility. 1t was a scene for a painter, al
OF a scene as was often, often witnessed
those stormy days.
to And by the light of that burning ma
u sion did those armed mlscreants tal
er their departure, bearing with them on
Us rude litter, the pale form of Mary Hew
ne who was now restored TO consciousne'
# but who prayed that she might be perm
to ted to share the fate of her murder
to father. But to this Lountbury wou
ir- not consent. He assured her that