The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-08-19

IS,
ani his silent tears fell fast and free.
1t was spectacle that appealed to eve
ry heart melted into tenderness and pity,
The greater part of the mob, indeed shrank
back, abashed and moved, the eyes Of
some were even filled with tears; vet
there were still q few-and they were the
faces OF men hardened in crime, and scar
ed with gult-who clamorcd aloud for
his immediate execution. When men
leave the landmarks of law and order, it
is the most british that leads the fore.
front Of the column.
Even he guilty said Carlton, appeal
ing to the spokesman of the mob, claim
some privileges much more may the in-
nocent claim the right Of speaking to his
daughter in private Lefore he is dragged
to prison.
Not TO prison. replied the leader Of
the mob, shaking his head sternly, but
speaking in tones so low as 10 escape the
ears Of Cartons daughter, mot to prison;
but TO death You can retire into this
room, and in five minutes by the watch
you will be ready. You understand
me I"
Carlton bowed bis head res;gucdly and
lifting his daughter in his arms, bore her
into the chamber, followed by the angry
murme,s Of the sanguinary mob.
| employed the brief respite allowed
| him in seeking, by argument and entreaty
;omove the leader Of the mob from his
terrible purpose; but though calm and
quiet he WAS firm and inexorable. He
kindly warned me TO desist, as | might
involve myself in extreme danger, without
IN any manner benetting the object Of
my compassion. felt the force Of his
suggestion, and, with aching heart, con.
cludcd TO hold my peace, and to make no
further attempt to prevent a terrible
tragedy, which could only be adve:ted hy
The strong hand Of brute power. The
tive minutes allotted to Carlton. rolled rap"
idly away, and the mob impatient to be.
Gin the bloody tragedy-clamored aloud
for their>victim.
Pale and sorrowEul, Carlton appeared at
the chamber door, but his daughter. with
the strong instincts Of fiial affection. clung
TO him aud would not be separated, until
couple of wretches in human form, tore
her away and placing her,in an insensible
! condition, in the arms Of female attep.
dant, whom with sympathy had attract I'd
! 10 the spot hurried their Victim down Tn.
staircase and into the street.
With motives far different from the
promptings of curiosity, kept my place
near his side, watching for some favorable
turn in the tlde-some change in the sav,
age impulse Of the hour-which might
! enable me to make, with hope of suc
cess one more appeal in his behalf. In
my inmoSt soul, | believed him innocent
OF the crimes laid to his charge. A thief
and murderer never marched to meet his
doom with the firm step and the sorrow
ful but serenee air with which he trod
| along the crowded thoroughfares, followed
by the jeers and fierce cries Of the thou
sands, with scarce heart 10 pity or com.
misera,e his fa:e.
As far down the stcet as my eye could
reach, it was filled with an exciteo crowd
whose murmurings fell upon the ear like
the roaring Of an angry sea dashing
among breakers.
What II terrible monster is an infnria.
ted mob, in the hour Of its madness and
power, when it chafes and roars through
the streets Of great city, ungoverned
and ungovernab!e, listening to no voice
but that Of vengeance, blinded by pas
| sion and prejudice, and bereft Of those
generons impulses which plead ever with
the brute for the helpless and submissive.
IL is the most appalling OF all spectacles
to one who is himself free from the vor-
tex Of madness and passion on which it is
borne. 1t is like huge rock on noun
tain brow, which the arm Of child or a
breath OF air may set in motion, but
which no power can arrest in its 'a:rowy
flight" as it rushes down with accelerated
| speed, crushing all obstacles that lie in
| lis path.
How captious and tickle, too, is the
temper Of mob. But whether it shouts
aloud with noisy laughter, or groans forth
bitter and angry curses its impulses are
still british and bloody. 1t may sport,
but its playfulness is only that Of the 4.
ger trIiiing with the agony OF lis victim.
That terrible rush ofthousands through
the streets, bearing poor creature to the
gaIiows, as impotent on. the dashirg tide
| as leaf before the storm-that dreadful
march Of death-has haunted me with
demon.like distinctness, from which can.
not escape. The sullen murmurs Of me
angry and excited populace, whose viler
passions revealed themselves in ribald
oalhs and frantic gesticulations, in savage
shouts Of exultation, and eyes cleaning
with the intoxicatin : madness Of the hour,
rings ip my ear still, with weird.like
power that cannot be broken.
As the mob went heaving and sway.
ing along the streets Of the city, its course
was obstructed by number Of heavily
laden Wagons that blocked up the way
The impatience caused by the delay was
extreme, and, in the present temper. of
the mob, might have vented itself upon
the unlucky teamsters; when circum.
stance occurred which diverted the atten.
tion Of the crowd and exhibited the mob
under new and more repulsiye aspect.
The leader Of the mob and their pris.