Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-23
Curious Career of a Convict

Curious Career of q Convict.
\ correspondent of the New York 7imes. in n
letter in Tuesdays paper says:
A paragraph, copied into the Times of Sniur-
day. from n Detroit paper. noticing the 'Ientl Il
benjamin Lett, stated that after being convicted
of blowing up Brooks Monument. he e-capel
from the while on his way to prison, &c.--
This is an error. Let's history is sad one, and
if remember it rightly, is as Follows: lie wnsa
kindl y-hearted man, Of strong, natural sense
stronger passions and uneducnted. lie EN- grated
from Northern New York to Toronto or Kingston,
taking with him his wife and daughter an only
child, bright. intelligent and possessing the fatal
gilt of beauty.
She wa. seduced by an officer in the British Ar
my. her mother died of broken heart. and her
self soon AFTER ut the elimination of her shame
The distracted fathers passions, after his first
burst Of grief had subsidized. were all aroused, and
he secretly swore vengeance aga inst everything
British Ills vengeance took the incendiary form
and vented itself in the destruction Of public
buildings and monuments. His last act was Ia
fire the Canadiaa steamer Iuted Suites. IA she lay
in the hnrbor of Oswego. In this he WAS detected
tried convicted and sentenced to the State Prison.
Ga his way to Auburn he leapcd from the ears
while under way but was retaken sent to prison,
and after spending few years there, strick
en-, ii thought by the physician. with quick
consumption and pardoned out, under the
belief that n few weeks, Mt most, would terminate
his life From that time believe the public haze
heard nothing of him until the notice to which
have referred
After hc was lodged in prison he confessed to
a friend that he blew up Brooks Monument. der
erihiny the proceeding lie put his internal ma
chine" on the winding stairs inside the Monument
laid bis train aud fired it, But he had not made
proper allowance for the upright position Of his
rain. and the explosion took place sooner than he
expected and came near killing him, SO terrific
bad th..y fr.,,., L.,
- top blew of about half the pararct ami roof
the stones of which came crashing around him
Grinding upon each other. and in his expires
ave phrase smelling hell"
Ills career is ended. Whether he has gone tc
pin his brokcn-hcartcd wife and ruined daughter
81" cannot know. But that there is retribu,or
..inewhere for another than him, is very certain
Tup PuLaRSEA.-At Tie regular meeting Of thu.
American Geogra phcal and Statistical Society in
view York, DIR. Hayes reviewed the argument Of
Dr. Ruk. of Copenhagen, questioning he di,coye.
~ ct an open Polar Sea by Merton, and adduccd
4 Number of facts in support of MertonS state
mpni. DR.. Hayes read letters from Professor
Agassiz and Bach approving tn" proposed cxpe.
luun 10 the Polar Sea. Pref A4assz says that
tie organization Of whales i to irn the most III.
rect proof of the existence 81 an "pcn Arctic Sea.
The whales being warm hoodei, ar-brcathins
animals, must COME to the surface u breathe.
cannot iNe without IT, NoN ~ u wei hlipWl
that during the winter they are M und outside
that is t. the suu 81 the ice lcll # the Arcc
4ra+. They retreat iHrthward du,ing the long
eai season, and if the whole cxrat,c Of that Arr
- SEA was cp,cicl wtltce. they would necessari-
+ pas :. during the Long winter. | do not know
-, lfe dirrct evidence # the presence Of extensne
e3=.u .Rter in the northcrnnost regions of he
: J.. than the mode Of life If the whale, and he
discovery Of II passage into that open water, which
f3.l render whale fishing possible during the
wiA,er. would be Of the most important It
sG4ts r the improvement Of whale fishing.
r.5t. Bachc mentions facts supporting Mertous
siafrlaent. and says:
The utcrcs,iug character Of the results of tie
lai, l.cto observations brought back hy Dr. Kane
induced to say tn you. ut the meeting of tie
tmcrican Association at Baltimore, thHt woul
ia liz contribute to new expedition under your
direction the pccuniary means necessary to ex
TEND the observations. To this offer 81 course
stand.
I,e Society passed. resolutions cordially az
proving and endorsing the plan Of Dr.. Hayes fora
raa;.unatl,n Of the exploration and survey Of the
Polar Seas, deemiag 1t alike due to the cause d
science and our national character that the dir
,'iScrics of tie Grinuell expedition reported ly
Il. Kane. should not be disputed or ignored, with
o8t ~ effort being ira !e t. confirm the results
achieved bv our gallant countrymen,' and af
IaIatin- n committee Of five 10 Cooperate with d.
iiaye. IN the organization If the expedition, Iii
y ttor expects 81 start III 1900