Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-05-21

He was not imprisoned more than twelve
feet from where the r9bjer chi-frain sal,
and from morning until night parties of
the bandit were bringing in women and
children, aad the chief would examine
them in order to learn whore their yalGa-
bles were buricd-it being the custom of
these people to hide their gold aud Jewels
10 jars il the earth, far fe1r Of fire and
thieves. II these women refused to tell
where their valuati5s were buried, they
were shamefully treated AMI cruelty bea-
ten. They would strip them, throw them
on the ground, tie their hands AID feet
together, and then, with large rat;ans, 4
roJber would sc0urge these females in 4
most uDmerciful manner. Sometimes,
even If they would yield from their intense
suffering, and tell where their gold was
bid, they would 20 on beating them be-
cause the robb.r. would say that was no,
all. Many Of these women, though their
suEerings were dreadful, bore the scourg-
ing with astonishing fofti:uie. The rob
bers did not wish to Put them to death
but to iuhict torture and after whipping
them until their backs were torn and lac
Grated, they would take their spears aud
pierce holes in their bodies half an inch 10
depth, and after making thirty or forty Of
these stabs, they would take pieces Of split
bamboo, and dip one end in melted sui
phur and stick the other end into the
pune;ures they had made in the bodies of
these poor captive women, aud then ligh;
Them as tapers, aud this they seemed 10
t-ka great delight in doing During these
horrid cruelties, Mr.. Kilcail was obliged
to sit and witness them lie would close
Lis eyes, but be could 10: shut bis ears to
their lamentations, and the cries Of their
children, who had to lock on and behold
these monsters beating and abusing their
mothers.
Ga the sixth day be witnessed scene
of cruelty far surprising all the others 1t
was case Of scourging of a female who
bad with her seven children She was
taller than most Burmese women-of slen-
der frame, and had fae, intellectual
cJuntenance. With dignifed nobl5uess
she stood before her captors, aai with an
air Of defiance refused to answer their ques-
tons. He could not help look upon her
and her seven children c.ingi0g around
her, but @ith intense interest She was
then beaten by . robber-a thick, muscu-
Lar man, who could strike with great power.
The cLiefsain would cry out-"Strike
quick" and then he would lay it on with
vengeance Her hair falling down over
her back, which was bare, WIS clottei with
blood, and her face was cut numerically.
Every blow, Nj kincaid expected,
would be the last. Finally her head fell
on her shoulder, her eyes were fixed, her
lips pale, and she rolled over on the
ground. Death had at las: released her
Her eldest child, beautiful girl, who
held the infant in her arms, and her FIVE
brothers and sisters wept bitterly, when
they found thei! mother was dead This
gil laid the babe at her feet, and fell
down upon the body Of her mother, Ut
tering the mos; piteous and piercing cries
of anguish--repea:ing again and again,
"Mother, don't die and leave US 4
Looking around on these f-nls in hu-
man shapes, Mr.. kincaid waited to see ii
there was one who would sps4k a kind
word to these orphan children, but among
them all there was no one to pity. In
deed, one Of them violently kicked the
poor child, to get ou; Of the way, and she
fell over speechless, on the ground
This was too much, he could bear such
brutality 10 longer-the feelings Of his
nature were aroused; he was overcome
with revenge; he was conscious Of but
single madieuing sensation, aud that was
to get the life Of the monster But, II
sing to his feet, and finding himself tied,
in sort Of despair, be called him by ev-
cry epthet that human language cou.i in
vent, wholly Indifferent as to what might
be his fate. To tanta,ize him the whole
band burst into a loud laugh His mind
was now made up to escape that night.
The remainder Of the day he kept close
watch on his guard and on the mountains
The night drew on, and as usual the
guard took it in turn to sleep But
there was no res; for him. He was be-
tween hope and fear as to the success Of
his escape, knowing well that if detected
ais life would be the forfeit. 1t was long
.fter midnight before he yentured to stir,
md when be did SO, it was with the Ut
most canton. He listened-thoy we're
ii quiet lie rose on bis hands aud feet !
md crept slowly and softly to where they
ay. Nothing caused him to s,artle but
he heavy snoring Of one of the guards :.
Ie moved carefully around him, scarcely =.
,reathinr. Now be was outside the