The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-11-05

save the mark was enabled to see what b
was doing.
"Hun. the house, men then the Who'll
place; if you don't find the rebels bidder
here" cried Vance. That they were re
Gently in this room everything Indicates
Away with you at once and let not spo
as big as your hand escape the most rigit
scrutiny. Before you 60, leave man o,
guard at the door, outside" he added o.
the men were hurrying from the apartment
eager FOR the human hunt.
As soon as he was alone, Capt. Vance
seated himself at the el!-spread table, ane
leisurely proceeded to enjoy the farmer.
excellent edibles.
Meantime the soldiers were on the hunt
keen as bloodhounds seeming their prey.
a half hour or so elapsed, and at length
small party of the soldiers entered the
room, bgutally dragging along Mr.. Barry
A few moments later another party brought
IN the son, and they were almost immediate.
ly followed by another party who brought
along with them the mother and daughter
Ihenfollowed another party with the negroes
VI all the household one only was missing,
and that was Sylphy. The brush heap had
evidently escaped their attention.
Mr.. Barry bIanched white when he bcheld
his wife and daughter dragged in by the
rude soldiers.
"You are human ~ he cried, appealing to
the red coats crowded around them, sand
surely you would not harm two weak women.
Look ut us-me, my son, and my servants
we are men, and men ready to bear the
brunt CT any misfortune. Do with us as
you please, but for Gods sake spare the
WomeI!"
"You are all of you, men and women,
misch evons and dangerous rebels; and, by
the lord Harry, as such all Of you shall suffer
for your treason to your kingn responded
Vance, passionately. "You have run n
long rae" here, but you have come to the
end Of your rope at last. Your death war
rants are signed and sealed.'
The mother and daughter began to weep,
and Plead, and supplicate. Right we'll they
loved their native land, but theirs were not
the hearts to meet grim death with an un-
wavering front.
"Tyrauts and murderers that you are -
cried Mr.. Barry, suddenly, goaded to des-
peration by the agonlzing scene around him,
"show us a chance for our lives, and We will
ask no favors. We are liberty loving men.
and, for ourselves, fear not to meet death
in ny::shapes but for the sake Of them weep
ing women We ask for the chance TO die, if
die We must, in their dufencc.'
Young Barry repeated his fathers words
and the negroes looked the feelings they did
not express aloud.
"We'll grant you no favors, show you no
mercy shouted Captain Vance. Rebels
like you should die the dogs death, and you
shall. "Lieu,enant ~ added the brute,
turning to his next officer, "detal firing
party, and then clear the room-there is not
enough space here for ALL"
Immediately Captain Vance, the lieutcn-
ant, about dozen privates, and the dev oted
family. were left alone in the apartment.
| cannot describe the scene that followed
weak words are insufficient to ex-
press the narrowing emotions of those
doomed people. A brutal death was before
them, and no chance to escape-for neigh
bors were few in that locality, and the
far distant. fearful, agonizing
farewels were briefly and brokenly spoken ::
but no last, fond embrace, no parting pres
sure of the hande, was permitted by the
soldiers of "good King George.'
cite them up there in heap ~ cried
Vance, the scent of rebel blood madly In
flaming his brutal passions.
notwithstanding their cries and shrieks
and reslstance-for, under such circum-
stances, how in Gods name could they hel p
worse than useless as it was p
they were las ed hands ond feet, and left
standing together at one one end OF the
room.
Vance and his subordinates then withdrew
to the other end of the apartment.
Take aim - cried the captain, as soon
as his men had fallen into line.
"Farewell, fareweIl'' burst simultaneous
from the white lips Of the doomed patriots:
and the agony Of their utterance-the des
pairing glances which they cast upon each,
other, may be imagined but cannot be de-
scrhed.
"Now, you Internal rebels, learn what it
IS to turn traitor to your lawful king ~
cried Vance, furious with bis own ugly
feelings.
..Wc die for our country and liberty, and
place our hopes in the on y king to whom
r'n~tal man Or woman should bow their
~ neaf' .: END the knee" responded Mr..
Barry, nrm!y anu r-->siralv
"Rebel to the lastn' cried Vance, .~---.
ng with rage. course you, take your doom,
then F!ren'
The last word was addressed to his ready
followers, and as the portentious sound
passed bis lips, the deep and simultaneous
report Of dozen muskets reverberated
through the house.
Minving sbrieks uttered by the deep voices
Of the men, and in the shriil tones Of the
wOmcn, sm0te upon the air.
When the smoke cleared away, the Brit
isl. F,utchers-l do not mince terms, reader.
and why should discovered that all OF
that devoted band were stone dead, with
the exception of Mr.. Barry himself. He,
indeed, was in his last fearful agony, but
still conscious.
Vance approached the PROSTATE patriot,
and, seeing that he was not yet dead, bru-
tally spurned him with his foot.
MIR. Barry raised himself on his elbow,
though with much difficulty, and fixed his
glazing eyes on the heartlcss Briton.
"Murderer!r' murmured the dying patriot,
solemnly and impressiveIy. owe shall
meet acain''-wish his trembling finger
pointed upward" then woe to,you when
at the day of judgement your slaughtered
victims saaii flSe ny dRhiisI tou'
Mr.. Barry gave fearful gasp, clutched
at the thin air, and fell back heavily to the
floor.
He was dead.
Vance approached the body Of the slaugh-
tered patriot, and again spurn'ng him with
his foot, exclaimed
Course you, I'm not easily frightened at
your canting! Now, men," he added, "tire
the rebel nest, and then away to hunt up
more"
Fifteen minutes afterwards the Barry
farm house was enveloped ina mass OF lu-
rid flames.
As the frs approached the brush heap
beneath which Sylphy, the only survivor Of
tha, ili-fated family, was hidden, the little
half -smo thered negress WAS driven from her
place Of concealment. Murmuring her many
fears, and peering cautiously and anx'ou-ly
around, she crawled away from the burning
building, and eventually reached place OF
SAFETY.
Her death, at an unusually advanced age,
occurred but recently; and, near the same
spot where the foregoing trauspred, and
where she had spent all her days from her
earliest infancy. she hreathed her last.