Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-10-06

reckiess depression OF epirits. Vice and
virtue seemed TO me mere words without
meaning ana actuated by weak and foolish
thoughts, the question arose 10 my heart
is everything in life mere chance, like the
turning OF dice or cards 2 Is there any God
VINO directs, who protects down-trodden vir.
tue, or Furnishes successful vice
There lay 10 piles before me gold 10 coin
and dust I; a very small portion Of one Of them
would make me happy, and enable me to
reneVe from suffering another afar of, who
was dearer than life to me, for came in
search oil gold for holy purpose. 1t was
changing hands constantly, passing into the
possession OF those lowest in the great scale
OF humanity, who used it only for the vilest
debaucheries. Where was any kind provi-
dence to be regarded 10 oil this? l walked
careIessly up to q roulette table, and from
the feeling of the moment-alike Indifferent
to the frowns or smiles of fortune-I threw
down as stakes the three dollars in loose
silver had in my pockets twas as quickly
won by the gambler; and Indeed, l after
wards met the very mechanic who made the
table, and who explained to me its secret
springs, by which other fools, like myself,
were robbed.
Passing along with the crowd, found my.
| sell at the centre of excitement and attrac-
tlon--n faro.table, around which we're some
rewly arrived and very successful miners,
judging from the many thousand dollars they
had on the table Under the influence of
bad whisky, and the vcissitudes of the game,
tbey were apparently as reckless as myself
TO consequences. Taking from my vest pock.
ct ten dollar gold piece, which was all had
IN the world, l threw it on card at random
-one on which the others we're not betting
as my last stake. 1t doubled and doubled,
again aud again, many times, till at length
even The half drunken miners, who we're play.
ing Tor such heavy stakes, took an interest 10
my strange luck; and the marble faced dealer
whose attention hitherto had been entirely
devoted to them, turned his eyes with q sim
lster look upon me. When nv card won for
the ninth time, | took up from the table n
coin and dust S5,l20, with q stolid GOODNESS |
have since many times wondered at, and put
ting it in couple of bags given me by one of
the miners, thrust them into my pockets
As stepped aside to leave the table, the
dealer, turning round to some one in the
crowd, and giving him peculiar look of in.
tell!gence said, with a laugh:
"1hafs a hearty pile to carry"
! soon found out the truth of his remark
Not wishing to elbow my way through the
crowd directly to the door, I passed round be-
hind the tables in the back part of the house.
Leading from the room were o number Of
badly lighted passages-one or two we're
quite dark. AS went by one of the latter,
before had turned round towards the street
door, man standing in the obscure light,
nearly concealed behind the door post, beck
oned me towards him, with a mysterious ges.
ture. Without thinking, stepped through
the door few feet to learn what he wished,
and when within few yards of him, as
took another step. quicker than can tell it.
the floor passed from under my feet, and
was sinking rapidly under the waters OF the
bay. With the instinct of selfpreservation,
| struggled for the life had held so cheap
AT length, after what seemed long time to
me, almost sutiocated and weighed down by
the fatal gold, ! rose to the surface. A light
from dark lantern flashed down from the
mouth Of what appeared to be a square we'll,
built on the water OF the bay, and constructed
of smooth pannel boards In these few mo.
the despair and horrors Of that scene, a whole
life Of thoughts and memories was before me.
Notwithstanding all my past misery could
not, without struggle, die q dogs death.
| could see above me, in that interval Of time,
the pale looking faces Of two rufians gazing
down. One grasped in his hand long pole,
armed with a sharp point and directly oppo-
site me, in the we'll. within few feet of nv
face, was the bloated, lvid face of swollen
corpse, that had, unknown to me, served to
obstruct my rising to the surface. In the
Pickering light and disturbed waters it ap.
peared to mock and jser, moving nearer and
nearer. Just then one Of the men said to the
other:
"Split his head and jab him under, or he
will sing out !"
And down came the sharp spear. touching
my arm. slightly injuring me. lie then drew
it up to throw it again with more deadly pur.
pose. The despair o: death was upon me,
arose in q choking cry Of anguish.
At that instant OF time the report Of pis- |
tolls, shreks of pain, mingled with the varied |
sounds of deadly conflict, came to my ears
the desperado above me 10 haste cast The |
spear, and then, with bis companion, rushed |
to the scene OF other murders, doubtless feel |
ing secure OF the victim left in the we'll. The
lantern hung on nail, about six feet above
me, and piece Of rope had been carelessly |
dropped from what appeared to be a vertical
trap, opening outwards on the tide waters.
Bodies we're found in the bay so frequently
10 those days that they excited little curiosity
Or comment Alta glance could see all |
have described, and, although wounded 10 my
left arm by the spear, still, with the desperate
anergy of despair, pushed the swollen body
under m6 foot, aud sprang to grasp the rope
Twice failed, and big drops OF perspiration
Teil from my forehead, as l thought the mur-
1erers would return instantly. The third at.
.empt was more successful, for ] seized the
'ope-whch, luckily, had q knot at its end
With q degree Of strength could not have
lsed under any other circumstances, and
'aised myself towards the floor above, where
found, on one side of the we'll, there was
space between the boards and floor of about
sight inches high, pereaps twenty wide. How
forced myself through this narrow space,
as was, do not know for oil
The events have described passed in a few
although it seemed an age to me.
dropped myself down on the outside into
The ripping waters, and passing quickly as
possible from pile to pile, under the street
aud many houses, | scarcely stopped to
brestoe until found myself far from the trap.
Once thought heard smothered voices and
The sound Of muffled oars; but If so, they
could not find me. and made my way eau.
tiously to land, long distance of, for | we'll
knew they would use every means to stop a
victim who had discovered their crimes. Ex.
hausted and very weak from the loss OF blood
from my wounded arm, crept to my gsrret.
Late the next morning when / awoke, could
not believe the above ayents excent aa a