East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-06-21
NUMBER AZ

walked quarter of a mile in the dark
ness before he heard the sound of ap-
preaching footsteps.
At this moment the moon shown out
from q cloud on the two men, whcu
Brown, shouting, colbert, do you know
me-JaclS Brown, the oonvict?n sprung
at the officer Ikea tiger, before his cut
lass could be unsheatled or pistol drawn,
grasped his throat, and falling with him
to the ground, knelt on his PROSTATE foe.
For few moments stunned by the fall,
the officer lay perfectly still, but shortly
recovering his faculties, he wriihed des-
peratly in his assaiant's grasp Though
brave man, and one who felt that his
life depended on his exertions, after
few vigorous but abortive efforts to free
himself from his position on the ground,
or to clutch his pistols, he found himself
utterly powerless in the hands of one
powerful as John Brown, for he it was.
Tightening his grasp on Gilberts
throat, Brown contrived with the other
hand to draw both pistols from his enc.
my's belt, aud lay them On the grass be.
yond his reach I; Gilbert, summoning
strength for another effort, well nigh sue
ceeded in whirlng Brown backwards and
drawing his weapon from the scabbard.
Quick as lightning the convict recovered
one Of the pistols, cooked it, aud present.
ed it close to Gilbert's temple, bade him
be still, or-accompanied by fierce oath
he would scatter his brains on the turf.
The revenue officer, though bad man,
was brave one, yet it had required
something more than rational bravery to
disobey the command in such situation.
Gilbert was still waiting better oppor.
tunity for resistance. He could not call
for help. Brown had assured him thatif
he attempted TO cry his cry would be fol-
lowed by shot. Loosening his hold for
an instant, Brown drew the cutlass from
the officers scabbard and hurled it over
the cliff; then securing the pistols in his
vest, he leaped to his feet, an example
speedily followed by Gilbert, who with
quick breathing and eyes glaring like q
tigers at bay, was preparing to dash at
his feet and escape, orde at once.
Drawing pistol once more Brown
said, colbert, / swore to have revenge
for nay murdered son. l will not slay
you unarmed-be this token''-and he
threw one pistol from him over the cliff
'but one of rs must perish tonight. I
will give you a last chance for your life
-becausc, villain that you are, you were
once my dearest friend" So saying, be
hurled the second pistol after the first,
and, extended his arms, shouted, "Come
On There is fall of eighty feet be.
leath us--your life or mine tonight !"
Then cnsued deadly struggle between
,hese two bitter foes. Both were strong
nen and expert wrestlers. After short
lime, during which neither gained any
positive advantage over the other, they
paused for breath. Dropping suddenly
lpon one knee, in manner well known
% all wrestlers, Brown, with terrific ef.
rort of his giant strength, hurled Gilbert
over his shoulder. They are both upon
he very brink of the cliff the wretched
nan fell down ten feet, when he clung
to some bushes which grew
IN the precipice
His antagonist looked down upon him
or some moments in silence but no
hought Of pity influenced him in that
vii hour. By desperate effort Gill
bert had succeeded in gaining tenn.
,orary resting place for one of his feet
ipon a stone that projected over cliff.
md was supporting himself by an over
hanging limb of tree. Brown de-.
ccnded foot lower, drew his knife and
severed the branch. There was wild
,ry-a fearful crash--then all was still.
rhe tide was running in--the tall, point
d rocks below received tho miserable
Gilbert in his fall. And as soon as the
noon shone down on the ashy face of the
murderer, her beams revealed the sight Of
mangled corpse. M
Brown fled. Next morning tho rev.
.nue officers body-found by fisher.
nan, washed high and dry by the tide
nto 6ssure of the cliff above--present.
d marks Of fearful struggle; but COR
,ner's inquest returned an open verdict
-and, beyond vague surmses, nothing
urther was known how George Gilbert
net his death. f.
Years after these events and old man
vas knocked down by cart in seaport
own, and taken to the hospital, where he
oon lay at the point of death. A clergy
nan was sent for; to him the dying man
onfessed all ] have told, and died. -
That man was John Brown.