Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-11-02
The Last Hours of a New Orleans
Martyr---A Tale of Rebel Barbarity.

He Cnf1SGldn w dUCuUldQ ana he
hector of Boston, contains an account
OF the last hours of the Rev. Mr.. Hor
ton, one of the martyrs of the New
| Orleans massacre, which testifes con-
clusively as to his unstained character
as Christian and patriot, his free
dom from personal ambition, and the
wantonness Of his murder. Mr.. Hor-
ton received five balls in his body,
and fell. These balls were fired by
policemen. Not satisfied with their
work. they seized him; battered his
head with their billies, stabbed him,
kicked and dragged him over the
pavements to the first station, the mob
following behind, crushing, beating
and tramping him with their Shoes
Thrusting him in a cell, he was left
mangled and senseless.
He was flung into a cart after lying
awhile at the station house, and under
a sitting load of dead and wounded
negroes his stomach crushed in by a
blow Of heavy plank. he was taken
to the Marine Hospital.
His wife, after waiting anxiously
for him all day and night, started as
soon as it was morning in search of
him.
Information had been received thro'
the city papers that Gen. Baird, the
military commander had released all
who had been arrested and confined
by the police, giving the name of her
husband among the rest, and stating
that he had returned home. Acting
On this representation she went alone
to Carrolton, but only to return by the
next train. lie was not there. With
out waiting for breakfast she set off
for Gen. Baird headquarters. a young
Methodist clergyman, Mr.. Henry, one
of Mr.. HIS bOarders, insisted on being
her company.
No sooner did Gen. Baird see Mrs.
Horton and know who she was, than
he expressed much surprise that her
husband had not been seen, and told
/ her he had ordered his release. Per-
haps she would find him at the City
Hall. To this place she Immediately
went, but she searched in vain. He
had not been there. She then hurried
to the first police station, determined
to wiring from the brutal officers a con-
| feSsion of what they had done with her
husband. Entering til e Office she
forced her way within the rails, and
asked of the clerk what they had done
with her husband. The man declared
that preacher Horton" had been sent
/ by him to Charity Hospital, and she
at once hurried thither. Again she
was disappointed. (The truth was
the cart that carried Mr. Horton 5
body had stopped there, ahd been sent
away, as it appeared to be occupied
only by blacks The horrible idea
now suggested itself to the afflicted
woman that her husband had been con
veyed away with load of dead bodies
and had been buried alive, but, as a
last resort, she determined to visit the
Marine Hospital. This was in a low
and distant part of the city, and de,
voted entirely to negroes, and she
could not have believed he would be
carried there by his worst enemies
bnt at a friend S suggestion she sought
the place, still accompanied by Mr.
Henry.
Arrived at the gate she was refused
entrance, but catching a glimpse Of
Dir. Harris. the head surgeon, whom
she knew; she called to him and ask
/ ed ifher husband was there. DR.. Har
/ riS could give no positive assurance
but Immediately ordered the servant
to admit her. Forgetting her weari
ness in her joy that her long quest haC
at last succeeded, the faithful woman
bounded up the steps, and withou
waiting to be directed rushed in among
the patients, found out her husband
and sunk exhausted upon his bosom
What a spectacle The form sh
loved a bruised and helpless mass oi
flesh and blood. his head swollen t,
+ the size of two, and his left arm use
! less, and his right shattered and man
gled, He moved perpetually abou
with the restless, nervous gestures o
a dreaming infant. So badly tran
pied and beaten was his head an
face, that his eyes were blinded, an
p a painful rotching, produced by the il
+ .juries to his stomach, obstructed hi
] breath and speech. But through a
: the anguish and darkness of his wrec
he knew his wife. That she shoul
q have known him is a miracle to a
who do not understand the inspire
sagacity of a wifes affection.
Wipe my face, Emma, he gasped, 8
. if she had been bending over him eve
i since he fell.
Worn and broken hearted the poo
: woman sat down by her husband
Is side and tried to strengthen herse
:, for the task of soothing and comfor
! ing his last hours, for she knew tC
:, we'll that he could not live. Ninetet
h long hours she had searched for hin
>, and now to find him thus
- Few comforts were to be found
- that hospital, though the attendan
seeing her distress, evidently meant
70 treat her kindly. Up to this time Il
wounded man had laid in the warder
room, but on the next morning, We
k nesday, was moved to more al
N. apartment. The operation of trepa
,r. ming was then performed on his he
as though with little hope of permane
.. benefit. When this was over, and
oo burden on the brain relieved, the 5
he ferer looked up and repeated, -.at.
i. "When can read my title clear
af. To mansions in the skies,
Pll bid farewell to every fear
And wipe my weeping eyes,"