Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-10-18

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grin. But / had not much time to
mediate; all this occurred in only a
brief moment, for thoughts were rapid
ly flying through my brain. Suddenly
the men began again to question me,
concerning the amount that was in the
safe. | tried to deceive them, but
inexpert as [ was in this art, they in-
stantly detected it, and one of them
giving me heavy blow on the head,
cautioned me, with a curse, to atell
the truth, the hull truth, and nothin'
but the TRUTH" and threatened if I
didn't, to "knock the very life out of
me. l could easily see from their
ferocious looking eyes, blood-shot
with debauchery, madly cleaning,
that would have but little mercy at
their hands, but still l was deter
mined that they should not get any
money from me that belonged to my
employers, and for this reason I en-
deayored to prove to them that l
could not unlock the safe and reach
the treasure; but they had been
prowling around and found out that
could open the safe, and knowing it
was only because | did not wish to
that refused, they threatened to take
my life, and in fact threatened every
thing, and besides, gave me some
pretty severe blows, and finally, after
having few moments conversation,
they told me if l did not agree to un-
lock the safe for them, they would
treat me to a Devils pinchers. y
Whatever that meant, l was at a loss
to discover, but still refusing, they
took off my shoes and stockings, and
then began muttering, that "they'd d
see whether Id tell or not" l was
not long in inding out what the
Devils pinchers'' meant, for one of
them, drawing bunch Of matches
from his pocket, quietly lit it and
placed the burning sulphur under my
feet. | resisted as much as could,
but was held so tightly by the rope
which bound me, and also by the
other ruffian, that | found resistance
to be useless. When the match was
first applied to my feet, [ thought
would endeavor to stand it, but when
the burning sulphur of the match
touched my foot, | can truly say that
never felt such excruciating pain
The flesh cracked and blistered, and
caused such insufferable agony, that ii
seemed to render me crazy, and final
ly, when the match had burned out,
thought that he might stop; but no
he calmly picked another from the
bunch, and proceeded to light thai
also. This was too much for me, anC
gradually l became confused, my heaC
seemed to swim, and | heard only in
distinct whisperings. All was dark
| had tainted! l was aroused by {
scuffling noise, and confusedly open
ing my eyes, | was astonished to fine
myself partially unbound, and The
two Williams fighting with one of tht
, upstair clerks, in the corner. in
stantly attempted to pull off the re
! naming ropes that bound me, but my
! hands trembled so from exhaustion
= that | could hardly unite some of tn,
knots, and | inwardly prayed fol
strength that | might quickly FREE
myself so as to go to the aid of m,
companion, who was now nearly ex
hausted, and who would soon have tt
= yield, although he was bravely de
: Tending himself with a billet of WOO
which he had, with great presence of
mind, quickly seized. At length
, succeeded in freeing myself. ant
: grasping an iron crowbar that la.
: near the door, cautiously crept be
a tween the bales, my heart all in
1utter, until was separated from tn
y combarants but by one low pile;
= waited for minute, but suddenl
= rising, dealt the rObber directly il
,, front of me, tremendous blow acros
! the head with the crowbar, which in
stantly felled him to the floor; as tn
, other one turned to look at the caus
of the fall of his companion, the cler
!, struck him with the billet and felle
him also to the floor, but he sprang u
> again with the ferocity of tiger, a
!, though all covered with blood tina
= was running down from the woun
/ upon his head, and attempted to rus
l. past US, it was in vain, however, 70
- although he telled me, the clerk, wit
surprising agility, struck him anOthe
. blow which laid him senseless. w
: then quickly bound them: and just i
time, for they soon recovered an
strove with might and main to rt
lease themselves. We soon got hell
; and had the villains safely slowed bt
!, hind CRATES and bars, where the
= could rave in vain. .... Il
8 They were soon tried, and each re
n ceived an eight years sentence t
d Sing Sing prison. You may wonder
q perhaps, how the clerk come to arriv
n SO opportunely. 1t was in this way
r. When had first opened the wron
t. tube and whistled, he happened to b
O in that story getting some samples
n hearing the whistle, somewhat sui
d prised him, for he did not know tba
e anybody was down on the lower fool
e but he was so busy that he forge
# about the whistle, and was in fac
f leaving the room, when, happening t
e remember, he opened the tube an
h listened, to hear whether the calle
o was there yet, and as | said, the valv
It at the lower end of the tube had nc
,e closed, the spring being out of ordel
In the stiffness of the night he coul
,e readily hear, at least, the noise mad
d by the two in their conversation.