Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-10-14
A THRILLING SKETCH.


in district bordering on Rock River. in
the northern part of the State of Illinois,
were much incensed by the depredations
of band OF horse thieves who infested
that portion of the country. Every exer-
ton had been made to discover the men
engaged in the nefarious business, tut
hitherto in vain, and valuable animals
were stolen, and lost to their owners. in
defiance of the utmost vigilance and care.
During such state of affairs, the citi-
zens residing in the region of the thieves
became thoroughly excited AMI were
wound up in such a pitch of Indignation,
that body of men were formed styled
Rangers, whose explicit duty was to ex-
punge the district of all suspicious charac-
ters, and endeavor 10 put a stop to their
depredatiors. ...
Shortly after the band commenced oper.
ationS word was conveyed to the leader of
the Rangers that a valuable horse which
had been stolen the night previous. could
then he found on the premises of "A man
named But, locked up in a stable. Al
though Burt heretofore had been lopked
upon as an honest man and an upright
citizen, yet the Captain deemed it his du-
tv to at least examine his farm and learn
the truth or fAlsity Of the report.
Accordingly he summoned some half
dozen of his Rangers to meet him at
spot not far from Burt house, and before
morbinQ, set out for the same place him
self. Daylight was hardly discernible in
the east, and the hazy light of coming
dawn had notyet penetrated the bottom,
where the suspected men resided, as the
Rangers, charged with the fearful mission
of life or death, silently approached, and
surrounded the dwelling. Leaving three
of the band to guard the entrance, the
Captain and the others went to the barn,
opened the door, and..,found the missing
horse, as had been stated safely stalled
inside. ......
Not lingering doubt now remained,
of Butts guilt. and with stern derermi-
nation, to make an example of him that
would deter others from like transac =
ton. the Rangers returned to the house.
In the meantime. Burt had risen, and up
on coming to the door, was seized by those
in waiting, aud upon demanding the rea-
son was informed BY them that a stolen
animal was found in his stable, and that
he was considered Il thief. Muttering
something about "he knew it would come
to this at last" he quietly submitted to
whatever his captors had in store for him.
| A short consultation was held and il
! was resolved TO hang the criminal upon a
large elm tree that grew in front of his
own house. it being tho't that such an acl
would strike terror and dismay into the
ranks of the horse thieves. ,. ..9f
Burt had asked hall an hour to prepare
for his death, and the sun had risen IN ali
its golden majesty, ere the fatal moment
had arrived which would launch him into
eternity. In vain his grayheaded father
and mother pleaded fer his life, with
trembling tongues-and kueeling in sup
plant mood TO his apparently merciess
captors. In vain the wife of his bosom
knelt in tears of agony, and int,eated them
as husbands TO spare his life for cac
Ranger had suffered more or less in person
and they deemed the example absolutely
necessary to deter others, and it seemed a.
though Burt must die. f'
The dreadful preparations were COM
pleled-the half hour had expired-anC
the criminal was arranged under the limt
of stout elm, over which a rope wa:
thrown one end being noosed around the
prisoners neck, and the other held by
three of the Rangers.
Then came moment Of dreadful ST.
lence, that awful stllnes which prelude
The IaVuehipg Of fsllow-being iu'