The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-09-25
A Thrilling Sketch.

- All hAuE 0AvesAs
IN the year 1895, tho inhabitants liy.
ing in Il district bordering on Rock Rlv-
er, In the northern part OF the State of
Illinois, were much incensed By the de-
prcdations Of band Of horse thieves
who infested that portion Of the couu-
try. Every eyertion had been made 70
discover the men engaged in the ncfs
rious business, but hitherto, in vain,
and valuable animals were stolen, and
lost TO their owners, IN defiance ot the
utmost vigilance and care.
Daring such state of affalrs, the
citizens residing in the region of the
thieves became thoroughly excited,
and were wound up In such pitch OF
indignation, that body Of men were
formed styled Rangers, whose explicit
duty was to expunge the district of all
suspicious characters, and endesvor to
to put stop to their depredations.
Shortly after this band commenced
operations word was conveyed to the
leader Of the Rangers that valuable
horse which had been stolen the night
previous, could then he found on the
premises Of man named Burt, locked
up in the stable. Although Burt here
tofore had been looked upon as an hon
est man and an upright citizen, yet the
Captain deemed it his duty to at least
examine his farm end learn the truth Or
falsity of the report.
Accordingly he summoned come half
dozen of his Rangers to meet him at a
SPOT not far from Durt's house, and be-
fore morning, set out for the same place
himself. Daylight Xas hardly discer-
cable in the east, and the lazy light of
coming dawn had not yet penetrated
the bottom, where the suspected man
resided, AS the Rangers. charged with
the fearful mission Of life or death, 81
lently approached, ard surrounded the
dwelling, Leaving three Of the band
to guard the entrance, the Captain and
the other three went to the barn, open
ed the door, and found the missing
horse, as had been stated safely stalled
inside.
Not lingering doubt now remained
o. nurt's guilt. and with stern deter
inination, to mako an example Of him
that would deter others from like
transaction, the Rangers returned to the
house. In the meantime, Burt had rls-
en-, and upon coming to the door, was
seized by those in waiting, and upon
demanding the reason was Informed by
them that a stolen animal was found In
his stable, and that he was considered
II thief. Muttering something about
"he knew il would come to this at last, !"
he quietly submitted to whatever his
captors had in store for him.
A short consultation was held and 1t
| was resolved to hang the criminal upon
a larg elm tree that grew in front of his
own house, it being thought that such
an act would strike terror aud dismsy
into the ranks ofthe horse thieves.
Burt had asked half on hour to pre-.
pare for his death, and the sun had r;s.
ed in all Its golden majesty, ere the Ia
tai MON ent had arrived which would
launch him into eternity. In vain his
grayheaded father and mother plea lcti
for his life, with trembling tongues -
and knceling in suppliant mood TO hir
apparently merciless captJrs. In vian
the wife of his bosom knelt In tears OF
agony, and intrcated them ~ husbands
spare his life; for each Ranger had suf
fered more or less in person and they
deemed the example absolutely necess
ary to deter others, and it seemed n
though Burt must die.
The dreadful preparations were com
pleted-the half hour had expired--ant
the criminal was arranged under tn
limb OF stout elm, over which rop,
WAS thrown one end being noose'
around the prisoners neck, and tn
other held by three of the Rangers.
Then came a moment of dreadful 81
lence, that awful stiffness which pre-
, iudes the launching Of II fellow.bein
into eteruity-while the three stron
, men who held the ropes end gaze
F.. fixedly upon the Captain for the sigma
: It was given by raising the right arm
= and ready the moose was tightrnin
: around the doomed mans heck, whe
= The wife OF Burt Issued forth from tn
f house holding an infant, q little mol
> than year old, In her arms.
r Rushing forward, she fell on HI
!, knees directly In front of the Cap,alI
: and raising the child with arms ou
Q stretched, toward him she exclaimed
V in tones that would have pierced hea
n of steel
az YOU will not spare him for Il
sake OF his grayhared sire or the wife
e his bosom, spare him in the name
y God, for the sake of his infant boy
y Another dead silence reigned like
1t pail over the spot then, rs though Il
u .pired by heaven itself, the child 81
rs stretched out its little arms toward
le father, and exclaimed, in n voice h's'
y by all, the single word
D "Papav ~
}, And then, as though despairinK
ie success, huddled into its mother, b'
ie ON, and burst into sobbing cry.
re 1t was more than the rangers COZ
Is stand, and after II short consultatio
er the rope was taken from the crimina
en- neck, and the band left the spot; =
he Burt BECAME reformed man throu
ed the powerful effects of his "I,yant's :
dl."--Gre0t Vest. ..
h. ---f
RI, 49,