The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-10-03
A Thrilling Sketch.

In the year 1856, the inhabitants living IN
district bordering on Rock river, in the north
ern part of the State of Illinois, were much in
censed by the depredatons of a band of horse
thieves who infested that portion Of the country.
Every exertion had been made to discover the
men engaged in tho nefarious business, but
hitherto. in vain, and valuable animals were
stolen, and lost to their owners. in defiance of
tho utmost vigilance and caro-.
During such a state of affairs, the citizens re-
siding in the region of the thieves became thor
oughly excited, and were wound up to such a
pitch of Indignation that body of men were
formed styled Rangers, whose explicit duty
was to expunge the district of all suspicious
characters, and sndeavor to put stop to their
dcpredations.
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 be found on the
premises of a man named Burt, locked up in the
stable. Although Burt heretofore had been
looked upon Us an honest man and an upright
citizen, yet the Captain deemed it his duty 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 q spot not far
from Burt's house, and before morning, set out
for the same place himself. Daylight was
hardly discernable in the east, and the lazy
light of the 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, silently approached and sur
rounded the dwelling. Leaving three of the
band to gaurd the entrance, the Captain and
the other three went to the barn, opened the
door, and found the missing horse, as had been
stated, safely installed inside.
| Not lingering doubt now remained of Burt's
guilt, and with a stern determination to make
all example of him that would deter others from
like transaction, tho Rangers returned to the
house. In the mean time, Burt had risen, and
upon coming to the door, was seized by those
in waiting, and upon demanding the reason was
informed by them that stolen animal was
found in his stable, and that he was considered
thief Muttering something about he knew
it would come to this at last" he quietly sub
mtted to whatever bis captors had in store for
him.
A short consultation WAS held and it was re-
solved to hang the criminal upon large elm
tree that grew in front of his own house, it be-
ing thought that such an act would strike ter
ror and dismay into the ranks of tho horse
thieves.
| Burt had asked half an hour to prepare for
his death, and the sun had riZen in all its golden
majesty, ere the fatal moment had arrived
which would launch him into eternity. In vain
his gray headed father and mother pleaded for
| his life with trembling tongues-and kneeling
in suppliant mood to his apparently merciless
! captors In vain the wife of his bosom knelt
| in tears of agony, and entreated them as hus-
bands to spare his life, for each Ranger had SUIT
I fered more or less in person, and they deemed
the example absolutely necessary to deter
Others and it seemed as though Burt must
/ die
The dreadful preparations were completed
the half hour had expired-and the criminal
was arranged under the limb of stout elm,
over which rope was thrown, one end being
noosed around tho Prisoners neck and the other
held by three of the Rangers.
Then came n moment of dreadful silence, that
awful stilluess which prcludes the launching
of 4 felow-being into e:ernity-while the three
strong men who held tie ropes end gazed fixedly
upon the Captain for the signal. 1t was given
by raising the right arm; and already the moose
was tightening around the doomed mans neck,
when the wife of Burt isSued forth from tho
house holding Nh infant little more than a
year old in her arms.
Rushing forward, she fell on her knee directly
in front of the Captain, and raising the child
with arms outstretched, toward him she OK
claimed, in tones that would have pierced a
heart Of steel
"If you vii! not spare him for the sake o.
his greyhaircd sire, the wife of his bosom
spare him in the name of God, for the sake o.
/, his infant boy"
Another dead silence reigned like pail ovel