Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-07-01
A T'lrIlling sketch.

In . district bordering on RoSk River, in the
northern part Of the State Of illinois we're
much inoensed by the depredstions Of .
band Of horse thieves who infessed that por-
ton Of the country. Every sxertiou had
been made to discover tho men engaged iu
tho narfarous business, but hitherto, 10 vain,
and valuable animals were stolen, and lost
to their owners, in defiance Of the utmost
vigilance and care. .s,e eT III
| During such state Of affairs, the citizens
residing in thsregion Of the thieves became
thoroughly excited, and were wound up to
such pitch Of indignation, that body Of
men were formed styled Rangers, whose OK
plicit duty was to expunge the district Of all
suspicious characters, and endeavof to put
stop to their depredations.
Shortly after this band commenced opera
tions word was conveyed to the leader
Of the Rangers that valuable horse
| which had been stolen tho night previous,
could then be found Tn the premises Of y
| man named Burt, locked up in the stable.
Although Burt, heretofore had been looked
upon as an honest man and an uprigh' citi-
zen, yet the Captain deemed it his duty to
at least examine bis farm and learn the
truth or falsity Of the report.
Accordingly he summoned some half do.
zen Of his Rangers to meet him at spot
not far from Burt's house, aud before morn.
ing, set out for the same place himself
Daylight was hardly discernable in the east,
and the hazy light Of coming dawn had not
yet penetrated the bottom, where the su-
spicious man resided, as the Rangers, charg-
ed 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 opened the
door, and found the missing horse, as had
been stated, safely stalled inside.
Not u lingering doubt now remained Of
Burts guilt, and with stern determination
to make such an example Of him as would
deter Others from like transaction, the
Rangers returned to the house. In the
meantime, Burt had risen, and upon COM
ing to the door, was seized by those in wait
ing, and upon demanding the reason was in
formed that stolen animal was found in
his stable, and that he was considered a
thief. Muttering something about "he
knew it would como to this at last, he qui-
etly submitted to whatever his captors had
in store for him.
A short consultation was held and il was
resolved to hang the criminal upon large
elm tree that grew in front Of his own house
it being thoughtthat such an act would
strike terror and dismay into the ranks Of
the horse thieves.
Burt bad asked half an hour to prepare
for his death, and tho sun had risen in all its
golden majesty, ere the fatal moment had
arrived which would launch him into eterni-
ty. In vain his grayheaded father and
mother pleaded for his life, with trembling
tongues-they tottering forth from the
dwelling, and kneeling in suppliant mood
too his apparently merciless captors. In
vain had the wife of his bosom knelt in
tears Of agony, and entreated them as hus.
bands to spare his lite, for each Ranger had
suffered more or less in person, and they
deemed the example absolutely necessary to
deter others, and it seemed rs though Burt
must die.
The dreadful preparations were complet.
cd-the half hour had expircd-and the
criminal was arranged under tho limb Of q
stout elm, over which rope was thrown,
ono end being loosed around the prisoners
neck, and the other held by three Of the ran.
gers. ..j ,,.r,t
Then came moment Of dreadful silence;
that awful stiffness which precludes the
launching Of a fellow-being into eternity
while the three strong men who held the
ropes end, gazed fixedly upon the Captain
for the signal. It was given by raising the
right arm; and already the moose was Tight
ening around the doomed man $ neck, when
tho wife of Burt issued forth from the
house holding an infant, little more than
year old, in her arms.
Rushing forward, she fell on her knees d.
rectly in front Of the Captain, and raising
the child with arms outstretched, towards
him, she exclaimed, in tones that would
have pierced heart Of steel
IF you will not spare him for the sake
Of grey haired sire, or the wife ofhis bosom,
spare him in the name of God, for the sake
Of his infant boy!" .n" ~ .f 'i
Another dead silence reigned like pail
over the spot then, as though inspired by
heaven itself, the child also stretched out its
little arms towards it's father, and exclaim-
ed, in voice heard by all, the single word.
Father"
And then, as though disparing Of success,
huddled into it's mothers bosom, and burst
into sobbing cry.
It was more than the Rangers could stand,
and after short consultation, the rope was
taken from tho criminals neck, and the
band left the spot; and Burt became a re-
formed man through the powerful effects OF