The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-04-09
AL.gend Of I77e.


Night had set in deep, and in a small Jog
hat situated 4 few miles from Trenton, n
J., sat FIVE men, four Of whom were seated
at an oaken table in the center Of the room
engaged in playing eardsscwhile they fire.
queatIy moistened their throats with large
dravghts from az earshen jug. that stood o.
They were heavily bearded, coarse look
iag men, and from their dress, which some
what resembled the British uniform, they
were evidently Tories. The other was
stout built yOung man clad in the OoniiDen-
tai uniform. He sat in one corner Of the
room with his face buried in his hands
tom, said one Of the Tories, rising from
the table and seating himself near the young
prisoner, for such he evidently was, tom,
you and / were school boys together, and
love YOU Now, why can't you give up
yorr wild notions and Join us2 You are our
prisoner, and II you don't we shall hand you
over to the headquarters tomorrow, while
il you Join us your fortune is made, for with
your bravery and talents you viii soon dis
ti1guish yourself In the royal army, aud af-
ter the rebellion is crushed out, your course
shall be rewarded by knighthood and promo
tion in the army. Now, of these two alter
natives, which do you. .choOsef'
Neither, said the young man, rising his
head and looking at the Tory steadily ia the
eye, q am now as you say, your prisoner
bat when the clock strikes twelve shsli dis
appear in a cloud Of fire and smoke; neither
yOilr comrades, not even DyEelf, can prevent
if. YUu may watch me as closely as you
please, tie me hand and foot if you viii. but
q higher power than yours or mine has or
dained that ] shall leave at that time
Al -
Tory, he'll talk differently inithe morning.
Aud he returned to his seat at the table,
leaving the youth with his head again resting
in his hands.
When the clock struck eleven the young
prisoner drew pipe and some tobacco from
bis pocket, and asked the Tory leader if be
had any objection to his smoking.
None in the least, he said, adding with 3
laugh, that is, if you'll promise not to dis
appear in a cloud Of tobacco smoke
The young man made no reply, but i'm
mediately filed his pipe, having done which
he commenced pacing the floor.
He took half dozen turns up and down
each side of the room, approaching nearer
the table each time, when, having exhausted
his pipe, he returned to his seat and refilled
it.
He continued to smoke until the clock
struck twelve when he arose from his seat
and slowly knocking the ashes from his pipe
said: ~
There, boys, it is twelve o'clock, and /
must leave you. Good-bye!'
Immediately all around the room wers
seen streaks Of fire kissing and squirming
the cabin was filled With a dense suIphuro1r
smoke, suidst which was clap of thunder
Tie Tories sat in their chairs psralyzsd with
fright.
The smoke cleared away, but the prisoner
was no where to be seen. The table was
turned over, the window was smashed tC
pieces, and one chair lying on the ground
outside the building.
The Tory leader, after recovering from his
stiTpOr gave one glance around the room snc
sprsng out of the window, followed by his
comrades. They ran through the forest al
the top of their speed in the direction Of the
British encampment, leaving their musket:
and other arms TO the mercy of the flames,
which had now begun to deVOur the cabin
The next day two young men, dressed il
Continental uniform, we're seen standing neal
the ruins of the old cabin. One was our
prisoner Of the night previous.
Let us hear all about it, Tom, said the
other.
ing this place, two Tories ran out and tool
possession Of me. Before could make anJ
resistance they took me in, and who do yoJ
suppose saw as leader Of that party bu
John Burton, our old schO0lmate. He talkeC
to me and tried to induce me to Join them
bat / told them | couldn't, that at twelY,
O. clock l was going to escape disappear in
cloud Of fire and smoke, but he laughed q
me, and said / was out of nv head. AbOu
eleven O'Clock l asked him If might smok
He said he had DO objection; SO filed NJ
pipe and lighted it aud commenced walkinl
the floor. had about a pound of gunpowde
in my pocket, aud as l walked strewed i
over the floor. When the clock strucl
twelve l bid them goodbye, knocked th
ashes out Of my pipe, the powder igniied
flames of FIRE shot across, around and ali owe
the room, filing It with suffocating smoke
before il cleared away l hurled a chsi
through the window and departed, leavin
them to their own reflections. You kuor
the rest