The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-01-11
Seleft Storp,
THE LAND PIRA TIE .
A STORY OF THE OHIO RIVER,
BY HARRY HAzELToN.

It is said that the devil is not half S,
black as some of his good orthodox op
ponents would paint him. 1t is also as
serted that his satanic majesty is a yer.
good fellow ifyou only keep on the righ
side of him.
John A. Murrill, the great Westerl
land pirate, was not altogether bad. In
deed he possessed some noble traits o
character, as. the sequel will show.
All night long an old man haG sat OIL
the lower point of the island in the Ohio
River just below the falls and the spo
where the city of Louisville now stands
1t was bitter cold, and the surrounding
country was white with snow-as whit.
as the long hair which streamed over tht
aged watchers shoulders, wildly about ii
the cutting wind.
Here and there earth pure carpet was
broken by dark spots, and so it was witt
those venerable locks. They were streak
ed with blood, and frozen drops rested
upon his cheeks. He had been weeping
He did not appear to heed the cold but
sat with his eyes fixed upon the river
which was frozen over, with the excep
ton of a narrow strip just below the
rushing waters.
. AS daylight began to dawn, the ole
man arose from his seat, and giving vent
to deep groan, he wended his way with
stifened limbs,to the opposite side of the
island, and from thence over the ice to
the Kentucky shore. Nor did he pause
here, but kept on up the bluffs, until he
paused before spot where cabin had
evidently stood; but it was only mass
of smouldering embers nov.
Scarcely had he arrived before sec
ond party came up and, for some mo-
ments, gazed in silence on that picture o.
sorrow. Then he asked
"Good father, what is the meaning O.
this 2"
The old man turned and gazed upor
the stranger for moment before reply
ing, and then slowly answered:
80, sir, it means that / have lost all il
this world, and am ready to die.s'
"The Indians have been here?"
"Yes-yes."
"And murdered your family 7"
"No-not murdered. Worse thar
thatp'
allow could it be worse 2"
81 will tell you sir. Last spring. ever
before our crops were in the ground, my
son died. 1t was bitter blow to me, as
well as to his wife and daughter. Bu
they comforted me, and with their help
we raised nearly the usual amount oi
farm products, and were living comfort
ably, if not happily. But last night the
savages came They shed no blood, but
they carried away my daughter Lucy and
my grandchild Mary"
"You opposed them ?" asked the stran
ger.
"Yes, fought, but they only laughed
at me, the monsters
ssBut you are wounded?i n
"Only slightly. / don't mind that
sirn'
sIn which direction did the savages
go with their captlyes Z!
ssAcross the river. I tried to follow
my old limbs refused to support me, and
so Ihave watched for hours the spot
where I last saw them.''
81 almost fear to harbor the thoughts
which came to me.
"Speak out"
ssWell, sir, am almost inclined to be.
Iieve that these Indians were but hired
murderers of Murrill, and that they have
taken them to the pirates cave. 0, they
are forever lost if that is true, for that
bloody man Is stranger to mercy. He
has no heart"
'Is that the opinion you entertain Of
Murrill?" ?"
"Alas !! yes"
"Old man, what is your name ?"
"John Seymour"
We'll, Mr.. Seymour, ! am John A.
MWrill =
my Godw cried the old man starting