The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-07-28
The Romanoe OF cr,mo.

Tho Romance of Crino.
Last week there occurred in Bullitt
County strange affair, which is as vet
unsolved in its particulars, but which
was one OF those very peculiar transac-
tions that seem to have no motive, A
widow lady, with daughter some
eighteen years Of age, lived near Mount
Washington. They were without male
protectors, and lived quietly and &C.
curely. One day the old lady received
some SIS. 900 in payment of an old nc
count, and locked it up in her trunk.
The night following was dark and
gloomy, nnd one that would cause peo-
pie naturally to bar and lock doors and
windows, and cause one to hesitate to
open them to stranger. Toward night
on old, bent-up, decrepit man, came to
the door, and on it being opened, asked
for shelter for the night. The widow
told him she was alone, with no mon
folks about the house, and she disliked
to take stranger under her roof The
ola man said he was stranger, poor,
decreplt, and destitute, aud only asked
tor shelter from the approaching night.
Ine lady acceded to his request, and
III due time he was shown to his room
upstairs The night grew darker out
were preparing to retire, when q heavy
knock came upon the door, and voices
OF men outside were heard demanding
admittance in threatening tones. Terri.
tied, knowing the danger of possessing
such large sum Of money, the widow
concluded that the parties outside were
contederates OF the man to whom she
had given shelter. Acting upon this
suspicion, with trembling limbs, she
ran up-stalrs, and locked the door of the
suspicious stranger. Returning down
stairs she heard the blow Of m axe on
ne door, and as she reached the foot of
the stairs encountered tho man she sup
posed she had locked safely in the room.
No longer decrepit. bent and feeble. the
stranger stood upright aud assumed
stalwart proportions. The gray hair,
the trembling voice, had gone, and in
stead was man of powerful build and
determined mien. Believing that MI
was lost, the widow exclaimed, "You
know what I've got; I'll give it up!"
The stranger, instead of acceding to
the terrified woman's offer, replied,
Don't annoy me; go into your room,
ana LII protect you" He held in his
hand rifle he had taken from the rack,
and ms the blows of the assalant's axe
fell fast upon the door, pushed the
widow into her room. The door gave
way, and the first man that entered was
shot by the stranger, who grasped tho
failing body and pulled it inside the
door. He then pulled the door wide
open and fired again, killing another of
the assailants. The party turned to fly,
and another of their party received n
shot from the valiant stranger. The
attacking party having fled, the door
was secured, aud the afirighted inmates
took occasion to examine the features Of
the dead robber, who proved to be
the son-in-law and neighbor Of the
widow.
In the morning another man was
found leaning over the fence, with his
arms thrown over tho rails, dead.
Mortally wounded, his failing strength
had carried him to the fence, where, in
supporting himself, he had died
The stranger gave himself up to a
magistrate, who examined into the case,
the stranger refusing to give either his
name, place of residence, or the nature
of his business. The magistrate ordered
his discharge, and the mysterious
stranger departed. Who he was, why
he assumed the disguise he did on that
night, what WAS the nature of his bust
ness, or whittier he went, is mystery
not yet explained, and comment would
be snperfluous. s.-LouiSrWe Commercial.
From the year 1862 to 1867, according
to recent publication, 1,26S people
were killed, and 4,426 wounded by rail
way accidents.
In this world, kings "rule the roast."
In the next, roasting the rulers" is in
order. Thus one good turn deserves
another.