The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-11-24

mAfcDeO across the SATu 10 SHc psaIe "
execution. Here he stood M like
man who had nerved himself to NEE
his death without flinching; and, as ht
braced himself against the mud wall IN
the corner, his calmness extorted
admiration from the gaolers. We could
hear what was said for we had now
of the wall, on the outside, where we
were making our preparations entirely
unobserved, the whole of the attention
Of the spectators being engrossed 10y
what was going forward inside.
Sunrise was the time fixed for the
execution to take place; but, with a
refinement of cruelty worthy Of Peruri-
ans, he had been brought out and led
his post All hour before that time. This
circumstance, however, was favorable
for our project, as it was now just on
the morning, between day break and
full daylight. The Cholo officer and
his file of men withdrew to the other
side Of the yard, after having set poor
Tom up for II target, as one might say.
The firing party hid not yet come on
the ground, and now was our time.
The wall at the angle where the con-
| demned man stood was about nine feet
high, so that his guards had no fear OF
his being able to climb it, when they
fell back and left him there; but they
little dreamed what was going on on the
other side Of it. We were able to com
municate in low tones through u chink
and Tom, watching a favorable oppor-
tunity, gave the word in whisper,
Now"
At the signal, the rope, with bowiine
knot of suitable size ready tied at the
end, was tossed silently over the wall.
In the dusky morning twilight, this
operation could not be seen by either
the soldiers or the spectators who had
gathered at the opposite side Of the
Enclosure. Tom, whose hands had been
left free at his request, in Difference,
perhaps, to his courageous bearing,
slipped the bowline over his body; and
placing himselfina "boatswuin's $ chair, "
he gave the signal by Il slight jerk.
Our whole souls, as may be supposed
were in the muscles Of our arms, and
his slight jerk responded to 10y one that
lifted him into the air as if he had been
a child. His hands grasped the top OF
the WALL and quicker than II flash, il
seemed, he was over, and among his
shipmates.
"Curambo ?" was the exclamation oI
the guards, rs they saw his form gains,
| the sky.
stupid half breeds as they were, they
rushed to the spot to assure themselves
that he had really gone-theu rushed
back again. But meanwhile, the wore,
had spread among the lockers ON, aud
many were ahead Of the soldiers in tn.
pursuit AS they had considerable
circuit to make before they could eve,
see the scene ofour late operations, we
had time for good start, and made tia.
most of 1t. We made straight for oul
boat, which we had taken care to have
all ready for a start Oh the instant, the
oars being "peakeu' in the rowlockS
and boy left in her to keep her of
from the landing place. He did hi'
duty like ali the rest; aud each man
dropping upon his own thwart as he
arrived, a vigorous shove sent her wei
under headway before the bowling
crowd reached the waterside.
"Give way, lads!' said the secont
mate, Wild with excitement.
1.-The captain will have to give me W
again, If you take me aboard said the
condemned man.
! mot he! The foretopsail Is looset
now, and he got his clearance paper'
last night. Wen be under way fol
home before these Cholos get their eye'
fairly open!'
The firing platoon at this m6nien
turned a corner coming at double
quick pace. They rushed, all out o
breath, down the pier and brought thei
muskets to ready" ut the order of 1
little DeWnlSkeFru oi1cei, WI'Se N'i''
Jerking out Spanish oaths, seemed th'
most formidable part of him.
But we had already safe ofling, ant
their bullets ratified harmlessly in tn
water, on either side OF us. Severa
other spattering shots followed, bu
equally impotent as the first ones.
The Marion was already casting he
head seaward when We shot alongside
and as the headyards were braced full
she gathered rapid headway. Neve
was canvass handled quicker in maxim
sail than it was that morning by IL
J Two or three boats We're seen to pus
out in pursuit; but they might as We
have saved their labor, aud given up til
chase as soon as the sun showed a! wins
rate we were leaving them aserrn.
That was the nearest that ever | cam
: to running away from ship, for, yo
NAV be sure, the lesson was not lost vi
on me. | think Tom BabsoD alwaS
gave the whole Spanish Main bert
afterward. He would not even vcntul
f round the western Horn again, b'
> shipped for an Indian voyage as soon