The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-04-13

larious habits-among them my model
sergeant-but he, with true nobility oi
soul, had resolved to prevent the dissen-
sions that would probably arise from the
division OF the spoil by anticipating
their arrival in the land Of promise, and
as he expressed it, taking the whole
pile"
"And that" said he glancing with
disgust at the tunic he was altering to
fit his burly figure, " is the reason you
see me faxed out in these here togs."
On the same principle, I suppose, that
the old Indian braves used to stimulate
their children to future deeds of heroism
and Embarrassing by narrating to them
the exploits OF the former warriors OF
their tribe, Mr.. Baxter sought to in
crease the ardor for house-breaking with
which it had pleased his fancy to invest
me by telling me Of his past achieve
| ments.
"Do you remember" said he, "when
the D. mail was robbed of 100000
in specie?" Twas that did it. Sew
enty-four times did travel down first
class by that very train from Victoria
Station before got the chance wanted.
There were four of us in it; and very
few more journeys would have broke us !;
for what with railway fares, cigars from
Pontets, and brandy, such as Baron
| Rothschild drinks, at seven-and-twenty
shillings bottle, for the guard, it cost
us tidy lot before we landed. My pal
he got seven years, he did," he added,
refectively; but suddenly remembering
that the sinister fate of his former as
sociate might have depressing influence
on my budding enthusiasm, he hastily
added, "But he was fool-he was"
With Machiavelian subtlety the worthy
non-commissioned officer allowed me no
time to reflect whether the folly of the
gentleman on whom misfortune had fal.
len did not primarily consist in becom-
ing the comrade of SO desperate and
skillful villain as himself, but plunged
anew into anecdote.
"'Twas l." he said proudly, who dis
covered how to split the Bank of Eng
land notes by placing them between
to which each surface of the note ad-
hered so that each half formed per-
feet note, almost imperceptibly thinner
than the entire one. Ishould have made
fortune then" he sighed, "only, while
l was passing the notes at the rate of
el0O day, and often more, at latter
sails, my partner he went and rounded
on me, he did"
odd you ever commit mur- That
is, did you ever take human life :" l
asked him one day.
Never but once" said he; "and that
was in self-defense. 1 had cracked a
crib, alone, up on Sixth Avenue, near
the Central Park, and 1 was making my
way down toward the river, with a
basket with the swag in it on my arm,
when came full-butt on to policemen.
His revolver was out in moment, but
l was as quick as himself; and as his
bullet whistled through my hat, mine
went right through his brain. l heard
afterward that he was the best shot in
the force; but on that night, his own
revolver being out of order, he had bor-
rowed that of a brother officer, which
he threw little high, and he was not |
aware of it, or shouldn't be here now
telling you my adventures"
Thus the voyage passed away, each
day leaving Inc more astonished at the |
in this mans character. But for the
sacra flames I really think he might have
been respectable member of society.
He never gambled, or quarreled, or
drank, and seldom ever swore but for
gold he hungered and thirsted. He used
to dream of 1t all night, he told me, and
oy day certainly his only theme was gold
and its acquisition. On this point l am
sure he was a monomaniac. For the
paper currency of the United States, he
had the greatest contempt. The yellow
metal itself was his darling and even
while conversing he would keep nervous
y twisting in his strong, sinewy fingers
! great twenty-dollar gold piece, which 1
lm sure no privations would have in
luced him to change. But to the very
asst moment of his life-for / regret to
ay tnat poor Mr.. Baxter, as you will
lear, " died in shoes my property was
acred in his eyes. When my watch was
ppropriated by one of the enlighten-
d patriots under my command, they
lad very rough time of it between-deck
lntil my indignant sergeant recovered
he missing property, but gave the un-
ucky thief such a practical hemily on
he tenth commandment as am sure he
ever forgot; and when subsequently
ur privations rendered the men SO des-
crate that they stole and fought for
ach others food, my ration always re-
lained intact in the watchful care of !
oor Jonas Baxter. .... .. .. t
l am not writing history Of the Revo-
ltion, so L will pass over all the details S
{ my campaigning in the island, mere
7 remarking that the men proved /
to no discipline, and that q
ley fought Independently, as only {
eckless, desperate men, Injured to q
loodshed and the sight of death in
very form, could fight. As for Jonas c
axter, he was host in himself. Every c
ay's march brought him near the goal
'r which he painted. His precions tools, I
was well aware, were concealed in his G
napsaek; and when he pillowed his L
cad upon it at night, woe betide the C
an who should attempt to deprive him a
one of those aids to boundless wealth. /
ut, alas, N -t o
" The best-laid schemes Of mice and men :
Gang aft aglee." .......
r. Baxter did reach p, and so did \
but it was as prisoners of war, taken a
arms against the Spanish government, 81
I'd with a pretty acute perception that I
ant courtesy from our captors would a
afforded US. r- .-I .,l 1i11zl u S,
We were lodged with other prisoners /,
large cell in the town Jail, which Il