Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-04-27
templated out Of Wall street.

10 the JOINT execution of some four or
five gentlemen of burglarious habits
among them my model sergeant-but
he. with true nobility of soul. had re-
solved to prevent the dissensions that
would probably arise from the division
Of the spoil by anticipating their ar
rival in the land of promise, and, as he
expressed it, taking the whole pile"
And that" said he glancing with
| disgust at the tunc he was altering to
fit his burly figure, sis the reason you
see me talked out in these here toys"
On the same principle, suppose,
that the old Indian braves used to
stimulate their children to future deeds
of heroism and embarrassing" by mar.
rating to them the exploits of the
former warriors of their tribe, Mr..
Baxter sought to increase the ardor
for housc-breaking with which it had
pleased his fancy TO invest me by tell
ing Inc of his past achievements
do you remember" said he. "when
the D mail was robbed of eco, 900
IN specie" Twas | that did it. Sew
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 rs Baron Rothschild drinks, at
seyen.andIkcnty shillings bottle,
for the guard. it cost US tidy lot be-
fors'we landed. Ny pal he got seven
years, he did" he added, rehectively
but suddenly remembering that the
sinister fate OF his former associate
might have depressing influence On
my budding enthusiasm, he hastily
added. But he was = fool-hc was"
With Machiaveiian subtlctv the
worthy nOn-commissioned officer al
lowed the no time To reflect whether
the folly Of the gentleman on whom
misfortune had fallen dill not primarily
consist in becoming the comrade Of so
desperate and skillful villain as him
self, but plunged anew int anecdotc
Twas l." he said proudly, VINO dis
covered how 10 split the Bank of Eng
land notes bv placing them between
steel plates covered with a strong
cement, 10 which each surface Of the !
note adhered so that each half formed |
a perfect note. almost imperceptibly |
thinner than the eutire one. | should /
have made u fortune them" he sighed, !
"oulv, while | was passing the notes |
nf k,. a ~
more, at Tattersalls, my partner he
went ami rounded on me, he did
Did you ever commit mur- That
asked him one day.
Never but once" said he land
that was in self-defense. had crack
ci CRIB, alone, up on Sixth Avenue,
near the Central PARK, and | was max
ing u.v way down toward the river,
with basket with the swaI in it ON nv
arm, when | came full-hutt on To n
policemen. His revolver was out in
moment, but was as quick as himself
and as his bullet whlstled through my
hat, mine went right through his brain.
! heard attcrward that he was the best
shot in the force but on that night, his
own revolver being out of order, he had
borrowed that of 4 brother officer,
which he threw little high, and he
was not aware OF it, or shouldn't be
here now telling you my adventures
Ill.
Thus the voyage passed away, each
dav leaving me more astonished ut the
extraordinary mixture of good and evil
in this mans character. But for the
sucrl fumes | really think he might
have been respectable member Of
society. He never gam5led or quar-
relied, or drank, and seldom ever swore,
but for gold he hungered and thirsted.
lie used To dream of it all night, he
told me, and BY day certainly his only
theme was gold and its acquisition.
On this point am sure he was u mon
onaniac. 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 nervously twisting in
his strong, sinewy fingers great
twenty-dollar gold piece. which l aln
sure no privations would have induced
him to change But to the very last
moment of his lfe-for | regret TO say
that poor Mr.. Baxter. as YOU will hear,
..died in shoes property was
sacred in his eyes. When my watch
was appropriated by one of the eh-
lightened patriots under my command,
they had very rough time of it be-
tween-deck until my indignant sergeant
recovered the missing property. but
gave the unlucky thief such practical
homilv on the tenth commandment as
am sure he never forgot; and when
subsequently, our privations rendered
the men SO desperate that they stole
and fought for each others food, my
ration always remained intact in the
watchful care of poor Jonas Baxter.
am not writing history of the
Revolution, SO l will pass over all the
details of my campaigning in the island
merely remarking that the men proved
amenable to no discipline, and that
they fought independently, as only
reckless, desperate men, Injured to
bloodshed and the sight OF death In
every form, could fight. AS for Jonas
Baxter, he was host in himself.
Every days march brought him near
the goal for which he painted. His
precious tools. was well aware. were
concealed in his knapsack; and when
he pillowed his head upon it at night,
woe betide the man vino should at,
tempt to deprive him OF one of those
aids to boundess wealth. But, alas,
"Tne best-lAid schemss OF mice and usn
Gang aft agiee."
. Mr.. Baxter did reach P, and sc
. did but it was as prisoners OF war
, taken in arms against the Spanlsf
, government, and with a pretty acute
3 PERCEPTION that scaRt courtesy from ou
, captors would be afforded US.
| We were lodged with other prisoner