New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-06

grateful to HIM Tor assistance Burton toll
them to stop their talk and he would lie
them know what he would do with ther
after he had smoked pipe Drawing hi
pipe from his pocket, he slowly white,
some tobacco from hard twist and file,
the bowl.
Thomas, who was at his right hand
reached out and. raising the heavy irol
poker IN his hand, poked an ember out o
the fire for him TO light his pipe with. Bur
ton stopped down to put it in the bowl
when Thomas, with the spring of panther
gained his feet and dealt the rutfian fear
ful blow across the back of his head witt
the poker. His companion at the same in
slant grasped the muzZle OF the rifle anC
snatched it from his lap. Burton pitched
forward on the hearth, but, although stun
ned, still endeavOred to clutch at his rifle
stock. Thomas had no intention of allow
ing his advantage to slip from him, and
while Burton was still on his hands and
knees, sprung on his back, and using both
hands showered blow after blow upon his
head, crushing his skull in at almost every
stroke. When satisfied at last that
| the wretch was dead, Thomas dropped
| the poker, and the two men, complete
! Iy unnerved with the terrible struggle.
| laughed Historically. The woman, who
was terrified spectator of the scene. and
! who had, after the first blow, wrung her
| hands and cried, Fer Gods sake don't let
! him get up or we are all lost" fell to rhe
floor in dead faint. The soldiers dashed
| part of the contents of the water bucket
|. over her, and soon restored her to con-
sclousness They then took Burton's rifle
and sldearms and started for the camp,
leaving the body on the hearth. They had
proceeded but about a quarter of a mile
when they heard a woman scream and.
turning, saw her beckoning them to return,
NOV rl,r,+ rl,r j II
back and saw the most horrible sight they
had ever witnessed. Burton, whom they
had supposed dead, still had a spark of life
III his ugly body, and after they left had
gained his hands andknees and endeayored
to crawl away.
His eyes were pounded from the sockets.
and, as his head was beaton to Jelly, he Of
course knew nothing, although he had
CROPPED around until he had found the door
and on his hands and knees was crawling
away over the dead grass.
Thomas and his companion gazed on the
Dlood-curdling spectacle moment, and
then selling the ak at the wood pile hewed
the head from the trunk, and, anxious to
get away from the spot, dropped the
weapons, and still bearing the CORY head
ran toward their camp. They reached il
in about two hours time, and, exhibiting
the head, related the story to their Colonel.
Several OF the soldiers recognized the head
as that of Burton, and the Two men had
no difficulty in obtaining the reward,
Their exploit made them heroes in the ewes
OF the people in that portion of the coun-
try, and 1t was principally owing to his re-
putation and the start in life obtained
through the reward that Thomas afterWard
married the daughter of the Colonel of his
regiment. He is now living in the south |
ern part of this State and, with modest |
competence and a charming family. is as |
happy as he could desire to be. Even at |
this day he is disinclined to speak of his |
adventure, and shudders involuntariIy |
when the subject is alluded to. What be |
came Of his companion our informant was
unable to state.
Thomas, accompanied by some soldiers
rom his company, and under the guidance
i the boy who had summoned Burton for
hem, visited the robbers cave a day or two
after the adventure, and. there found
afge pile u arms OF all descriptions, num-
)er OF watches, quite a large sum Of money.
md over fifty suits of clothes the monster
lad stripped from the bodies of his victims.
In the breast of almost every coat was
ound bullet hole; and in the heaDs Of
fhe Southern gray and North
m blue We're Unfortunately piled.
shat became of the plumber is n0s
lear. but it probably fell to Thomas
nd his friend. Both men afterward re-
retted that they left the rifle of the assas-
IN IN the cabin, as it was not to be found
1hen they returned and looked for it. They
olemn1y declared that the stock contained
row OF notches, reaching from the breech
the 4nuzzlee and that Burton told them
nat every notch represented life he had
tken, and that two more would be added
1r their own, unless be felt an unusual
enerosity and allowed them to live.
With the exception of brief mention
lade OF the affair at the time by an army
this almost incredible story
as never published. That the details given
ooVe are true in every particular tie sur
linois Cavalry will readily attest,