Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-10-22
STORY OF GRISELL COCHRANE.

SIOkI VI GhlSELL CVOhhANE'
The Cochranes are an old family IN
Scotland. They rose to distinction In
the fifteenth century, and have Always
peen remarkable for courage and inge-
nuity Sir William Cochrane was ele-
waited to the peerage as Baron Cochrane
in 1647, and advanced to the dignity of
Earl of Dundonald in 1869. His grand
son was Sir John Cochrane, of Ochiltree,
who. along with Sir Patrick Hume, of
Polwarth, was concerned in the political
troubles which, in the reign OF James IL,
brought ruin on the Stuart dynasty.
While Hume was so fortunate as to
escape abroad, Cochrane was taken pris-
oner in the rising under the Earl OF
Argyle, and, being conducted to Edin-
burgh, was ANONYMOUSLY lodged in the
Tolbooth on the Sd of July, 1855 there
to await his trial as traitor. The day
of trial came, and as a matter of course,
he was condemned 10 death.
Sir John Cochrane was married, and
had family of several sons, and at least
one daughter, Grisell about eighteen
years Of age.
While lying under sentence OF death in
that gloomy Tolbooth Sir John Cochrane
was permitted to see members of his
family. Afraid, however, of duplicating
his sons, he forbade them to visit him
until they could take last farewell on
the night previous to his execution. His
daughter, however, was allowed to come
as often and stay with him as long as she
pleased. The chief subject of their con-
versation was an appeal made to the
King for mercy. Although several
friends interested themselves in trying to
procure a remission of the sentence, there
were no sanguine expectations that they
would be successful. AS the time wore
on Grisells fears increased to intensity;
and without explaining herself to any
one she resolved to make bold attempt
to postpone her fathers fate, if not to
save him. A short time before the death.
warrant was expected by the Privy Coun-
Gil in Edinburgh she mentioned to her
father that some urgent affair would
prevent her from seeing him again for
few days.
Next morning, long ere the inhabitants
were astir, Grisell was some miles on
her road to the Borders. She had at
tired herself as young serving-woman,
journeying on borrowed horse TO the
house of her mother. So equipped, and
well mounted, she on the second day
reached in safety the abode of her old
hurst, WHO lIFGu Ou luC IHSllSH SluC VI tuS
Tweed, four miles beyond the town of
Berwick. In this woman she knew she
could place implicit confidence, and to
her, therefore, she revealed her secret.
She had resolved, she said, to make an
attempt to save her fathers life by stop
ping the postman, an equestrian like her
SCI, and forcing him to deliver up his
bags, in which she expected to find the
fatal warrant In pursuance OF this de-
sign she had brought with her brace OF
small pistols, together with horseman's
cloak, tied up in bundle, and hung on
the crutch of her saddle, and now bor-
rowed from her nurse the attire OF her
brother, which, as he was slight
made lad, fitted her reasonably we'll
At that period all those appliances
which at this day accelerate the progress
OF the traveller were unknown, and the
mail from London, which now arrives in
less than twelve hours, took eight days
in reaching the Scottish capital. Miss
Cochrane thus calculated on delay of
sixteen or seventeen days in the execu-
ton of her fathers sentence-a space OF
time which she deemed amply sufficient
to give fair trial to the treaty set on
foot for his liberation. She had, by
means which it is unnecessary here to
detail, possessed herself of the most
minute information with regard to the
places at which the pestnien rested on
their Journey, one OF which was small
public-house kept by widow on the
outskirts of the little town of Bel
ford. There the man who received
the bag at Durham was accRs-
toned to arrive about six o'clock in
the morning. and take a few hours re-
pose before proceeding farther on his
journey She arrived at this inn about
an hour after the man had composed
himself to sleep. Having put her horse
into the stable-which was duty that
devolved on the guests at this little pub
lic-house, from its mistress having no
hostler-she entered the only apartment
which the house afforded, and demanded
some refreshment. Sit down at the
end of that table" said the old woman,
9 for the best j have to give you is there
already; and be pleased, my bonny man
to make as little noise as you can, for
there's ane asleep in that bed that like
i'll to disturb" Miss Cochrane promised
fairly, and after attempting TO eat some
of the viands, which were the remains OF
the sleeping mans meal, she asked Tor
some cold water.
What" SAID the old dame, as she
handedit to her, "ye are water-drink-
er, are ye? It's but an i'll custom for
change house"
liam awMe of that" replied her
guest, and therefore, when in a public