New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-30

think: but if he should We must either die
pose Of him or leave these quarters" sxid
one of the gang, who seemed to be an ac-
kuowledged leader.
"but if We leave this place we will hardly
find one that cults NE so we'll Better make
way with him if he gets TO be-"
What more he said co not know. tor at
tina. moment l was conscious OF some one
behind me, and The next b violent blow
sent NE to the earth. and tor few minutes
! was unconscious Of what was passing
about me.
The first words ] heard ae l came to my
self were these:
Let's put him into this empty coffin and
nail him up. They'll never think Of looking
for bin there"
Yes. that's good project, and if they
delay in finding hlm, it will give US the
more time to get of. 1t was lucky for us,
Jim, that You were little late
"Yes, devilish lucky; but let's put the old
fellow in, for va must be out of here as
soon as possible
tried TO speak, but strive 40 l would !
could not raise my voice to whisper.
Tie demons about me would bury me
alive, and could net utter word ter my
life.
Two Of them took hold Of ne and dropped
me into the coffin they bad placed by NY
move or speak
"I1's lust a tir," heard one Of the villains
saw. Now for the lid
Itwas placed on, and nail or two driven
into the decayed wood. Then felt myself
lifted up and placed on the top Of the pile
beside them.
Cry ont could not. was buried alive.
Now, boye, let re secure what We have
got, and then get cut Of this Gen as soon as
possible" said the leader Of the gang.
Pack everything up. 50 that those who
cone here il search shall SIC nothing to at
tract their attention
There was T. SOUND Of people moving hur
riedly about ne Tor few minutes, and
then all at once they were as silent as the
grave. The next moment cry OF alarm
rang out, and voice shouted:
Through the church, We are disccv-
cred"
There WAS sound CT many feet, and the
report o1 pistol.
heard d cry from one of the gang. Too
late; we are surrounded and then cry
tor quarter, and knew ty the voices and
the trampling Vt feet that the vault was
full OF police.
/ was sitting in the old musty coffin, and
struggled to free myself. In my efforts,
as returning strength came back, the cotin
in which was enclosed slipped and came
tOppling down among the group beside
me. aud bursting, LETT me struggling at
their feet.
The policeman started back in alright,
but glance at me and a few words man
aged to utter treasured then, and they
gathered round, eager to hear how came
in that situation. told my story in q few
worde, and with a thankful heart that l
had become restored to consciousness sui
ficiently soon to escape before they TOOK
their prisoners away.
A portion of the money and tools was
found lying upon the tables and the rest
was hidden in the cotiins that had been
emptied Of their con tents for that purpose.
for q like purpose.
The counterfeiters were marched away to
the lookup, and from the chief of the police
l learned how they had arrived SO nppoI-
timely for me as they had done. lmme-
diately back OF the church, in the cellar OF
baker. an entrance CT passage had been
found the day before, ana the baker upon
being arrested, optessed that It led to the
vaults Of the church. and that both passage
and vaults were used by gang OF counter
feiters.
They were 10 meet that night, and. ur-
known to me. he had placed guard con
cealed in the evergreens about the church,
through which portion OF the gang had
entered, through the widow beneath which
had seen the IVY disturbed.
They had sought this means OF entrance,
az at times 1t was impossible for them TO
enter tine vault by the way of the bakers
passage, tor4ear that the police might be
on their track. They knew that | was III
the church. though seeing nothing OF me as
they had entered: half an hour after the
last one lad climbed the wall, they sur
missed that had fallen asleep, and they
were going TO call me as they went. Both
means of exit being cut OFT, they had fallen
an easy prey, and the gang was captured
entire.
The mystery was solved. That morning,
while partaklng of my breakfast, / told tie
history of my nights adventure to my wife
ard Mrs Jones, who gave q cry of horror
when told them that for a time mad &C.
cupied second hand coffin.
That day the vault was arranged az it
was before it was profaned by the presence
of the counterfeiters, and since that no
more ghosts have disturbed the good peo-
pie of our part of the town, or at midnight
walked the aisies of the church.