The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-02-26

the feetness Of deer leaped past the |
soldiers and ran in the direction Of the
maiden and her captors.
Il was Joe Phillips. He had heard
bis sisters sCreau as he returned home
from one Of his rambles in the woods |
and Immediately rushed to her assist
ance. So quick and sudden were bis
movements, and 80 unexpected his ap |
pearance, that ere the soldiers made an
attempt to stop him he had gained his
sisters side, and, sDatching the carbine
from one of the ruffians that guarded
her, dubbed it, and with one blow dash
sssfi oat his brains He fell lifeless to the
earth with groan Without moments
skesitation Joe leaped with the ferocity
ssa saysa tiger on the fallen mans comrade
m. tea t;~ss,< .s-v =, ,,.vsa X 'rhs
!. 1sssSgle was short, fot before his friends
icould come to his assistance he was
strangled in the frantic embrace of the
mailman
Stricken With astonishment at the bold
and desperate deed the captain of the
troopers remained for few moments in
active; but recovering from his surprise
When he saw his comrade so suddenly
stricken down, he shouted in voice
hoarse with passion:
Fire and shoot the cur! Damn you,
why don't you fire?'
The men hesitated, for the poor, be-
wildered girl stood between her brother
and his foes, and they feared to injure
her, as they believed their superior in.
tended to abduct her for his own base
purposes
"Cowards!' be shouted, at the same
time leveling his pistol at his intended
victim. The ball sped on its message,
but the moment he pulled the trigger
Mary Phillips rushed toward her broth.
er, and as she opened her sfms to clasp
him in her embrace, it crashed through
her brain, and she fell corpse at his
feet
Asferce and terrible look darkened the
facsof the idiot as he saw his sister tall
Her murderer stood before him, the
smoke still coming out of the fatal
j weapon he held in his hand With wild
j and savage yell he sprang upon him and
both rolled in deadly embrace on the
ground The Captain was strong and
active man and grappled his antagonist
in his powerful arms. 1t was a struggle
for life and death. and so swift and rapid
were their movements, as they rolled
each other over and over On the ground,
that the troopers were afraid to FIRE lest
they might shoot their officer. For fully
five minutes the desperate struggle last
ed, their struggles bringing them nearer
aud nearer the bank of the river Joe's
hands were frightened on the captain s
throat, his swarthy visage rendered
4 blacker by the strain, his tongue protru.
Il ding aud 1t was evident that his strength
| was exhausted The soldiers perceived
this aud leveled their pieces at the idiot
) WHO, bfeathIess and bIeedi1g. lay on tiis
top of his enemy. Two of them fred,
one ball taking effect in the poor idiots
shoulder. They thought he was killed,
but with desperate and dying effort be
raised the captain in his arms, rushed to
the brink of the cliff, scarcely thee yards
distant, and leaped with his victim into
J the dark abyss beneath.
/ A cry of horror burst from the SOL
diers as they saw them disappear. They
!, gazed upon the waters and beheld the
two mortal enemies still struggling in
the vortex of the current. One move
ment more and both disappeared for.
ever.
A hasty consultation was held among
: the men, and they determined to set FIRE
to the village and hasten to join the msir
body of Tarleton's troopers, who were
in pursuit Of Marion They accordingly
lproceeded to put theif plan into execu
ton One soldier, more vicious than the
rest, had already applied torch to Abt
Phillips dwelling house. The flames
burst out, and as they rose higher will
the evening wind seemed to fill the sol
diers with more savage and diabolica
e fury than they had yet felt. They rush
ed en- masse to the houses with fire an(
torch, and soon everything was given tt
The fsmes. The groans Of the wounded
, were heard among the din, and were re
ceived with savage laughter and cheer
u from the rude vandals assembled there.
But their cheers were of short dura
e ton An svenging angel was on thei
track, and ere the echo of their voice
: had died away volley of musket ball
swept and ratified through their ranks.
=. charge them, boys! Charge 70
, Washington and libertyl" shouted th
J. leader of band Of American troopers
n as they rushed with pistol and sabe
upon the as:onished ranks of the British
But their leader had no need to ure
K them to vengeance. They were upol
n them before the words had died upon h,
8 lips Ten minutes had scarcely elapsed
! since their advent upon the scene; but il
Il that short spare change bad been rude
silly effected The majority Of the Brilisl
were cut, down by the sahers or stricke
y lin death by the unerring bullets of Ma
a rion and his men.
e But the little village of Brainard neve
o recovered from the shock Those of tn
" inhabitants who escaped the carnage em
:, ,Iierated to other and happier places afte
r the Revolution, and the very name Q
the village was forgotten save by thos
q who were connected with its sad associs
n tions. The American wounded wer
q conveyed to the camp of Marion, an,
the bodies of the British flung into th
: river.
|; Mary Phillips was buried on the spo
q where she fell, Marion himself lowerin
her remains into the grave, but the bod
IT les Of the idiot and his victim were neve
1t recovered.
b The Cars Lease of Life
. Chicago Tribune)
It is rur1Iored from St Petersburg tha