The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-28
Gha9nteILiqenten.
HEADING OFF A PHILOSO.
PIER,
How The immortal ~. NJ Reius-
ed Is Martyr when the Golden
Opportunity WAS Present-
ed In Him.

GS2. Tom Young tells a good story Of
how ~. n" the long. nowad OIL
theorising propensities recently "assum'
ed the pressure" and then crawled out
from under II.
The day before the hanging Of Bergir
the Governor was sitting in his Office
very busy with some papers:pertaining &c
the case, when a loud, vigorous knock
shook the door and before IN invitation
TO enter could be given, In came the phil
osoElher, and marching boldly up to the
Exesutive, whom he addressed by Chris
tian bame in familiar manner, he threw
himself into chair, and said:
"Tom, I've come up here TO martyr"
"H0w soP queried the Governor.
II assume the entire pressure" return
ed"J. D." "Throw il all on 10 me. Lei
Bergingo, and have me shut up in hi
place, Thatll fetch 'em-they can't holC
out-must come right square down and
accept lhe truth. It's just the opportu
nifty I've been searching for all thest
years, and can't let her slip. Bergint
4 common mani ain't--let him 90 ant
take my blood for aton0ment. want L
martyr you catch the idea = that
enough. Here l am."
"Nothing would give me more pleas
ure," said the Governor, "but are you il
earnest? Do you really mean IL"
"Do mean it2 You know me vel
enough, Tom Young, 10 know that Ia
always in earnest. Call in your meniall
and have me bound at once. Bring or
your chains, and send word to the report
ers. Pile the pressure all on me-eyer!
Bit of It'll assume Il all"
"All right" said the Governor, with AZ
impressive voice, you shall be accommo-
dated. Get ready to die tomorrow at l:
o'clock"
A messenger was then sent out to bring
in the judge 10 prepare the necessary
papers for making the desired change il
The proceedings. In few minutes Jus
tice OF the Peace, who had been posted
was brought in and introduced as the
"Judge." He expostulated with ~. N,
and endeavored with we'll simulated emo
ton 10 persuade him from his rash pur-
pose, but the "Immortal" wouldn't budg,
u peg from his firm resolve. He had CONT
to martyr, and he'd do ii, il 1t killed him
that's the kind Of a philosopher he was.
So with groans and signs and watery
eyes, the "Judge" went ahead and filled
out the documents. Everything was noV
ready, and the formalities all completed
except the signature Of" NJ" to the pa
per. By this time the old fellow was pref
ty thoroughly convinced that the pro
ceedings meant business in earnest ant
he became yisibly nervous and i'll at ease
"Sign your name" said the officer
sternly, "aud then you can go at once Il
your quarters in the dungeon, and a cler
Rymam will DO sent to you"
n want it distinctly understood" re
marked the martyr, rising, II don't wan
to be hung-I want TO be shot,"
"You shall be-" said the Governor, ito
morrow, at noon'
"Hold on, now, Governor" said the
now thoroughly frightened philosopher
with blanched cheek, that's hurrying the
cattle little too much-I didn't think
you'd be that rash. Before l sigu tina
paper I want respite for thirty days, II
wash up and get ready"
"You can't have 1t. The time set fol
the obsequies cannot be postponed" sail
the Governor.
aThen III be darned il I'll martyr a
all, and Bergin can fill his own appoint
meut. I won't DO snapped OF this wa,
without any time to get my last word
ready, and write out few interviews 10
the press. That wouldn't do the cause
particle OF good, and Pm working for III
cause. l didn't expect to make a cen
out OF this thing myself, and so throw
up and back down. You can tear then
papers up; I won't sign 'em at al, an,
The philosopher bolted from the room
and left the city with more precipitation
than he had ever done before.