Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-07-22

bank of the river within which my
mother secreted herself and us and
whispered us not to speak or scarcely
breathe.
All around us now were tie screams
and shrieks of women and children
the triumphant and appalling yells Of
savagas, and the occasional reports Of
muskets, as here and there the enemy
shot down fugitive in cold blood.
Shortly after, a .urid glare fell upon
us, and looking out through the bush
es, we saw the flames bursting from
window Of the nearest cabin, and a
group Of dark figures collected around
it.
Oh, merciful God. is there no hope
for u.s. groaned my mother straln;ng
us convuls;vely to her heavng breast.
They will soon see us here, SAID l,
it gets so dreadful light.
My mother shook all over with ma.
ternal anguish, as she added:
And now it is too late to tly-for
the moment we stir from here, we
shall bo exposed to a hundred eyes.
Gracious heaven. she added catching
her breath convulsively, there is a
party coming this way now. Oh,
Godl my poor children, Oh God, my
poor children,
Ny little sister gave a long choking
sigh, and pressed her bloodless face
against my mothers breast az if to
shut ont the sight. | looked and saw
the men advancing straight towards
US. There were five Of them, the
middle one seeming to be forced by
the others.
| do not think they have seen US,
said hurriedly; let us get down into
the water it is better 10 be drowned
than to fall into their hands.
Oh yes gaspcl my mother; any.
thing rather than that. Keep still
nv children while | try the water.
The bank at this + oint WAS provl,
dentiaIly overhanging and the water
not deep and as my mother quickly
and ilently lowered herself into it,
she announced, with an expression Of
heartfelt Joy that | shall never forget
that through the blessing of God We
might yet be saved. She drew Us 81.
lently after her and we all crouched
down under a shelving bank that
completely screened us from the view
Of any one standing on the ground
above; and though by this position
the water came up above our waists,
we only rejoiced that it SO much the
more added to our safety.
The men we had seen approaching
came to the bank Of the river, a few
PAGES below our concealment, and
then a coarse grulf voice said
Here it was John Aikens, under
this very tree you pledged your love
to Margaret Stanley; and | took an
oath then that you should die here,
Mercy, WiIliam-mercy pleaded
a trembling voice. I'm a loyal heart
and you a rebel, replied the other,
and you need mt look for mercy from
him you call a tory. II Margaret
lives, I'll have her, but you shall die
at any rate.
With these words there came a re-
rort Ike that Of a pistol, followed by
a gurgling groan ard the sullen
plunge Of heavy body into the Wa.
ter. could feel a shiver run through
the frame of my delicate mother and
sister, as we all clung together in 81
lent horror at this cold blooded mur.
der-perpetrated. not by savage, but
by man who was akin to him he
slew.
We did not actually gee any more
Of tho cold -blooded atrocities Of thai
terrible night, but we heard them al
around US. Cries, screams, yells and
reports of muskets, still resounded.
By the light Of the now burning
buildings fugitives were constantly
being routed from their places OF
concealment and were then shot, stab
bed or tomahawked quarter be
ing given in any case, and only here
and there one making his escape.
The whole plain and the whole
,t,cteh Of the l.ye: along The plain
VAS scene of atIoolous Duichery
In one case sixteen men were placco