The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-11-23
A Singular Confession,

OF the burning of the pavilion at Ter
race Springs, Napa. After saying he
set fire to the building to obtain the in
surance, $3.50, he says:
''Now, who could do such deed
such wrong deedP one who has al
ready reached the evening of life, proba-
bly, not distant far from the very hour
when night completely and forever
shrouds the earthly form-.one who thus
during almost three score years has
never been accused Of any act offensive
70 the lawP How could do such deed
one who from the early days of student
life steadily walked In the paths of sci
ence, literature and even art, the itera-
ture OF all nations, ancient and modern,
the vernacula1 of Vhich he practically
knows and speaksP How could do such
deed one with such attainments, such
Gulture-one who ever since he in the
tog of battle had torn from him limb,
returnable to mother earth, when be-
longing to a medical staff some twenty
six years ago; who ever since, say,
became an able lecturer, q most able in
structor, and as such active and SUCCESS
ful, moro than twenty years in the pri-
vate high schools of this State, such as
the old College of California, (now the
Department of Letters in the State Uni
versity,) the defunct Female College of
the Pacific, the Mills Seminary, ETC.,
and during his residence in this town,
in the Collegiate Institute, the Ladies'
Seminary, and Oak Mound Academy.
(Alasi that instead of myself another
were to state all this as has in the past
been done, when, indeed, not needed !;
my seemingly, and under ali other cir
cumstances truly immodest self-lauding,
admitting of no other spology but my
being confined behind prison bars, lone
and severed from friends and the world,
no one having as yet been able to raise
voice in nv behalf) How then, in fine,
could do that wrongful deed one who
was always known-latest in this very
town-to be q man exemplary in his
habit, religious even, in harmony, how
ever, with the advanced and enlightened
convictions of the times; an ever faithful
husband. good and solicitous father,
who purest happiness found at home
alone; one punctual in his professional
duties, ever industrious and persevering,
affable and honest in all his dealings.
How thenP How in the name of all
that's good and truep How could such
" oilC w SuCh uC0uE "A uccu most
wrong and most ccndemnable! What
could make it possible, not excusable
Despairl Despair! Despair unuttera-
BILE! Despair unknown! Despair not
fully understood even by his own fam.
lily I recoiled, wrongfully
recoiled, and as wrongfully conceived
that by rich insurance company the
loss of a few hundred dollars would not
be felt. can. The condemnable deed
was done Yet when the flames sur
rounded the massive structure, although
unoccupied and uninhabited, when the
flames chased darkness, illumining sky
and distant horizon all around, pangs
of conscience almost overpowered me.
hastened from the scene. On the fol
lowing day had to, and did, publicly
dilate, not with my usual enthusiasm in
deed, on "Beauties of Modern Litera-
ture," English, German, French, Span
ish and Italian. comparatively with these
in the language of the ancients. To.
day, in the solitude of my barred cell, l
inwardly dilate on the prospective hor-
ror and privations of state prison,
with sufferings heightened by the cease
less pangs of bitterest remorse. SIC
seneper .jatstitta! Yet might not, with
general weighty condemnation, ,one wee,
light grain of pity minglep"-San E'a's-
cisco CALL.