Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-09-27

liked because of Grctchens prefer
ence, and my partners, do koubt, We're
willing to have my share of the claim
to divide among them; so | was tried
and condemned to be hanged in less
than an hour of the old man s accu-
sation, by lynch jury. l was allow
ed two hours to prepare for death
and then taken to the nearest tree, |
was jerked by dozen willing hands
into the air. But before. strangulation
ensued l fell to the ground with a
thump. Gretchen had not been idle.
Her entreaties brought an opposition
crowd to my assistance, and, though
they permitted me to be jerked in the
air Just to see how it looked, they
would not allow things to 80 any fur
ther, in fact they squarely expressed
their opinion that the Dutchman had
lied. The tide turned in my favor,
and | believe the old william would
have been burned in his shanty but
for my intcrcession and his daughters
tears. Gretchen Tilted me, neverthe-
less, shortly alterward, and, as | had
next to no luck in my search for dia-
mondp, l left the fields again for Cape
Town, this time with only two or
three hundred pounds in my pocket.
| found letter awaiting me at the
post office, from friend in Falmouth,
telling me my father was dying
FOURTH AND LAST HANGING.
After again enduring the miseries
of sea voyage, | arrived in England
only to find my father dead and bur
led. lie left me small sum Of mon
ey and his business. There was no
peace for Inc in my native city, how
ever, blood was on my hands and
GOODNESS met me on all sides. sold
my fathers effects at public auction,
and journeyed to London, where my
identity was soon lost among the
many millions. But the brand OF
Cain followed me. [ tried several
kinds of business and employment
but no luck was mine. | took to
drink again, and Il fight with a po-
liceman landed me once more in a
prison cell. was committed to hard
laber for fourteen days. Despair
seized me. twisted a rope out OF
the strands | was given to convert
into oakum, made moose for my
neck, secured the other end to the
bars Of the window, kicked away the
stool and lost consciousness. To my
dying day | shall remember the SEN
sations of my last hanging. | was
transported to Il beaut iful paradise Of
meadows and flowers, where lovely
forms Of children greeted me and de-
licious music sounded in my ears. 1t
SCENE to last for an age, but it could
only have been lapse Of few mo-
ments, for gruff voices succeeded the
delicious music and the faces of the
angelic children faded into the stern
features of a pair of prison wardens,
who cut rae down just in time. | was
sentenced to three months longer for
the attempt at self destruction and
watched night and day to prevent
repetition. I had, however, no wish
to end my life again; on the contrary,
the desire for new scenes and fresh
adventure was full on me when my
release from prison arrived. | still
possessed a little money, so | pur-
chased ticket for Colorado and |
leave England, l suppose forever, to-
morrow. The anticipation of the sea
voyage tries me terribly this time. !
will never make another journey by
ocean; of that | am determined. I'M
the far West. with a new name, new
associations and a clean shave, for ]
am younger than look, providence
may yet send me happiness and for
tune.
1 was very interested in my new
acquaintance, continued Captain
Burton, and | offered him letters to
friends of my own il California; but
he would not accept them, and, after
some general talk, he left me. The
next day the Allen Liner sailed and
Watts waved his hat to me from the
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