The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-30
THROWING FOR LIFE AND DEATH.
A True Story.

| A True Story.
Written for the Journal by David Ker Copyrighted.
| poor young fellers Will they really kill em
bothg"
mo help for it, Jack-the kings orders is
strict, you know Why, heerd one o the hoff-
GERS say just that it was VERY kind Of him
| TO let em be shot instead of hangin' EN-"
| "Well, it does seem ard, anyhow. There
| amt two smarter lads than them in our COM
| pany-no, nor in the whole regiment, neither. if
| it comes to that"
So the stout English grenadiers muttered to
each other as they stood ranged in long scarlet
lines around the wide. bare space of open ground
in which two of their comrades were to die
William III, with his English and Dutch sol
diers. was at death grips with the French army
| in Flanders, and the strictest orders had been
| issued against plundering by the chiefs of the
allied forces For breach of those orders these
two Englishmen had been condemned to death,
and were now about to be shot
| The doomed men were kneeling side by side
In the middle of the open space. looking straight
and unfiinchIngly for both had refused to be
bindfolded) at the twelve grenadiers who were
about to take their lives. Up or down, in the
| front of battle or on the place of execution,
| there was white feather" about Tom Hackett
and Bill Ramsden, full privates in the fighting
til.
But the men Of the firing party were not so
| composed as their destined victims. They looked
sullen and gloomy, and audible murmurs ran
from mouth to mouth
IF they'd been killed in fair fight,n said one
| rough fellow, 't wouldn't so much matter. for
that's all in the days work, and just what might
happen to you, or me, or anybody. But to be shot
down this way in cold blood-why it don't seem
MATERIAL, nohowm
mo; nor it don't seem MATERIAL for us to have
to 1T neither" growled another. why. poor
Tom there shared his rations bread with me only
tother day. and many's the bit o. baccy I've got
from old Bill when l was hard up for some'at to
put in my mouth and now I've got to take and
kill em!'
AYE, that's just where it is" chimed in q
third. II don't mind pullin' trigger on French
man, cause they're our MATERIAL born enemies
and 1T don't matter how many O. them one kills;
but when it comes to havin to stand up and send
bullet through your own comrade, that's
| fought shoulder to shoulder with you through
many a hot days work-well it does come rather
| hard on fellow and no mistake!"
Silence in the ranks" shouted Colonel New
lille, sternly; and the grumbers were silent
| But all this while, what could it be that was
DELAYING the execution2 There the two
criminals prepared to receive the death volley
which the firing party were equally ready to de-
liver the moment they got the word; but minute
passed after minute, and still the order was not
given.
The fact was that Colonel Neville-who was
not at all willing to lose, if he could possibly
help it, two men who were admitted to be the
smartest soldiers in the whole regiment-had
drawn up statement Of their case and sent it to
the KING, himself, pointing out that the food
which they were accused of stealing had been
| taken only when they were actually starving, and
| that their general character had been excellent
up TO that time.
BY means Of this plea the Colonel still hoped
rhk n.w, - - H.
least to get it committed; and his weather
beaten visage flushed With sudden and very I'M
wonted emotion as clatter of horse hoofs was
heard, and an officer came galloping up to him
with folded paper.
The old soldiers hard face frightened visby
as he read the first few lines; but In another
moment it clouded again.
The paper set forth that his Majesty the King,
taking into consideration the facts put forward
by the colonel had been graciously pleased to
grant pardon to one OF the two culprits and
that throw Of the dice las the custom in
those days. should decide which one it was to be-
"Well, that's better than nothing. but wish I
could have saved them BOTH muttered the
Colonel sadly as he turned to his men and an
nounced the Kings decision.
Then, for the first time, the doomed men were
seen to tremble, and their bold. brown faces
which had never wavered when they leaped into
the smoke of the French batteries-grew white
as death. And well they might, for all who
have felt it know for themselves how much
harder to bear than even the terror of death it
self is the sudden shock of an unexpected chance
of life at the very last moment
A grzzled color-sergeant placed the dice box
on the head Of a drum, and Tom Hackett threw
first
Double ski" cried the sergeant
Poor Bill" muttered one of the men, sits
up with his chance; he can't beat that nohow
Bill seemed to feel the same, for his who
face hardened suddenly like CONCEALED metal;
but he took the box, nevertheless, and threw in
his turn.
Then a cry of astonishment broke from every
lip.
Bill Ramsden had also thrown double six!
''They must throw again." said the Colonel
grimiy, for he was bitterly angered by this un
looked for prolongation of the poor wretches'
agony OF suspense.
This time Tom Hackett threw double FIVE and
| the next moment his comrade did the same.
The general amazement was now too great for
words, and the only sound that broke the uni
versal silence was the old sergeants muttered
exclamation:
"Well. if / hadn't seed that with my own eyes
| wouldn't never have believed it,"
A third time the fatal cast was tried and both
men threw double four!
This is the hand of God" said Colonel Ne
vile, solemnly. Major Summerton, suspend
the execution till come back I'm going to the
King myself"
Colonel Neville did go to the King himself as
fast his horse could carry him, aud he re-
turned with radiant face ten minutes later
bringing with him free pardon for both.