Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-01-19

hau uisarmed him OF his gun, and saiC
in fierce whisper:
silence and remain where yor
are, and you are safe. ] am one o
al sbys men. The town is surround.
ed"
The two brothers had quickly
passed through the gates and were at
the door of the Court house, which
was neither locked or guarded.
| Captain Bowie entered the dark
room and hearing heavy breathing on
all sides judged the room to be full oi
soldiers. He called loudly in stern
and commanding voice as he advanced
noisily up the stone floor with his
spurs clanking at his heels:
Surrender to Captain Bowie of
Mosbys commando
The startled sleepers sprung up in
the dark in wild confusion. On every
side was heard exclamations and oaths
as they ran into each other, and
scrambled into their uniforms and
boots, and then tried to make in the
darkness for the stacked guns and
bayonets in the corner of the court
room.
Again the command rang out clear
and loud:
Surrender, and yon will be treated
honorably. Make any resistance and
you will be cut to piecesl The town
is surrounded and you have nothing
left but to surrender Internationally.
Captain Bowie just then felt some
thing pressing against his back. He
turned quick and said in a whisper !:
"Brune, take care: what are you
doing? Keep your gun from my
back
Bruno had been standing by his
side; now he at once cemprehended
that some one was trying in the dark
to shoot his brother. He whirled
about and caught a man who at the
whisper had dropped on his hand and
knees and was about to crawl off. AS
he dragged him up to his feet he
fiercely Whispered:
Give me that pistol or else you are
dead man" At that moment a
blaze of light flashed mp and Captain
Bowie held high a box of lighted
matches.
The act was a daring one. 1t left
the old court room in entire blackness
except little circle of light around
the Captain and his brother who held
a man by the arm. 1t had the desired
effect. What soldier in that crowded
court room could believe otherwise
than the whole town and the Court
House itself was surrounded by a
much larger force than theirs. For,
would two man-even Mosby's-ven-
ture alone in a closed room with
dozens of soldiers who were no
towards.
a tall man at once advanced, and
handing his sword to Captain Bowie
said:
II surrender with the men under
me-"
&c rtain Bowie said: "Who are
you ! as he drew down the end Of
the blazing box.
81 am the Colonel of the. Only
part, however, Of the regiment is now
here"
Captain Bowie took the sword, and
/ placed him under the oath not to bear
arms against the Southern Confeder-
acy for six months.
Now, let us have some light,
please"
And the Colonel of the-called
to one Of the men to get some candles
and strike light, which was soon
done. But a dozen or more did not
suffice TO light more then a small place
around the judges bench, where
Captain Bowie and his brother took
their seats, and, with the colonel ol
the regiment near him, proceeded tc
parole all the soldiers in the Court
House.
"Brune said Captain Bowie, "whers
is the man that sneaked up in the
dark to shoot me in the back p
Here he is. captain" Bruno replied
aud pushed forward the man.
Captain Bowie fixed his dark blu.
eyes on the man with a piercing lool
of scorn and indignation:
"You l should not parole like tn
others, but have You shot. You are
no true, brave soldier. but have th,
heart Of an assassin. But / neve
have taken-and will not now begin
to take-a mans life in cold blood
So take the oath as the others hav
done. But beware and keep it tn