The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-20

of his murdered brother, and his
heart so deeply smitten with the con
seriousness of having justly forfeited
his own. life by taking the life of an
other, that he could not divest himself
of the belief that all men would seek
to SHAY him, no one principle has been
found to be more deeply implanted in
the human breast than the desire to
see the wilful shedding of blood atoned
for by the blood of the perpptrator
SO strong, SO active, and so impeline,
indeed, seems this principle, that no
sooner goes forth the dread tale of
homicide, than all the community rise
up, as one man, instinctively impressed
with the duty of hunting down the
guilty and bringing them to Justice
while the guilty themselves seem no
less lnstinctively impressed with the
abiding consciousness that the doom.
which heaven and earth has decreed
to their crimes, must inevitably over
take them.
Deep and fearful was the excite
ment, in the hitherto quiet and peace.
full village of Westminster, as from
mouth to mouth, and house to house.
spread the startling intelligence, that
meeting of unarmed citizens,
assembled at the Court House, had
been ASA lied, and numbers shot down
in cold blood by the minions of British
authority. (2) The whole town was soon
in commotion. No loud noise or clamor
of voices, it is true, was heard pro
claiming the deed on the midnight air:
but the rapid footballs of men hurrying
along the streets. the hastily ex
changed inquiry, the eager, suppressed
tones of those conversing in small
groups at the corners and by places
around the village. the hasty opening
and shutting of doors, and the dancing
of lights in every direction. gave
ominous indication of the feeling that
had every where been awakened, and
the secret movement which was every
where afoot among the people.
A small band, who had gathered in
the yard Of what was called the
Peoples Tavern, (3)were listening, with
many a demonstration of horror and
Indignation, to the account of one who
had escaped from the Court House af-
ter the tories had got possession.
"Where are our leaders, Morris?n
asked one of the listeners, as the
speaker, a fluent, energetic young
man, closed his recital of the atrocities
he had witnessed. did they escape.
or are they among the wounded and
prisoners?"
Wright and Carpenter had gope
off before we were attacked was the
reply, the rest, not among the
wounded | have named escaped in the
confusion. | think, except Dr. Jones'
of Rockingham, 4 who was driven into
the felon's hole with other prisoners
and it may be we'll that he was. per
haps, as those bloodthirsty brutes
would have suffered no surgeon to be
sent for to attend those who are not
past help
"Apd Tom Dunning, whose rifle we
shall need, what became of him?''
He got out in the same manner |
did We stood in a dark corner, at the
head of the stairs, taking note of the
proceedings below: when that crafty
little chap, that joined us from
Brush g, came wrigging like an eel out
from between the legs of the crowding
tories, in the passage; and. working
himself up stars unnoticed in the
same way. beckoned us to follow him.
as we did, into the courtroom, where
at his suggestion. We stripped Oft the
sheets of a bed. in one of those corner
sleeping cuddies, made rope and by
it let ourselves down through a win
dow to the ground in the rear of the
house when we separated, Dunning
going home, as he said, to arm himself
But here he comes, added the speak
er. peerlng out towards the street
from which several forms were dimly
seen approaching here he comes.
and those just behind him | should
Judge to be Carpenter and Fletcher,
by their gait. -
"Well, Dunning,' asked one of the
company, as the hunter came striding
up to the spot, what is your response
to all this?'
"Der-sixty bullets, and a--dtter-
pound of powder!'' was the stern and
significant reply of the other, as with
one hand he struck his rafting bullet
pouch and huge powder horn, and
with the other brought down the
breech of his rife with a heavy blow
upon the ground.
That's the man for me ''exclaimed
Fletcher, now coming up with Car
penter
LAY, Dunning is right" said Car
penter. IF we hold our peace now,
the very stones will cry out for
vengeance. But talking is only a
small part of what must be done. We
must act And first of all, this tale of
murder and outrage must instantly be
thrown upon the four winds of heaven
part of the settlement Who will vol