The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-16
Bouncing Of Lewis PleaSeS
the Wheelmen.
Crime for Which Gibbs and
WanSley Were Hanged.
Realistic Painting That Deceived
Judges and Won Award.

good many b1cycllsts In TINS Town
are rejoicing over the action OF the War
wick Town Council in looping off the
Official head of Constable Lewis. Lewis
was perhaps the most persistent of the
pursuers OF unwsry wheelmen in that
town, and IL reports are true he made
very good thing out OF the business. The
deposition of Lewis 10 likely to have
very mark cd effect on the other country
constables who have followed Lewis lead
IN the matter of prosecuting wheeimen.
They will no longer lay in wait on by
roads ana pounce upon wheelmen be-
cause tney ride on the sidewalk where no
such thing exists In that locality, nor
will they settle cases once they have
made an arrest, for the trial of Lewis
developed the fact that such proceeding
might result in the infiiction OF pretty
severe penalty for such a proceeding.
A reader of The NEWS says he has
heard an old gentleman of his acquaint-
ance frequently make use Of the express
sion, 'since wansley was hung" and he
asks the Gossiper who Wansley was and
what he was hanged for, IL such tate
really overlook MIN. Wansley was
negro cook and steward on the brig
Vineyard. On the vessel, which sailed
from New Orleans for philadelphia No
vember Q, 1880, was Charles Gibbs,
sailor. The vessel carried cargo of cot
ton, sugar, molasses and 1000 in Mexi-
can silver.
The money excited the curiosity of
Gibbs and Wansley and they with the
rest of the crew, murdered and threw
overheard the captain, William Thornby,
the mate. Mr.. Roberts, and when of
"Southsmpton light they scuttled ana
tired the vessel. They took away with
them in the boat about 81, 900 Of the Mexi-
can dollars. Later on the members of
the crew were arrested and Gibbs and
wansIey were put on trial. Two OF their
shipmates, Brownriggs and Dawes, testi-
ned against them and they were both
convicted on March IL, 1881, and sent
encsd to be hanged. They we're executed
April 22, 1881.
A school boy who has just resumed bis
studies asks IL the Gossiper can tell him
the story OF competition between two
artists OF the oiden time, one of whom
won by an effective deception. This
story has at different times ass umed diff
erent shapes. 1t was told mostly of the
realistic artists of the Dutcn school, but
the original is older than the Christian
era. In ancient Greece two artists were
contending for mastery and each pre-
sented and arranged In the mark ct place
4 picture for trial before the appointed
Judges. One had painted a bunch OF
Rrapes borne on the head OF a boy ana
had made the fruit 80 like the real article
that the birds lowering near alighted on
the canvas and pecked at the luscious
looking fruit.
The artist pointed with exultation at
this proof OF excellence OF his skill, but
the other remarked that IL the grapes had
deceived the birds the rest of the picture
had not, for they would never bave
dared to touch grape on the head OF
real boy. The painter turned to his critic
and competitor, most OF whose paintings
appeared to be concealed by drapery and
said "Draw your curtain then and let us
see IL you have succeeded any better"
'It is for the judges to do that" the
artist replied, but when the judges tried
to draw II they found the drapery was
part OF the picture and that there was no
curtain TO draw. The award was i'm
mediatelv made to this painter, as the
Judges said that he first one might have
deceived the birds, but the other had de.
ceived the vision Of man.