The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-11
M SIR MAILER cScOTT

The simple scotch lass would not swear to q lie even to save her beloved's sis- terss life. and who walked to London in her innocence and succeeded in get sHg s.BeS BssSdGHP H.nS fgo wsssr shs kins bs was s. to the station which Is reached by the
 Apart from the story, ..The Heart of Midlothian" is most interesting historical book. The scenes and de- sod he S eaFer of resSsra even if the plot were not followed at
 Smuggling was almost universal in Scotland in the reigns of George I and IT. The people. regarding i'm posts as unjust aggressions on their ancient liberties, prided themselves on maintaining a contraband trade, and were ever ready for bloody conflicts low countrymen and neighbors though they were. when there arose any mat ter of the Kings authority.
 One of the most daring of the Scotch amugglers was one Andrew Wilson lie became so obnoxious to the revenue officers that at last they concentrated their efforts on him, with the result of running him by repeated and constant seizures and imprisonments. ..
 The man became desperate. lie con- ceived himself as having been plum dered, and took 1t into his head that he had the right to make reprisals. Learning that the collector of GUS toms at a port near Edinburgh had f2o0 in his house he induced a wild young adventurer known as Robertson to join him. They broke into the collectors house forcibly and openly. and while Robertson with a cutlass guarded the door Wilson relieved the crown officer of his money
 Despite the strong feeling in favor of the two and the attempts made to hide them by the countryside. they were seized and carried to Edinburgh, where they were lodged in the city jail, known as the Tolbooth, and also sarcastically as the Heart of Midio- thian. After a short trial they were sentenced to death.
 The people smuggled files and saws to them, but through a mistake of Wilson's their escape was frustrated. The thought that he had robbed his friend of his chance for life preyed on the mans mind and he determined on 6 desperate effort to redeem his error.
 It was the custom to take condemned criminals to church on the Sabbath before their execution. When the day came Wilson and Rob ertson were led ln' each secured between two soldiers
 
 through the service. but when the congregation arose to depart, Wilson. who was an immensely strong man. suddenly seized soldier with each hand, shouted to his companion: Run. Geordie run!" and threw himself on the third soldier and fastened his teeth in the collar of his coat. Robertson shook of the grasp of the remaining soldier, The congregation lmmedi- ateiy closed around him. echoing the cry: Run! Run?" and aided hin 10 make good his escape.
 Wilson's generous bravery augment cd the sympathy of the public Soon there ran rumor through Edinburgh that the man would be rescued at the place of execution. The magistrates promptly took measures against such a chance by mastering the entire City Guard' which was not only sufficiently hated for itself, but was still more bitterly hated because of its captain. John Porteous, whose fierceness had brought on tnnumereble brawls be. tween the citizens and his men.
 The anger against the City Guard was increased when the people learned that Wilson had been most cruelty treated by Porteous. He was led to the scafrold suffering torment from handcuffs that were far too small ana had been forced on his wrists. How ever, there was no attempt at rescue tuI Wlsons oooy swung aloft. Then suddenly stones were thrown at the City Guard and a young fellow sprang on the scaffold and cut the body down before Porteous could stop him
 haglng, he seized a musket from one of his men and shot Into the crowd. killing bystander. Then he gave the order to fire. and his troop obeyed. with such drastic effect that seven persons were killed and scores were wounded.
 The magistrates of Edinburpb alarmed by the great wrath that shook the whole city, promptly arrested their captain and tried him for murder The guilty and sentenced him to be hapgad on September 8. 1736.
 On mat day the place of execution was so densely crowded that thera was no vacant space. even around the black gallows. The mob of Edinburgh was one or the nercest in Europe. The people know that Queen Caroline. Re- gent during the absence of George IT.. was i'll disposed toward the citv he. cause Of it's constant risngs against royal authority. They waited suIIen- ly. unwilling to believe that the au- thorities would execute John Porteous till they should see him hanging against the sky.
 It turned out as they expected The news spread through the crowd that me Queen had granted the Captain A reprieve of six weeks. shout, or rather roar. burst from the mob. Then, instead of the disorderly scenes that the magistrates had feared, a sil- enee, much more ominous than clamor would have been, fell over the throng. Men began to move swiftly through the multitude, whispering here and there. The crowd began to break up and disperse.
 The short-sighted magistrates felt grateful to Providence for the good temper of their bulky charge. They exulted too soon. Before midnight Ed inburgh was in the hands of a dis gutsed, fearless but orderly band which, having disarmed the city guard and locked all gates by which mili- tary and might enter, attacked the Tolbooth. During the systematic work that followed 1t was seen that the band had an acknowledged leader, a tall fellow disguised as a woman, whom the adherents called Madge Wildfre Under his orders Tolbooth was finally entered and Porteous was seized. car ried to the public place of execution and hanged on the city gallows which the rioters had erected.
 As soon as he was dead the mob melted away as it. had formed Apart from disarming the soldiers and break ing open the prison. there had been no act of violence during the whole uprising, and the people had so far ob- served order and dignity that they @orrad q Y1{niater fO accopanap, por