The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-02
W. B. SEABROOK SHOOTS
AND KILLS FOOT-PAD
MIR. Seabrook Tried to Escape From
Robber, But He Came Upon Him,
Knife in Hand, and Angus
tan Was Compelled to
Fire or Forfeit His
Life.

bOpNl1Sul, ISVS, ny W. ~ Oe"oAoof>'
Published by Permission of Author.
Aries, Bouches du Rhone, France,
Feb. 29.-Beneath the ancient ram
parts Of Aries, near the Porte de
Il'Or, in deserted valley shaded by
cypress trees and Uttered with the de-
bris Of ruined sepulchres, extends the
Avenue des Aliscamps, a celebrated
cemetery Of the middle ages, once the
holiest and most carefully guarded
spot in Europe, now the most desc
late
The history Of the Aliscamps, ac-
corling to monkish chronicles, is
mingled from earliest times with mys-
teries and marvels. Formerly pag-
an burying ground, it was dedicated
to Christianity during the reign OF
Constantine, and when the first blsh-
ops Of Gaul were assembled for the
conservation rites, SO runs the story:
Jesus Christ descended from the skies,
accompanied by a multitude Of angels,
and, with His pierced hands out
stretched, pronounced the benedlc-
ton. A granite boulder marks the
spot, and to this very day credulous
Provencals point out a curious de-
! preston in the rock, said to be the
Saviouris footprint. Inaugurated un-
der such dramatic and unprecedented
auspices, the cemetery was soon re-
nowned throughout all Christendom;
hosts Of aged pilgrims, including
kings and princes, traversed rivers,
seas and mountains in order to die at
Aries and sleep within these hallowed
precincts.
Around this mortuary field are
clustered myriad ghostly legends, and
when the Arlesian greybeards gather
on winter evenings to doze and gossip
in some hospitable chimney corner,
they tell strange tales Of saints and
devils and grim spectral bands, un-
happy spirits who return by night to
prowl like shouls among the sunken
graves, searching in vain for bodies
that vandal hands have long since
scattered to the winds. Its massive
stone sarcophaei are yawning and
empty as if the Trump Of Doom had
already sounded for their countless
vanished dead, and it's barren, crumb-
ling toombs recall Ezekiel's prophetic
vision
The weird traditions, recorded by
the monks as veracious chronicles and
recounted to me as solemn facts by
the Provencal peasantry were
strangely fitting prelude to start.
ling adventure that befell one night,
while I, a matter Of fact aid sceptical
American newspaper reporter, was
wandering among these haunted sep
ulchres Of the Old World.
While sojourn;ng at Aries, it occur
red to me that the Aliscamps would
present a superb picture by moon
light. Choosing a favorable occasion,
leaving my hotel at an hour when hon
est people usually seek their beds, l
threaded my way through the narrow,
deserted streets, passed the Roman
amDai-theatr and emerged upon the
ramnarts. Encountering a belated
pedestrian, hailed him and made
some trifling inquiry concerning the
road to the cemetery, for | was not
quite sure that I could find my way
in tie Semi-darkne<s. He furnished
the desired information with a polite
ness and intelligence that proclaimed
the gentleman, and then, eyeing me
in a very queer manner, sald:'" l beg
pardon, but is it your intention to Wis
it the Aliscamps alone at this hour oil
the night?'
1t was obviously none Of his busi-
resS what T intended doing, bit his
tone and attitude were not officlous.
and I responded civilly and told him
Of my desire to see the spot by moon
light.
eff you will accept bit Of unsoli-
cifed advice," said he, ''you Will
abandon your imprudent project
and when I asked an explanation Of
his words. he added something which
I did not catch. about danger and dia-
b!eS. Taking him for a superstitious
crank. ! lauchinely expressed my dis
},o!:ef in ghosts or devils, and went
my way.