Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-04-16

81 ASN sok tuctf HoIlSs. O0F sAuFN
fo.4ows Mr.. G. The storm overlook
him about the time he reached
Shanks' mill. He found the door.
and took shelter there. The rain
that fell that day was remembered
for many years.
After talking awhile, the two
neighbors both fell asleep. Mr.. G..
was the first to awake. The rain
was over, and the sun was shining
low in the western sky. H again
started for his home. Scarcely had
he left the mill when he saw his
boy jug" coming towards him az
full spee'. The boy caught his
master by the arm and endeav pred
to stop him. He made his master
understand that some dreadful ca
lamity had happened, but not one
word could the negro articelate to
give him an idea of its nature. Dir.
q. therefore, tore away from him
and hurried home To learn the state
of affairs from some one else.
When he entered the door of his
own dwelling the sight that pres
ented itself almost deprived him Of
his senses. The floor was coverai
with blood and in different parfs of
the room we're lying the mAngled
bodies of his wife and two daughters.
He was not the only sufferer, how
ever, in that house of mourning.
Seated upon q stool and leaning his
head against the wall was a young
man of the neiehborhood, apparent
ly as miserable as himself. He was
a mere stripping, several years short
OF manhood, and yet report said
that he loved. tenderly loved the
girl whose lifeless body was lying
close beside him. The young man
was weeping. His name was Orrell.
He was a good boy and everybody
that knew him loved and spoke well
of him.
Giles" said Mr.. G. who has
done this?"
God only knows!'' replied the
young man, it was done during
the storm. / came soon after the
rain was over and they were all
dead then. They are scarcely cold
evea now."
Mr.. G. enquired for Peter and
young Orrell told him that he saw
him sitting by the side Of the school
path near the swamp, ana sppzrera-
ly trying to hide himself. This, he
said, was as he was coming mp the
branch to the house of Mr.. G.. The
mystery was at once explained.
Peter had murdered his mistress and
her daughters, was then lying in
wait for the boys on their return
from school, and expected to find
his master weak, perhaps an un-
resisting victim, on his return from
the rolling. Without a moments
delay they both started OH the track
of Peter. They had left the house
however but a few minutes when
they heard the cry of mourning be-
hind them. the boys were already
at home, home where no mother
or sister would ever smile upon
them again. The father knew the
well known voices Of his boys.
This was some joy even in his Bit
terest sorrow. The storm had
saved them as well as their father.
The branch was so swollen with the
rain that, doubling the possibility
of crossing at the usual place with
safety, the boys had gone up the
branch to the mill and crossed on
the bank of the dam. The father
and his sons wept over their muir
dered friends and consoled each
other as well as they could.
The rest of the story is soon told.
Peter was found fast asleep in a |
cornfield and securely tied before
he awoke. His trial, condemnation,
and execution soon followed. About
fifty yards from the present bridge
over the fresh of of Britton's Bay,
was the old ford or crossing place
and few rods west of that ford
stands small house upon a hill.
On this hill Peter was executed.
Traditions say that he was hung up
in iron cage in full view of the
public road and there left to die
from starvation. 1t is also said
that the screams of the starving
criminal were so distressing that
many refused to travel the road.
Some things are said that exceed
belief, and much that Is too shock
ing TO be repeated. Il is, however,
true that the little hill is called
"Ribbet hill'' to this day. IL is al
so true that the immediate vicinity of
the old ford had the reputation of be-
ing haunted and maintained the repu-
tation for nearly half . century. The
good sense of the community re-
volted at the inhumaaity of such