xt7wwp9t269v https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t269v/data/mets.xml Baldwin, Isaac. 1852  books b9236412b1934w2009 English H.M. Rulison : Cincinnati, Ohio Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Louisville (Ky.) --Crime. Louisville (Ky.) --Police --Personal narratives. The wonderful adventures and horrible disclosures of a Louisville policeman. text The wonderful adventures and horrible disclosures of a Louisville policeman. 1852 2009 true xt7wwp9t269v section xt7wwp9t269v 
  
  
  
  
THE

WONDERFUL ADVENTURES
A ND

HORRIBLE

DISCLOSURES
OF A
  

LOUISVILLE POLICEMAN.
WRITTEN B Y HIMSELF.

CINCINNATI: PUBLISHED B Y H . M. RUXISON, NO. 34, E AST THIRD S TREET, 1 852.

  
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by I I. M . RULI80N,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Ohio.

  
HORRIBLE

DISCLOSURES
OF A

POLICEMAN.
I W AS s itting o ne day i n m y office, i n L o u i s v i l l e , K e n t u c k y , w h e n a pale, f air, g ood-looking y o u t h , apparently about eighteen o r twenty years o f age, entered, and after c l o s i n g the d oor a nd g lancing a round the apartment, s a i d : " I w i s h to speak w i t h M r . Isaac B a l d w i n . " " M y n ame, S i r , " I replied. " A r e w e a l o n e ? " i n q u i r e d the stranger. " W e a r e , " I a n s w e r e d ; " y o u see there is no one present but o urselves." "You are sure we cannot be overheard? for I have a great I answered, " s p e a k l o w , and I w i l l g uarantee s ecret to communicate, w h i c h must be private and c o n f i d e n t i a l . " " T a k e a s eat," t hat n o one hears y o u but m y s e l f . " T h e y o u t h sat d o w n , and for a few moments seemed to be labori n g u nder great excitement, united w i t h e mbarrassment. I watched h i m c losely, for there was something so singular i n his manner, that "I felt great curiosity to learn what matter of importance he had to c ommunicate, r e q u i r i n g so m u c h secrecy. I noticed that his b osom r ose a nd f ell l i k e o ne p a n t i n g from exertion, and that large b eads o f perspiration stood on his forehead ; a l l i n d i c a t i n g a m i n d i l l at e ase." ' " M r . B a l d w i n , " h e s a i d , at length, i n a tone that quavered i n s pite o f his efforts to apoear calm and c omposed: " M r . B a l d w i n , p ersonally w e are strangers, out I have m   re t h a n o nce h eard of y o u as a brave, d a r i n g , and noble-minded m a n . " I b owed t o the compliment, and after a slight pause, he proceeded. ( 5)

  
6

T H E YOUNG STRANGER.

" I , S i r , am about to trust you w i t h a s ecret that w i l l p lace be surprised at m y h e s i t a t i o n . "

my

l ife at y o u r d i s p o s a l ; and, after this a v o w a l , y o u w i l l n ot, of course, " W h a t e v e r y o u m a y see proper to c o m m u n i c a t e , " I replied, " 1 a ssure y o u it s hall be strictly c o n f i d e n t i a l . "     My w ords and manner seemed to reassure h i m , and he continued: " Y o u , S i r , as I have reason to k n o w , have been for many years a c onstable i n this c i t y ; and, d u r i n g that time, have been a great t error t o e v i l d oers. t errible g ang of "Go I am about to make a revelation that w i l l s tartle y o u , and then ask y o u r assistance to r i d the country of a freebooters." young o n , " said I , becoming greatly interested i n the

s tranger, and anxious to be master of his secret. " I w i l l b e g i n , " he pursued, " by t elling y o u w h a t y o u already k n o w ; that horses are every day stolen, and the thieves are never d etected; houses are set on fire, and consumed, and no one suspects t he i n c e n d i a r i e s ; men are k n o c k e d d o w n i n y o u r streets, and on t he h i g h w a y s , robbed, and sometimes murdered, and the robbers a nd m urderers e scape; a nd lastly, that the country is flooded w i t h c ounterfeits and spurious c o i n , w h i l e the counterfeiters are suffered t o r u n at l a r g e : a l l t his, S i r , y o u k n o w . " " I d o , " was m y r e p l y , " and I k n o w it to m y s o r r o w . " " W e l l , S i r , what say y o u , i f I put y o u i n possession of facts t hat w i l l l ead to the detection of a l l these v i l l a i n s , t hese pests society?" " I w i l l s a y , " I answered, " t h a t y o u w i l l be d o i n g society a g reat service, and that y o u w i l l reward." " I seek n o other reward than revenge, d ark, bloody, and t e r r i ble;" a fearful expression sweeping over his pale, handsome f eatures. " Y e s sir, y o u s hall k n o w a l l , and then I w i l l h ave that K n o w then, S i r , that I myself am one of this gang, e ntitle yourself to a liberal of

v engeance o n these miscreants, w h i c h they l ittle t h i n k me capable o f obtaining. o r rather was, f or I have renounced, and am now about to d enounce a nd b etray t r e m . " " Y o u ! " I c ried, i n perfect astuii:shment; "you, a m ere y o u t h ,

  
HER

STORY.

7

a b eardless boy, are y o u so steeped i n crime as to belong to a band o f cut-throats, thieves, incendiaries, and h i g h w a y r o b b e r s ? " " Y e s , " replied my strange companion, a d a r k s cornful smile
;

c u r l i n g h is t h i n l ips, w h i l e his black e yes, as he fixed them upon m e, assumed a singular expression: " y e s , M r . B a l d w i n , I did b usiness here is to betray them into the hands of j u s t i c e . " " T r u e , t r u e ; pray p r o c e e d . " " N e i t h e r am I so y o u n g as y o u suspect," replied the other, " a n d as to m y being a beardless boy, perhaps I s h a l l a stonish y o u b y s a y i n g , I am no boy at a l l . " " H o w ! " c ried I , f a i r l y s tarting from m y seat i n surprise; " y o u a re then " Yes disguise." " M a d a m , " s aid I, " I am a l l a m a z e m e n t     I d i d not even suspect y o u r s e x     p r a y go o n . " M y s ingular guest p roceeded w i t h h er story, and it was t han a n hour b efore s he concluded. more I s h a l l n ot here repeat her " S i r , " interrupted the other, " I am a woman i n male b elong to them, but I do not any l o n g e r ; y o u forget, S i r , that m y

c o m m u n i c a t i o n , for the reader w i l l be made acquainted w i t h a l l the d etails, i n the narrative o f m y o w n perilous adventures, resulting t herefrom. I w i l l m erely state, for convenience, that she g ave h er n ame as E l v i r a W i l s t o n ; but s a i d , moreover, that w h i l e she remained i n male attire, I must remember to address her as Clarence W i l b urton. T o carry out her p l a n of breaking up this formidable b a n d i t t i , i t w as necessary for me to so disguise myself, that even m y most i ntimate f riend w o u l d not recognize me i n broad d a y l i g h t , and thus p roceed to the grand rendezvous of the robbers, and j o i n their f raternity. I a m not a c o w a r d by nature, but I must c onfess t his p roposition startled me, and made me hesitate. . B y d o i n g as this y o u n g stranger advised, I w o u l d place m y life entirely at her disposal, a nd have no assurance, beside the unsupported w o r d of one w h o acknowledged herself connected w i t h c ut-throats and robbers, t hat t he whole p l a n was not a w e l l l a i d s cheme t o put me out of t he w a y . I k n e w , too, that a l l the characters belonging to that c lass of w h i c h she professed to be a member, hated me, and that

  
8

MY

DECISION

DISGUISE.

n othing would give them greater pleasure than to get me i n their p ower, where I could be silenced without danger to themselves. A n d , e ven i f she were really i n earnest, as I believed, she might at any moment c hange h er m i n d , and betray m e ; beside, a t h o u sand events might happen to lead to m y detection, w h i c h w o u l d c ertainly be followed b y instant death. B ut n otwithstanding a l l the danger I pictured to myself, I s oon d ecided on m a k i n g the t r i a l , be the c onsequences w hat they m i g h t ; f or imminent p eril a l w a y s p ossessed a c harm for me, w h i c h , througk m y long, eventful l ife, I h ave never found myself able to resist. 1 i nformed E l v i r a o f my decision, and she s eemed w i l d w i t h d elight. H e r f ace H ushed, her e yes flashed, and her b osom h eaved, as she e xclaimed, through her set teeth, w i t h h issing passion: " N o w w i l l I h ave m y revenge! q uences o f i nsulting, m e ! now s hall t hey feel the c onse T h e very w o r m that is trod on w i L

t urn; t he meekest lamb may be g oaded i nto a fiery, relentless tigress!" D u r i n g t he day I called on s ome h a l f a dozen officers, made t hem acquainted w i t h m y design, requested their co-operation, and t hen p repared to set out on m y perilous m i s s i o n . I t ook l eave of m y f a m i l y about dark, t elling t hem I might be absent several days, b ut thought best t o conceal from them whither I was going, and for w hat purpose. I controlled my_ feelings, and parted from them i n a c heerful manner, though, at heart, I suffered the most intense a n g u i s h ; f or I thought that i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , I should never behold t hem a g a i n . I then repaired to m y o ffice, p ut on m y disguise, and She came, punctual to the hour. I a waited the a rrival o f E l v i r a , w h o had agreed to m eet m e there at e ight o ' c l o c k i n the evening. w as seated w h e n she c ame i n , and purposely sta.ed at her, as i f she .were a stranger, i n order to see i f she w o u l d penetrate m y disguise. S he looked at me hard, for a moment or two, and then, without a ny s how o f recognition, i n q u i r e d for M r . B a l d w i n . " H e ' l l be i n d i r e c t l y , " I replied, gruffly. S he t ook a s eat, to await his return. " W h a t ' s y o u r business w i t h M r . B a l d w i n ? " I i n q u i r e d , i n the s ame gruff tone, l o o k i n g fixedly at her. " T h a t , I s uppose, I a m at liberty to communicate to the gentleman h i m s e l f , " she replied, t artly, h er f ace flushing w i t h a nger.

  
HER

STORY.

D

" T h e n w h y don't y o u speak, b o y ? I r ejoined; " m y Baldwin."

name's

S he looked at me closely, and scrutinizing!}', for a few moments, as i f she thought it possible it might be myself i n d i s g u i s e ; but t ier r eply satisfied me I had n o t h i n g to fear i n this respect. " I t is M r . Isaac s cornful s mile. I l aughed outright. o ur p l a n w i l l s ucceed." " W e l l , E l v i r a , " I r ejoined, " i f y o u p l a y y o u r part as w e l l a   I s h a l l m i n e , and do not betray me, I t h i n k S he was t h u n d e r s t r u c k ; and it was s ome t i m e , even then, ere I c ould convince her of m y i d e n t i t y ; but w h e n I at last s ucceeded, s he was delighted beyond measure, and assured me that even m y w ife and mother w o u l d pass me i n broad d a y l i g h t , without the remotest idea they had ever seen me b efore. T h e r e was a b oat t o leave at nine, bound for the south, and to t his w e now repaired. I s h a l l n ot touch on the incidents of our Suffice r iver v oyage, as these have nothing to do w i t h m y story. Baldwin I w i s h to s e e , " she said, w i t h a

i t t o say, therefore, that on the evening of the second day, we were l anded, o n the K e n t u c k y side of the river, a few miles below P a ducah, and something less than fifty a bove th   mouth of the O h i o . " W e are n o w , " said m y strange guide, " i n the territory of the f reebooters, and it b ehooves u s both to play our parts w e l l . f o l l o w my instructions to the letter." T h e r e were no signs of habitation where we landed, e xcept a s olitary h ouse; an o l d , dilapidated, g l o o m y - l o o k i n g structure, bj W hich s tood on a steep, r o c k y bluff, w hose b ase w as washed t he O h i o . " T h a t i s one of the haunts of these desperadoes," said E l v i r a , i n a w hisper, as she pointed toward i t ; " m a n y a benighted traveler has found that old structure the end of his earthly j o u r n e y . " " M u r d e r e d , " w hispered I , w i t h a c o l d shudder. " A y , S i r , murdered is the w o r d ; and his b ody s unk d eep i n the w aters that r o l l b elow. h orror. B u t c ome, l et us hasten f o r w a r d ! " " S u r e l y , not t h e r e , " I said, s h r i n k i n g b ack w i t h a f eeling of Remember a l l the signs and passwords 1 h ave communicated, and

  
10

MY

DECISION

DISGUISE.

" W e must pass the night t h e r e , " was the c a l m reply. are not a f r a i d ? "

" You

" O h no, not i n the l e a s t , " I replied, forcing a l a u g h , and q uickening m y pace, though m y h a i r s eemed to stand on end, and c old, c l a m m y sweat, stood i n b eads o n m y forehead. h ouse i n h a b i t e d ? " I i n q u i r e d . " Y e s , or I w o u l d not go t h e r e ; but y o u have n o t h i n g to fear if y o u follow my instructions. the rhino, Remember, your name is Tom H u r d i s , a nd that y o u have been to the north and east, for a y e a r or s o, sowing money. o r, i n other words, passing counterfeit Y o n w i l l p robably m eet s ome o f the gang there, and y o u " Is the

m ust swagger and blow w i t h t he b est o f t h e m . " " B u t w i l l t hey not suspect I do not belong to t h e m ? " "No, f or the signs and passwords w i l l d eceive t hem. Beside, t hose y o u w i l l meet t here are the under-workers: n umber of those belonging to the b a n d ; n one e xcept t he

C a p t a i n , L i e u t e n a n t , and one or two others, k n o w the f aces a nd these y o u w i l l n ot be A n d should and l i k e l y t o see, as it is a very rare t h i n g they stop here. t he indifference bloodshed." " H e a v e n s ! y o u do not mean that I s hall l ook tamely o n , and see a fellow-being m u r d e r e d ? " "Yes, i f necessary; for it is o n l y by being c a l m , and noting It is not on c lose, that we s h a l l be able to succeed i n our design. of one accustomed to

a n y t h i n g c hance to occur of a horrible nature, y o u must act w i t h s cenes o f violence

these mere tools I w i s h to take revenge, but on their p r i n c i p a l s ; and a s the latter are men m o v i n g i n the first circles of society, r i c h , h ighly-respected, and even members of the c h u r c h , we can onry c onvict them through their tools, and must necessarily understand a l l t he ramifications of their d i a b o l i c a l l e a g u e . " " B u t a w o r d     W i l l there be any here that k n o w " I t hink n o t     I h ope n ot. your sex." A r r i v e d at the d oor, m y companion knocked, and a gruff v oice s aid, " S o m e i n . " W e entered a l o w , d i n g y , i l l - l i g h t e d a partment, and beheld two you?" of N o n e at least ever saw me i n this

d isguise; and, as Clarence W i l b u r t o n , I h ope t o pass as one

  
THE

COUNTERSIGN.

11

|>ersons; a s w a r t h y , l o w - b r o w e d , v i l l a n o u s - I o o k i n g m a n , o f a bout f orty, a nd a f emale about t he s ame a ge, w h o i n every respect seemed a fit c ompanion. T h e s e were t he h ost a nd h ostess. W e b oth w a l k e d u p to the m a n , t ook h i s h a n d , pressed h i s k nuckles w i t h o ur thumbs, drew o ur h ands across o ur t hroats, a nd s a i d : "Life is dear, and money scarce." " H a ! y o u b elong t o u s ! " he r e p l i e d , w i t h a s h o w o f c o r d i a l i t y .
u

W e ' v e more friends h e r e . " H e g ave a p e c u l i a r w h i s t l e a s he s poke; a nd f rom a n a djoining

r oom, entered s i x s tout, v i l l a n o u s cut-throats, w hose h ands I l i k e wise h ad the pleasure o f s h a k i n g , as the h ost introduced each b y n ame, h e h a v i n g first l earned ours. " W e t hen entered into general conversation, w h i c h was kept u p f or more than a n h our, d u r i n g w h i c h , I t o l d s u c h stories o f m y s e l f a nd e xploits, as I t hought proper, a nd got f rom them m a n y i m p o r tant s ecrets concerning themselves, t he b and, their leaders, e tc. A m o n g o ther things o f i mportance, I l earned that t he s econd n ight f o l l o w i n g , there w as to be a m eeting o f the b and, a t t heir c ave, o r r endezvous, a nd t hat i t was e xpected t he l eaders w o u l d be p resent. T h i s intelligence s o d elighted E l v i r a , t hat s he f ound i t I t was i n the d ifficult t o r estrain h er j o y w i t h i n p roper bounds.

h ope o f s ome s uch meeting, that s he h a d b rought m e h ither a t t his t i m e ; t hough t he p recise time o f the m eeting, s he d i d not b efore know. " Y o u m ust set out for t his rendezvous t o - m o r r o w , " s he s aid t o    me, i n a w hisper, a s s oon as we c ould manage t o h ave a l ittle c onversation a side. " Y e s , y o u m ust start f or t his rendezvous, a n d Y o u m ust be p resent at I w i l l be y o u r guide most o f the w a y . s ee them.

t hat m eeting, f or they w i l l be t here, a nd i t i s i mportant that y o u A n d . n o w , " s ne a dded, w i t h a l ook that expressed more I f I err not, y o u ' l l see t han h er w ords, " y o u m ust n ot s leep t oo s oundly to-night, b ut h ave a n eye to w h a t i s t a k i n g p lace. e nough t o h ang-every v i l l a i n h e r e . " " G o o d heavens! w h a t d o y o u m e a n ? " " H u s h ! w a i t a nd w a t c h ! " a nd as i f to p revent m y q uestioning h e r further, E l v i r a r ose a n d c rossed t he r oom, apparently t o c hat w i t h t he h ostess-

  
12

THE DEED

OF BLOOD.

A n h our later I was lighted up stairs, by the host, and conducted t o a miserable apartment, containing a very d ecent b ed, consideri n g t he place. " I t rust y o u ' l l sleep sound, T o m , " he s a i d     " b u t i f y o u h appen to be disturbed, I s 'pose y o u w o n ' t mind i t ? " " O ! n o, I don't m i n d t r i f l e s , " replied I , w i t h a k n o w i n g l o o k ; " b u t what is about to h a p p e n ? " " W e l l , m ay-be n o t h i n g     b u t we k i n d - o ' e xpect a l o d g e r     w h o , i f h e c omes, w i l l s leep i n the next room   that's a l l     y o u take, e h ?     h a , h a , h a , ! " and w i t h a w i n k and a n o d , the host set d o w n t he light and went out. I s hall n ot attempt to portray m y feelings, w h e n I found m y s e l f a l o n e ; but let the reader fancy h i m s e l f i n m y situation, w i t h t he b elief that the foul murder of s ome i nnocent party was coolly premeditated, and he may be able to conjecture, i n s ome s light d egree, w hat they were. It is enough to say, that I carefully examined m y pistols, put out my l i g h t , and turned into bed, w i t h o u t undressi n g , f urther than to remove m y c oat a nd b oots. F o r s ome t ime I lay and listened to every sound, determined not t o give w a y to sleep for a single moment; but at last everything s eemed to b ecome s t i l l , a nd gradually a heavy drowsiness o ff into a state of unconsciousness. stole o ver m y senses, and i n spite of m y efforts to the contrary, I went H o w l o n g I slept, I do not k n o w ; but I was suddenly awakened b y a cry of " M u r d e r ! m u r d e r ! h e l p ! h e l p ! " M e c h a n i c a l l y I s prang from my bed, and then perceived, through t he crevices of a t h i n , b oard partition, there was a light i n the a djoining r o o m . S o f t l y , on tip-toe, I stole u p to one of these crevices, and peering through, I beheld a sight so horrible that m y b lood curdled, m y h a i r s tood on end, and m y tongue and l i m b s b ecame p aralyzed. T h e r e were three of my v i l l a n o u s companions i n the next apartment, two of w h o m had a struggling stranger i n their grasp, w h o m t hey were i n the act of gagging, w h i l e the t hird w as h o l d i n g the f ight a nd l o o k i n g c a l m l y on. neath w h i c h was a large tub. A s s oon as the stranger was g agged, T h e n one of them drew a k n i f e , i hey placed h i m on the bed, w i t h h i s head over the side, underdo

  
  
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THE

MUKDEREIl's SCHEME.

15

a nd w h i l e I was yet l o o k i n g , too horror-struck to m ove o r speak, h e deliberately placed it upon his outstretched neck, and cut his t hroat from ear to ear. I heard a gurgling gasp, saw the w a r m b lood flowing i n a b i g , red stream, and then, overpowered w i t h t he a w f u l s ight, I sickened, m y s enses r eeled, and I staggered back to m y bed more dead than a l i v e . H o w I passed the rest o f that awful night, I leave the reader to i magine. I s aw no more   but I had seen enough. I had been a n e ye-witness to a d i a b o l i c a l murder, and I secretly swore to have v engeance o n the damnable perpetrators. T h e next morning I met the host and his cut-throat associates with a smile. " Y o u h ad a busy night of i t , " I said. " A h ! d i d y o u hear us? I was afraid the scounarel w o u l d dis" Y e s , we fixed h i m , and turb y o u w i t h h is y e l l s , " he r e p l i e d ; " b u t we fixed h i m at l a s t ; " a nd h e rubbed his hands w i t h g lee. w e l l w e got paid for our trouble. c over a m ultitude of s i n s . " " S o m u c h ! " 1 r ejoined; " w e l l , t hat was w o r t h h a v i n g , certain. B u t w ho was he, and h o w c ame h e here? for I d i d not see h i m l ast n i g h t . " " N o , he hadn't c ome w h e n y o u went to bed, but we were w a i t i n g f or h i m . T h e fact i s , y o u see, h e ' d been up a bove, to P a so, instead of k i l l i n g h i m on the ducah, w i t h a s mall drove of c a t t l e ; and we k n e w he was going t o return this w a y on horseback; r oad, as we might have d one, a nd left the blood there to t ell o n u s ; t he hostler where he put up, who is one of us, put a n ail i n t he horse's f oot, i n such a w a y , that, after he'd g one a f ew m i l e s , i t w ould lame h i m , and by the time he got here, he'd be compelled to put up for the n i g h t . said. " T h e authorities be p rove it on us, eh? ! " he rejoined ; " h o w are they going to N o , no,   just let ' e m c ome a round here, and It takes u s     h a , h a , h a ! " I " B u t are y o u not afraid the authorities w i l l t race y o u o u t ? " F i f t e e n hundred dollars w i l l

t h e y ' l l g it sarved the same w a y . " T h e reader scarcely n eeds t o be told, that after t his, I h ad no a ppetite for breakfast: and I pretended to be a l ittle s ick at m y

   

  
16

BREAKFAST

THE VILLAGE

INN.

s tomach, as an e xcuse f or not eating.

E l v i r a , h owever, exhibited

n o squeamishness, but ate very h e a r t i l y ; though, as she afterward i nformed me, it c ost h er a great effort to f orce i t d o w n ; but she w as fearful, i f she imitated m y example, the cut-throats w o u l d b egin to regard us w i t h a n eye of suspicion. The a nd meal over, we t ook l eave of this h e l l i s h h aunt of blood h o r r o r ; and it was not u ntil s everal miles lay between it and and even then, m y U g h ! it was

u s, t hat I could breathe w i t h a ny freedom;

m ental v i s i o n saw nothing but the murdered m a n , w i t h h is throat c ut from ear to ear, and the red blood r u n n i n g ! m y flesh crawls as I w rite.. W e journeyed g loomy, on f oot t he whole country; o f that day, over a wild, sparsely populated and at night, very much h e a r t - s i c k e n i n g     r e v o l t i n g     t h e very quintessence of h o r r o r ! and

f atigued and f oot-sore, w e put up at a miserable i n n i n a small v illage o f s ome h alf-a-dozen houses. " I w onder i f any here belong to the g a n g ? " "Yes, vate sign, and he returned i t . " " H e a v e n s ! " I exclaimed   "what a country! s uch a system of organized crime p r e v a i l e d . " " S i r , y o u have seen n o t h i n g , " she replied. " T h i s is o n l y one You o f many such, w h i c h lie w i t h i n a d ay's journey of here. I did not think t here was, at the present day, a s pot i n a l l the m i g h t y W e s t where I said to E l v i r a . t he landlord for o n e , " she answered; ' ' f o r i made a p r i -

k n o w the geography of the country where we are, and therefore n eed not be told, that three S t a t e s     K e n t u c k y , I l l i n o i s , a nd M i s s o u r i     a l l p oint together here, and are only divided b y the O h i o a nd M i s s i s s i p p i r i v e r s ; and what more convenient than to pass chance f rom one State to the other, should the officers of justice at naught?

to get on the t rail o f one of these c r i m i n a l s , and thus set the laws T h e f ull e xtent of this association it is not to be supposed y o u w i l l e ver k n o w ; I do not even know it m y s e l f ; and as t o apprehending even one-half of the c r i m i n a l s , that is impossible. H o w e v e r , y o u may get hold of the leaders, and break up the gang f or the present; then I s hall get m y revenge, and y o u w i l l d oing the State g ood s e r v i c e . " E l v i r a and I passed the night at the inn, occupying separate be

  
THE

ROBBERS'

CAVE.

\1

a partments; and the next day we loitered .about the v i l l a g e , u n t i l t o w a r d night, as the rendezvous was only a few m iles distant, and w e d i d not care to approach i t d u r i n g the d a y . A s s oon as i t was dark we set out a g a i n , and crossing a b l e a k , b arren c ountry, i n a short time arrived at the f oot o f a s teep m o u n tain. U p this E l v i r a l ed the w a y , as one accustomed to the place, A t length we reached a l o w , tabular rock, surwhile I followed.

rounded by bushes, and -at -a .sufficient elevation to command a v i e w of t h e c o u n t r y over w h i c h we had passed. " H e r e , " s aid E l v i r a , " I s h a l l a wait y o u r return   for y o u must n o w proceed alone. I need not t ell y o u that y o u are about to enProcounter dangers of a very a l a r m i n g nature   but i f y o u f o l l o w m y i nstructions t o the letter, I t h i n k y o u w i l l e scape u nharmed. n i t y as a member. ceed t o the grand rendezvous of the b a n d i t t i , and j o i n the fraterT h e r e is no danger of y o u r being questioned b y any but the leaders; and. i f y o u take care to keep w ell i n the b ack-ground, I trust y o u w i l l be able to o bserve t hem closely, and r e m a i n u nobserved yourself. R e t u r n io -the f oot-flf this m o u n t a i n , Take p ass around to the opposite side u ntil y o u c ome t o t w o large e l m t rees, w h i c h stand out by themselves distinct on the p l a i n . a c entral line between these trees to the f oot o f the h i l l , a nd y o u w i l l f ind a s mall a nd rather obscure p a t h ; f o l l o w t his, a nd i t w i l l l ead y o u direct to the cave; then bear i n m i n d a l l I have told y o u , a nd t rust the rest to Providence. N o w go, and i f possible, meet Farem e here b efore m i d n i g h t     b u t i f y o u c ome n ot w i t h i n o ne hour o f d a y l i g h t , I s hall g ive y o u up for lost, and depart alone. well!" I s hook her hand w a r m l y , and we parted. h i g h up o n the m o u n t a i n . my approach, exclaimed: " W h o c omes h ere ? " " O n e of the I n v i s i b l e s , " was Day r e p l y . " W h a t w ouldst t h o u ? " " T o enter the p lace of " I n w hose name ? " " O ur master's     Barronni." 2 covenant." I followed her advice, a nd a bout a n hour after found myself at the mouth of the cave, A sentry stood at the entrance, w h o , on

  
THE

SECRET

CONCLAVE.

" P ass on, brother.V I e ntered the mouth of the cave, w h i c h was about the size o f ait o rdinary d o o r w a y , and descended a long flight of stone steps, l ighted at the bottom by a small lamp, w hose f eeble r ays just made t he darkness v i s i b l e , and emerged into a large, subterranean apartment, w h i c h I should j udge w as about a hundred feet s quare, w i t h a h i g h , r o c k y c e i l i n g , and w h i c h was lighted by torches stuck i n t he ground a l l along the w a l l s . W h a t jnade i t more g l o o m y or f rightful w as a r o w o f h i g h l y polished human s k u l l s , j ust behind t he torches, o n w h i c h the l u r i d l ight shone w i t h a g hostly e ffect. A b o u t fifty men were present, seated on b enches n ear the entrance, w i t h t heir attention fixed upon the officers, who occupied a raised p latform a t the opposite extreme o f the cave. O f these latter there w ere four   the captain, lieutenant, secretary, and treasurer   who s at around a table on w h i c h were a bottle, a l a m p , and two h u m a n s k u l l s , o ne w h i t e and the other red, perhaps stained w i t h t he blood o f s ome v i c t i m . I t ook a seat among the larger party without s peaking a nd without being questioned, or h ardly n o t i c e d ; and I n eed scarcely add, that I b ecame a d eeply interested spectator of a l l t hat f o l l o w e d . F o r s omething l i k e h alf an hour, the officers chatted and laughed a mong themselves, d u r i n g w h i c h several new c omers s ilently t ook t heir p laces among the larger party, who occasionally conversed w i t h o ne another i n whispers or very l o w tones. A t length the c h i e f arose; and as the light flashed f ull u pon his pale, intellectual f eatures, the reader may j udge o f m y surprise w h e n , i n this c aptain o f b a n d i t t i     t h i s self-styled B a r r o n n i     I recognized a gentleman w h o , not long since, had called at m y office i n L o u i s v i l l e o n private business   no less than that of putting me on the scent o f a w e l l k n o w n t h i e f     a n d w h o had then given his name as W i l l i a m B a r n w e l l , a nd represented himself as a N e w Orleans merchant. A t first I was disposed to doubt his i d e n t i t y ; but I s oon h ad r eason to know I was not mistaken. " G e n t l e m e n , " he said, t a k i n g up the red s kull a nd p o u r i n g into i t w i n e from the bottle, " I drink y o u r very g ood h ealths w i t h o ur u sual t o a s t     L o n g life, and freedom rest, the city, the road, and to the gentlemen of the fothe river; and death to their ene-

  
I
BUSINESS OF T H E C O N C L A V E . 19

mien!"

a nd he q uaffed the wine amid universal applause.

"I

n ow pronounce

this meeting organized for business," he s aid i n

c onclusion, and sat d o w n . T h e treasurer then arose and s a i d : " G e n t l e m e n , a l l of y o u , w h o have been so fortunate as to c o l lect i toney, w i l l n ow please p a y it over to me to be safely kept u ntil t he d a y of d i v i s i o n , w h e n each w i l l g et his s h a r e . " S everal n o w stepped forward, one after another, and handed h i m d ifferent sums, w h i c h he placed i n a large i r o n b o x ; n ames of the parties that p a i d them i n . w h i l e the s ecretary made a minute of h o w each had been obtained, and the T o m y horror and d i s m a y , I saw the host of the haunt of murder step forward, and h eard t he treasurer e x c l a i m i n a tone of s u r p r i s e : " F i f t e e n hundred d o l l a r s ! n ot l o n g go u n r e w a r d e d . " " i \ o , " thought I , " not i f Isaac B a l d w i n e scapes a l i v e . " I t n o w occurred to me that, i f I could get h o l d of the b ooks o f t h i s h e l l i s h a ssociation. I could at the same time get h o l d of secrets t hat w o u l d hang them a l l ; and fliis I d etermined to effect a s s oon a s p o s s i b l e ; though of course m y design i m m e d i a t e l y . might. W h e n t he money had a l l been p a i d i n , and s ome o ther t rifling m atters had been attended to, the secretary handed a paper to the c aptain, w h o arose and said : " G e n t l e m e n , here are s ome m atters I w i s h attended to b efore o ur next meeting. B e t w e e n S m i t h l a n d and D o v e r , on the C u m berland r i v e r , lives a farmer b y the name of M a s o n , from w h o m a p altry horse was t a k e n not long ago, and w h o is m o v i n g heaven a nd e arth to ferret out the thief or thieves. I w i s h his house and b arns burned to the g r o u n d ; and i f this d oes n ot serve as a sufficient w a r n i n g for h i m to h o l d his tongue, the next time he must be s ilenced himself. " A l s o , t he m ade. bank, at C i n c i n n a t i , I h ave ascertained can be S * r obbed without m u c h difficulty or r i s k , a nd a splendid h a u l I had no h opes o f succeeding i n I n o w noted the officers closely, so that J a c k , y o u have d one w