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I have sworn upon the AHnr of God, eternal hostility to every ftrm'of 1'jraiiuy over the mind oT Man." Thomd Jefferson.
PRINTED ANO PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB.
mwm
Volume 13.
OIjIEJjRSISSA COUWTT; FA. SATttTIMDAY.
8.
wpIce op the democrat,
EXT DOOR TO 110!1SON a CsTAaK UFFICEy
COLUMDM DEMOCRAT will be
published every Saturday morning, hi
TWO DOLUlllSper annum, payable
lialj yearly in advance, or I wo JJouars
Fifty Cents, if not paid within the year.
period than six no;ilhs ; nor any discon-
Wiuance permuicui uiuuuu urreuruges
are discharged.
uvjstii'iiSJbmMS x o noi cxcccumg a
square will be conspicuously inserted at
One Dollar for the first three insertions,
and Twenty-five cents for every subse
quent ns'crtion. liberul discount
muJc to those who aivcrtise by the year.
JV1 ' PV.nf! nihlrnssKd nn lnisiitp.1.1. mi mi
be post paid,
THE STRANGE COMBAT.
It was during the last war of this country
V. . L . . . . . . .
nil greni unuiui, uiai oircumaiiwiuca icu
merchant men, iti winch I had embarked
... I. t nnnHllp T nnMH0nfl III... t 1 J
!i! inrtVn mispJunf tn llin nnriimcrf!R of both
.lLlIJIIS Lllilll UllZ IIIIUIII illIlllU kbOCLld 111 n-
ic;l t: nun uucu saiii m iui iwumiytiHiniu
.1 I! ... .1. I. 1 .1 !. 1.1
UULI U)UUiUt.LI UULU iiUVt WIWI 1. IFUUHI
jll. And then wc snaffsed heavily along
f M .1 .1 .t - C
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.. j .ie-...--- r i i ' l: r -7"
n:i ms.ir:it?r iriiin liii: hi iiniiiitr in iiiir ia.
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Ul OlIJI UU3 UUWUh IIJ'll IIUiUUU.4
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It.IlVIlV lilliriK 1 1 1 J L i L n V I I L .IIIIJl. 11U1
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a. it. ." n
sn 10 laciiuriniy. nu was ui n euyiu nguru,
i i ..rr. ti i.;ri i
11 ii :r it..... ..-.1
.t
f r . .17.1 ... .v 1 vnmttt n
others to his own, while they were Uopt in
ignorance of his Views'. I havo seen him
fix his eagle eye iip'on a sailor, and require
him to look him steadily in the face for live
minutes, and then dismiss him without
rrt fi'f.ii-itr Kut T wnnlil
conmmui or iuubuu ii umgi --
tct my life almost that he had a good one
After skimming through the' mist, which
T fcit'o cnr.li.-nn hf. fnr lwri nr threes days, I
happened to be on deck with Oaptaia-
I was in conversation with him as to the
probability oireaching our port tree ot wc
oncmy'3 cruisers. He replied with his tisu
i i.roviiv. i1ih foe and carrvin? sail alone
u. ..., --a -
tan save us: I am a made man if we escape
iPnnt T nm ruined.' Ho said this 111 tllO
kamo tone of voice that he would have giv
on a common order he looked up and said
stntnlV. 'there is A fotr-ealer 1' At this mo
went the sunnecmed to flash upon our deck
and the fog rose from the sea like the hoist
'intr nfthn curtain at the theatre a small
kirceze took us abaci;, arid before an orde
..... I i
was given, we saw directly under our ice
tv little black-looking, sharp built, tall rig
feed port bearing schooner, whoso deck
were crowded with men. 'I know her!
'ejaculated our Captain, and thd, next mo
'ment llicre came a hall dancing across our
bows, in imitation of a distracted porpoise
our Captain took the helm from a sailor
nd rravo otdors to lav to. Another shot
a -
-..mm ...illiiti n Cnitr Cunt rC llwt r'nntnin. mill
IjUtlll . ..III). . W b V .......
passed through the mainsail, which h
seemed to regard as It title as he would th
Happing of a sea-gull. But his countenance
grow dark and terrific he liad not a gun on
board.
The privateer braced sharp on tho wind,
nnd at tho same timp came' within muskot
Shot? o boat came on board, and orderod U3
under the pigmy's leo, in tho stylo of an Ad
miral in tho British navy. In the mean
time the wind liad freshened', and tho Cap
taiii had privajply givcii ordfir3 to have eve
ry sail in rcadinesa for instant sotting. Th'o
boat left us, und wc bore down", apparently
for Iho puipose of fulfilling tho c'dmmand
which had been given us'. .To secure and
pack my papers was tho work of a 'moment,
for tho anticipation of tho even, of capture
had placed me on liiy guard in this particu
lar. When I returned on deck,, wo wca
ihnost within hail of tho stranger under a
flowing sail, which in oidcr lo bring to a
proper luff under the lee of' tho privateer,
would require to be immediately taken in",
the captain was still at tho helm, and was
iutunt, apparently, upon coming as near
to "the stern of the op'pdaKo vessel as possi
ble, though at tho same timo ho seemed
lo grasp tho whole of tho little piiv'atcei at
one glance; his brow was knit, and the veins
of his forehead seemed to be swollen ': ho
heeded nothing around him. A't this fno
'ment lib gavo the words 'square away,'
which brought our bows on tho centre of
tho enemy's vessel. 'I.uff,' said the captain
at tho same moment the flash of i gun and
ball were both sec'tl and heard from the pdrt
hole of our antagonist; it raked us fore and
aft, cutting evciy thing before it; in another
moment the bow of our heavy vessel struck
tho quarter of tho privateer with a tremen
dous crash; another moment, she passed
over her, and nothing was to be seen of our
capturer but a few floating barrels and some
spars,- and human beings who had escaped
for a few moments the yawning deep. Nev
er sh'ill I forget the cry that came froth the
vessel, as our own was passing over her: it
was allied to nothing human, it was of such
shrill distress that a maniac's mind alone
could g'fasp its drcadfulness. Our vessel
was immediately laid to, and a boat sent to
piek up such as' survived. Our captain
gave life helm -to the mate, and went to the
Sjows"tt)"TssWlah'-otir--iianmgB -whIcii was
not excessively severe'. Though our Low-
prit, figure-head; nnd cut-water were car
ried away, and a leak was npiung, but yet
not such an one as would be a serious in
convenience. Among those who were so
strangely precipitated into the caverns of tho
ea, one was found alive who had risen to its
urface. It was the Captain; ho was the
commander" of the privateer, of nix guns and
fifty men in British employ. When taken
lip he was insensible, and remained so for a
lone period; after a while when he found
himself in a strange vessel, all seemed to be
a drenm with him.
On a recovery from His trance, and when
the facts flowed upon his memory, lio seem
ed to recollect the consequences of his ad
entiire with our clumpy merchantmen;. Ho
stated that he was leaning npon the laiuail,
when he ordeicd the gun lo be fired as wo
came auspiciously near; it was his first inti
mation of the intcition of our commander.
ftill ho declared it to have been a dastardly
act, that previous to our understanding
whether he was friend or foe, and when
from the act of our pretending to obey his
order, he might have presumed no treach
ery intended him; for us without moving.
without oven a hint of resistance, to bear Ui
reclly upon his smaller craft, and by the
weight of our ship, and by tile bravery ot
our sailors, lo sink as fine a crow as over
manned a privateer's deck to send, hot in
open contest, but by assassin and vipcrdiko
guile to tho mercy of tho deep, and ol i.ou
so many unprepared souls, was an act nil
worthy of a mortal. IIo even regretted
that ho wd3 left alone to mourn over them
lie insisted that their ghosts would haunt
thorn in sleep and ho prayed that tho thuri
nini-ri!il vPtlTGadcO llltirht VlSlt tllC
iw.nl i.f its infumoud nmicctor. IIo do
scribed tho terrific shriel;3 of tho3o wh
went down with him, the rattle In tho throats
of the drowning tho cmsh which laid open
his favorite vessel's side, evb'n below her
water mark and yelled out anathemas upon
its heartless author.
Our captain had been sending at a littl
distance from tho berth of his foe, but now
w
him, and nsk'cd, 'Do you know mcl He
replied, I must have seen you before. I
know not where.' There was one of those
pauses, like lulls in a galo ,at sea. 'Your
privateer was stationed at 'Gibraltor, by the
namp in February in IS 12, was it not?;
'I knew your vessel then you spoke
wrongfully of my rds'.er; Itenry strucK you
and you stabbed him with your dirk ho
recovered, nnd he challenged you you
fdught and killed him I was on the battle
ground you. afterwards, and there repeal
ed, exulting!-', your charga, when ho was a
corpse I then challenged you, and you
sneaked off to your ohi)', and met mo not
I know your vessel for its form was graven
oil my brain I havo re warded your treach
ery, and when you reach biirport, and you
cease to be my guest, I will give you an op
portunity of righting yoursolf from tho
charge, viz; You we're an American', foster
ed by oui family, have turii'sd traitor to your
country, aspersed a femalo who rejected
your suit, are a murderer of her brother', a
villain whose only absence from meanness
i3 a passing show of courage. Tho first
thing you liavo to do, sir, when you land, is
to meet me in wliat is termed an honoiable
way, and that too, sir, before cur sails are
taken from tho yards. This cabin is yotirs,
and the steward will do your bidding until
then.' . , . ,
Wc sailed on heavily without falling m
with another vessel for some days. The
moon came up one night in remarkable
splendor, and as I was leaning over tho bul
warks, I saw the captain of the privateer
come from the gangway, and as tho moon
bcani fell on his countenance 1 observed it
was peculiarly wild and'aad. I endeavored
to engage him in conversation, in reply to
some question, he observed, 'I havo been a
lack-hearted villain.' Sharks were play-
ng around us, 3 if revelling in the flood of
tho lunar ray.
I passed from him to our captain, who
isucmvrrrosf-'raTiiJ j-faroincnrpia-
lion tho very sound of my voico seemed
to startle him-before I had uttered a sen
tence, we liciird a splash in the water, and
saw distinctly our former foe on the sea, he
raised his hands as if bidding us farew'cil,
when a shark or uncommon" sizo turned on
his back, and with one snap of his enor
mous jaws divided in two distinct part3 the
unhappy sufferer. A tingo of red on the
waters, as our ship glided past, wa3 all that
vas seen of the lost commander, and thus
perished tho sole survivor of one of those
pests of the ocean called a privateer. In a
few days, wc reached our port, but since
our arrival, and oven to tlio present hour, I
cannot forget tho going down of the priva
teer, over which, but vessel boomed as ii
bin it floating stick of timber was in its path;
That death shriek will visit mo in dreams,
nnd searo sleep from the 'still watches if the
night.'
At the period referred to, l!tise Indians
rallied under the Black Hawk standard, and
ivero committing many depredations upon
tho settlers in the vicinity. When repuls
ed; they did not hesitate to wanlonly mur
der their fouuer friends and companions.
About tho cabin of the r.inthcr, nearly a
hundred -settlers had coins in for the safety
of their wives and children, placing them
under his protection. But among the vic
tims of savage barbarity, thero happened to
be a brother-in law of the Panther, with
his wife and thrco children. Herein they
committed an unpardonable outrage upon
tho family of their ancient ftiend and demi-
savago. When the sad tidings ot the cru
el fato reached the garrison, the Panther
was seen clothing himself in battle array.
With his rifle, his tomahawk and scalping
knife, in open day ho silently bent his steps
to tho Indian quarteis, about ono mile dis
tant. Fearlessly he marched into the midst
of ilio savago band, levelled his rifle at the
head chcif present, and deliberately killed
him on the spot'. ,
He then severed the lifeless head frohi its
trunk, and held it up by tho hair before the
awc-3truck multitude, exclaiming. "You
hive murdered my brother, his wife, and
their threC little ones', and now I havo kil
led your chief. I am now even witlyou;
but he added, "every one of yod that is
found hero fo morrow morning at sunrise,
is a dead Indian." All this was accomplish
ed by the Panthei without the least mblista
lion. They knew lliat lie would take venge
ance for their deed of blood and silently
acknowledged the justice! of the daring act.
IIo then bore oil' tho head in tviumph lo his
cabin. The next morning not an Indian
could bo found in all that region. They
left forever their homes and their dead', and
that part of the State hae not been molested
by them since.
, i (
A few weeks since, this veteran of eighty
the same hunting shirt and weapops wnicn
ho wore when he killed the chief, started
for Missouri. After travelling a few rods,
he returned and asked permission to give
his "grand yell.'" The gentleman to whom
he had sold the land, giving his assent, he
gave n long loud and shrill whoop, that made
the welkin ring for miles around. "Now,
said he, "my blessing is on the land and on
you; your ground will always yield in abun
dance, and you will always prosper." A-
gain ho look up his march for a new home
in the wilderness, where he could enjoy the
happiness of solitude, undisturbed by so
cial ties.
183S. Wtuhbfer 20.
.-MHl I1 j'V
, . , MARIA. , - ,
Ji RtmaAabrcthttancc ttf ptltrnal For
j , . giveness. , . A
Look trountl the lialitaMq Trorld, hptvferr .
Know their own good or laiowiugitpuriuol
In the west of England Ijvrd Mr. Spen
cer, a gentleman of handsdinc foftune who
was loft a widower at an eaflj- aje with art
infant daughter. Hie only consolation ha
felt afte.r the Ios3 of a partner whom he ten
derly loved", was to the contemphvV.or. of the
opening charms and' grace of his liti'.o
Maria who soon promised to become all
that he lad so uvich aJm rjj in h r li'cjas
cd mother. IIo attended to her education
with the utmost care and assiduity 'procur
ing her instructors of every kind of approv
ed merit, taking a pleasd.ro office upon him
self, for which his 'good sense and knowl
edge eminently fitted him. t , ,
Willi these advantages she grew tip love
ly and accomplished in an uncommon dc-
rco, and saemed in every respect (ormou
to complete tho warrusst wish'03 of a pa
rent'. IIo accordingly doted on, lier with
tho most extreme fondness, and formed no
other desire of purpose in life, than that ot
seeing her happily and hoiiorably establish
ed'. r ........
In pursuit of this design, ho did not, like
most Jiarentg, cast liis eyes on wealth and
rank. Convinced from an impartial obser
vations, that happiness jn the conjugal stato
is only to be expected from H mutual coil;
firmed relish for sober rational felicity, the
first and greatest requisite he looked for in
a son-in-law, was a mind formed to stsady
and habitual, virtue. The character usually
distinguished by tlio title of a man, plda'a
urc was therefore tho object of hU most
rooted aversion and dread
Maria had received from nature that dubi?
tf K ..It 1
in gift) a heart of 'exquisite iVri'd'rness arm
ilisibllity. ..This', while it rhatle her rbi'urA
witn tile warmest lilial
. THE HUMAN PANTHER. ,
The Peoria Register a-paper which fre
quently instructs and amuses us with anec
dotes connected with tho settlement of the
western country, furnishes us with the fol
lowing sketch; which it says, was related by
a gentleman of great respectability, living
near the spot were the circumstances occur
red :
In the latter part of that bloody tragedy,
which spread dismay throughout this part of
the Stato, there were about nine hundred In
dians encamped oli the Illinois liver, oppo
site to tho present town silo of La Salle
composed principally of the Iroquois tribe.
They had always maintained a friendly in
tcreoiirflo with tho whites in the vicinity;
and had manifested a groat partiality for ono
in particular. This was "old Myers," a
porfoct prototype of Cooper's trapper.
This state was the fifth in which he had erect
ed his hut in advance of a white popula
tion.- He had of coiirso acquired more of
tho habits of tho Indians than of civilized
men, and was familiarly known among them
as "The Panther" a title which ho had
acquired from them, by a'dating exploit in
killing an animal of that name, when lead-
alkcd up and placed his keen cyo upon tag then, in ono of their wilds hunts.
THE RESTING PLACE.
However dark arid disconsolate the path
of life many have been to any man there h
an hour of deep and rjuict repose at hand,
when tho body will sink into a dreamless
sleep, Let not the imagination be startled
if this place, instead of the bed of gravel,
or the rocky pavement of the tomb.
No matter whcie the remains of a weary
man may lie, the repose is deep and undis
turbed, the sorrowful bosom heaves no more,
tho tears arc driod up in their lonntains; the
aching head is at rest, and tho stormy waves
of earthly tribulation ioll unheeded dvorlbe
place of graves. Let armies engage in fear
ful conflict over the very bosoms of the pale
nation of tho dead; not ono of tho sleepers
shall heed the splrit-stirtng Iramp, or re
spond to tlie rending shouts of victory.
How quiet the'se countless millions slum
i,or in tlm nrni3 of their mother earth! The
voice of thunder shall not awake them; the
lnud crv of the elements, the winds, the
waves, nor even tho giant tread of the earth
quake, a3 it overpasses tho continents, shall
bo ablo to cause any inquietude in the cham
bers of death. Thoy snail rest securely
through age, empires shall rise and fall, the
bright millennium shall como and pass away;
tho last crcat battle slmll bo fought, and then
a silver voice, at first jus heard, shall rise
to a tempest tone and penetrate the voiceless
wravo; for the trump shall sound, and the
dead shall hoar his voice." Forbes.
ouo
scli
her father's fc'ndnc.
llicnia 01 II Dircngcr - anti uiuiu utnijjuiuu
kind. Uupracticed in the world, she did
not look at mankind with the discerning eye
ofher fathcr.and where she saw an amiable
appearance, she was easily led to imagine
. .l.lnn. ..Ian ...la f.ht.r.nrini1(.nK
A young ofiir.-r happened lobs quartered,
111 1110 town wueu snv uveu, ( vriiu,; m, a.
most pleasing figure and addrsss, addsd a
manner and conversation the most opccloiia
and -most insinuating, that .could bo con
ceived. He appeared alt softness & refine
ment, at the time when his, ;hcart wa3 vitia
ted by the loosest principles and most con?
firmed habits of debauchery, Accident
gave him an opportunity of commencing an,
acquaintance with Maria, before hei father
was aware of the danger to which she wae
exposed; The impression that he miido
was too strong to be eradicated und although
her father asaoon as he discovered the con
nection, used every exertion of paternal au
thority to dissolve it, ho was unable to suc
ceed. , , . . :4
As Mr. Spencer constantly refined his
consent to an union, tne unnappy conse
quences of whicli he clearly foresaw, tho
lovers had no other resource to.graiify their
passion than an elopement. It was long
before one educated in the habits and prin-
ciples that had so carefully been impiantcu
in Maria, could resolve upon eo rasH and.
guilty a step! but at length it was determin
ed on and effected; and me tmmriunaie
girl was too lata convinced of the dreadful
exchange she had made, ot caressss ot ins
most indulgent of parents, for the fugitivo
embraces of an abandoned and faithless hus
band. ........
Justly incensed as lier father 'as, cho
durst not attempt to sofien his resentment
which founded on an act of disobedience,
that overthrew all his dearest wishes, was
likely to be steadfast and durable.' After
suffering a variety of misery, both in mind
it boTly.iu following a husba.id who t.ealsd
her with brutal neglect, and leturned to Eng
land in tho utmost indigence, the third year
after her marriage, with a son about two
venrs old.
Sho had the good fortune to meot witli $