Saved from the Gallows.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 181, 4 August 1904, Page 4

Saved from the Gallows.

AN IRISHMAN'S ESCAPE. While on the subject of revenants of this material kind 1 cannot resist telling a story I came upon in an old amd rare volume, "Gamble's /iew of Society and Manners in the South of Ireland," Bays a writer in a resent issue of T.P.'s Weekly. Here is the story condensed, and rather spoiled by the condension : A Presbyterian clergyman was repaid by a j servant named Dennis (whose life he had spared when it was in his power j to have him hanged for roubory) by rescuing him from a band of rebels. A few weeks later Dennis and another of the rebel band were arrested, tried and sentenced to death. After his sentence Dei>»is sent a message to his old master to beg some money to bury him ; ami when the minister himself camo with the money, to see, console, and prepare the unhappy man for death, he found a crowd assembled round the grated door of Dennis' cell. Dennis, mounted on his coflin, addressed them as from a pulpit, begging money for his burial and for the delivery of his soul from purgatory. He scolded, wept, prayed and preached with a volubility that amazed his old master, at sight of whom, however, Dennis descended from his collin pulpit, and spoke contritely enough of his past life, though, as a Catholic, he had to refuse the spiritual ministrations of the minister. Next day Dennis and his companion wero taken out to ■be hanged, but were allowed a few minutes l>efoie their execution to rest and don their grave clothes in a neighbouring cabin. "It is the uniYersa! custom." I must here qhiote my authority verbatim, "with the unfortunate persons who are to be executed in Ireland to put on their dead dress. This consists of a shroud and cap, with a black ribljon, and give:, the man the look of a spe.;tre, at; imagination forms it, or of a corps*' newly-raised from the tomb. Doer Dennis came out with a show of great fortitude, but it entirely forsook him when he cast his eyes on his fellow suflerer, and beheld in him. as in a mirror, the reflection of his own funereal appearance. He uttered a wild shriek and fell senseless on the ground. The reality of death, presented thus to his imagination through the medium of his senses, struck him now for the first time." The minister took leave of the other culprit, and rode sadly the seven miles between the place of execution and his home. He had a troubled night, but towuids morning he fell into a sound sleep, from which he was roused to see bending over him the spectre of Dennis ! He lay speechless and almost senseless, ba tlied in a cold perspiration, staling into the livid- face and glassy eyes of the phantom, which, however, suddenly dropped upon its knees b:-..idp Hie bod, and cried, "Master, I have saved your life ; you must now save mine !" It was Dennis in the fie. ; ;h. His dread of death had saved hni from death. At his execution he hat! to bo supported on the car as it was drawn slowly from under him, and us Dennis was tail and the gallows low, his feet at times touched the ground. When he was cut, down and given to his frknds, they revived him by bleeding, by whiskey, and by milk. His old master helped him to escape to America, where he became a porter at Baltimore, married, and had many children.