ORIGINAL TALE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 10 April 1869, Page 6

ORIGINAL TALE.

THE PATE OF THE SPY,

" Yes, sirree, I'm Grerman born and bred, in spite of the goodness of my English accent which you have so courteously complimented, and before 1861 I hardly knew twenty words of your language, nor should I havd learnt it but for that, accursed rebellion.

" Come, Fritz, spit it out, all the sleeping cars are engaged, so we may as well kill the night with a little Sabbath gas."

" Send the Bourbon this way, Tom, and after I have moistened my thrapple I shall tell you all about it." Fritz had the bottle handed to him, and, after taking a long suck, began as follows : —

"You have heard, boys, of the Grerman settlement in Texas. I was one of the founders of it, and persuaded a«good many of my friends and neighbours to leave their pleasant homes in Fatherland and seel^ fortune in the Lone Star State. For ten years we laboured steadily, until Scbaffhausen had become a piace of some imj)ortance, although little heard of. Indeed we courted solitude, knowing well that if any foreign element were introduced into our little community strife and dissension was certain to follow. So we paid our taxes cheerfully, biit took neither part nor interest iii the political battles of the States. We had a school where German alone was taught, had a Lutheran chapel, a town hall, and local laws, and appeared altogether forgotten by Uncle Sam. For ten .lemg years this happy state of things continued, until that fearful crime secession ruined us as it ruined many a loyal and worthy citizen throughout the country. By trickery the secession ordinance was passed by the Texan legislature, and an appeal to the people was refused. ! So complete was our separation from the resit of the State that our first information of the calamity was an order from the Confederate Gfovernment to furnish' a •certain number of conscripts for service - against the Federals. Our consternation may be imagined, but our devotion to the flag which had protected us so long never wavered. Aftpr §ome consultation we determined to cross the Rio Grande with all our inoveablea, and take ship from Matamosis for the North. Our preparations took some time, but at last a melancholy calvacade of men, women, and children started from Sehaffhausen for the ford of Ramancis, a distance of 230 miles. \Ve did not feel very scarey about being pursued, as our settlement was quite • off the usual tracks. Still we started, and had gone about 50 miles of our journey when we observed two horsemen rapidly approaching. One of them turned, but the other advanced and introduced himself as Colonel Seth Jones of the United States army. We greeted h^m heartily, and he soon understood our position thoroughly, and stronly advised us to halt, as a body, pf rebel infantry was encamped at the fords. "We accepted, his advice, and after- some discussion agreed to follow it. Next morning Colonel Seth advised us to proceed; accordingly we. plftdded steadily onward until we saw a ban.d of horsemen bearing down upon us. Our. treacherous .leader at once made tracks, but our indignation was too great to permit of the escape of the traitor and" sj)y. Mounting quickly, half a dozen, pf our young men started in. pursuit, and in spite of his utmost endeavours he was lassoed before he had gone many hundred yards. He was brought in and placed under guard until we had made some preparations for defending ourselves. The waggons were- piled up so as to form a circular barricade, and when this was finished twelve of our oldest men were empanelled as a jury. I was appointed judge, and ordered the " Colonel" to be brought before me. He was dragged forth, an,d glancing coolly round said —

" G-uess some o you beoys hey a ch.ew hendy." I reproved his levity, and warned him his life was at stake.

"TVal, Judge," said he, "I reckon you hey me trapped, but if a single hair o my head is raised you'll swing, the whole bilgo of ye, men, .women v and children, or my name ain't Scth Jones of old Kentuck."

After this confession there was little delay, a 'unanimous verdict of guilty was returned, and I pronounced sentence of death on the spy, who looked more unconcerned than any of the bystanders. " "Wai," said he, spitting put his quid, "neow you hey finished highfalutin, jest ontie my arms an I'll see Avliat ken be done with my friends over there," and lie indicate^ with a toss of his head the horsemen,, who barely a mile and a half distant.

Jfo one replied, but a rpjje was hitched over a branch of a tree whichgrew near, a:nd the npp§e fitted :po ( u,nd his neck.

" You have fivo minutes to live," I said sternly, " and I shall endeavour to carry out any last wishes you may express." He stared at me. ' " You mean it there," he said, without the slightest' tremor. " "Wai you are plucky Dutchmen, for I warn you not one of' you will see to-morrow ; but ef you dv wish to oblige, serve out a stonefence and a cigar." His strange wish was complied with, and at the termination of the allotted

time lie was hauled up, and after a few quivers expired. But we had little time to watch the ghastly spectacle, for the rebels were upon us, and in a moment wo were fighting like demons. For hours the contest raged, but all our efforts were in vain, and the barricade was forced. A scene of murder and ruthless pillage followed, and only a few of us escaped. I was one of the fortunate few, and safely reached New York, where I enrolled myself under General Blucher, and met with many who had as great wrongs to avenge as I did. How we did it you well know." I, at any rate, never yet gave quarter to a copperhead, and can count scalps for the settlers of Sehaffhausen.