The Land Claim — page 45: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

| MOB-LAW. AL some means of escaping from the sheriff's house, though he was ironed. Irons could be taken off without much trouble in several ways; especially where a man. was confined in a room accessible to all who chose to go and ‘see him, as New- come was. It was trifling with the public safety to rum the risk of letting such desperadoes escape. Theman had shown nation; it was plain enough that he would - have killed, her if he could; and perhaps that would be the very thing he would attempt if he should ever get his liberty. These and similar arguments were being made for the propriety of executing lynch law. The more the men talked about it, the more excited they became, until they had worked. themselves into a fury ; and oaths and scowling brows attested the ferocious spirit they had evoked among themscives. In. vain the more peaceable citizens endeavored to persuade them. or to shame them out of so unjustifiable a course. . The) excitement spread like a prairie-fire, until the mob. greatly outnumbered the peacemakers, and had actaally started, in spite of all remonstrances, toward the sheriff's house. | There they were resolutely met by the sheriff, constable, and others, who warned them off, and declared their intention to defend the prisoner with their lives. But the strength and artifice of the lynehers soon overcame their defense. The house was forcibly entered, and the prisoner brought A guard was formed in a hollow square, in the center of which the unfortunate man was obliged to. march. His face was somewhat haggard, pale and sullen, but he showéd no signs of fear or shrinking from the terrible fate before him. In answer tothe jeers and execrations of the ctowd, he only gave them defiant looks, but not one word of reply or of entreaty. iss They had already arrived at the spot—a hollow between the bluffswhere the tree and’ the rope awaited: him, and about “his neck, when Allen, who had just been informed. of the ine in time to interrupt it at the last momeni, Tushed into the ring which had been formed about, £ 3, commiclooks.conn