How Jonathan Wild’s House was burnt down.

The day appointed for the execution was now close at hand, and the prisoner, who seemed to have abandoned all hopes of escape, turned his thoughts entirely from worldly considerations.

On Sunday, he was conveyed to the chapel, through which he had passed on the occasion of his great escape, and once more took his seat in the Condemned Pew.  The Rev. Mr. Purney, the ordinary, who had latterly conceived a great regard for Jack, addressed him in a discourse, which, while it tended to keep alive his feelings of penitence, was calculated to afford him much consolation.  The chapel was crowded to excess.  But here,—­even here, the demon was suffered to intrude, and Jack’s thoughts were distracted by Jonathan Wild, who stood at a little distance from him, and kept his bloodthirsty eyes fixed on him during the whole of the service.

On that night, an extraordinary event occurred, which convinced the authorities that every precaution must be taken in conducting Jack to Tyburn,—­a fact of which they had been previously made aware, though scarcely to the same extent, by the riotous proceedings near Westminster Hall.  About nine o’clock, an immense mob collected before the Lodge at Newgate.  It was quite dark; but as some of the assemblage carried links, it was soon ascertained to be headed by the same party who had mainly incited the former disturbance.  Amongst the ring-leaders was Blueskin, whose swarthy features and athletic figure were easily distinguished.  Another was Baptist Kettleby, and a third, in a Dutch dress, was recognised by his grizzled beard as the skipper, Van Galgebrok.

Before an hour had elapsed, the concourse was fearfully increased.  The area in front of the jail was completely filled.  Attempts were made upon the door of the Lodge; but it was too strong to be forced.  A cry was then raised by the leaders to attack Wild’s house, and the fury of the mob was instantly directed to that quarter.  Wrenched from their holds, the iron palisades in front of the thief-taker’s dwelling were used as weapons to burst open the door.

While this was passing, Jonathan opened one of the upper windows, and fired several shots upon the assailants.  But though he made Blueskin and Kettleby his chief marks, he missed both.  The sight of the thief-taker increased the fury of the mob to a fearful degree.  Terrific yells rent the air.  The heavy weapon thundered against the door; and it speedily yielded to their efforts.

“Come on, my lads!” vociferated Blueskin, “we’ll unkennel the old fox.”

As he spoke, several shots were fired from the upper part of the house, and two men fell mortally wounded.  But this only incensed the assailing party the more.  With a drawn cutlass in one hand and a cocked pistol in the other, Blueskin rushed up stairs.  The landing was defended by Quilt Arnold and the Jew.  The former was shot by Blueskin through the head, and his body fell over the bannisters.  The Jew, who was paralysed by his companion’s fate, offered no resistance, and was instantly seized.