The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-03-24
M y eel m G OU s..
DR.. VANDENBURG'S STATEMENT.
TO the Editors of the Commercial Advertiser:
New York, .Monday, March =, 1910.

last differed so essentially in all its relations
from the facts as they occurred, that l am in
duced to lay them before you as they actually
happened, and if the public should derive any
interest or profitable lesson from the narration,
shall he happy in having obliged them.
AT about half past IL O'Clock l was awakened
from sleep, in the conviction that some living
movement was in my he'd .ruom and near my
bed. Every muscle was put TO rest, and the
eyes and ears only eager inquiring for the object
The blood ut first rushed so rapidly by my ears
into the brain, that both sight and sound were
deceptive; but as the circulation grew calm both
senses improved, and finally saw, as in a mist
OF thick darkness the figure of a man exactly
before my face, and within reach of my hand.
My first thoughts were employed IN devisng
means of escape, and resorted to the stt atagem
of elevating the bed clothes on my feet aud
hands, till L could toss them over his head like
net This done, seized my cane and left the
room, without even closing the door after me-
and made the best OF my way down stairs, and
was much surprised to find my exit defeated by
guard placed inside the front door, which led
to the street. Wishing to avoid collision with
this man, continued down the next stairway to
the basement, and here found another guard
posted behind this door. Here my means of
escape being entirely cut of,my cowardice failed
me as being no longer available, and wei know.
ing that these men had TO much sagac ity TO leave
me able too sound the alarm on their retreat the
courage that came was NOT the courage OF
brave man, but courage resulting from desperate
circumstances, and poised my weapon with
deadly aim at the only object that prevented my
escape.
The weapon is single spear Of steel about
five inches long, set in the foot of cane, and
when in common use is covered with Il silver
feru lie screwed over il. 1t looked so exactly
like cane that the man was impaled on it's
point be fore he was aware of its character, AMI
yet he fought with such desperation, pnoned
IN I fears
the; but he grew weaker, and my courage re-
newed. About this time man came down the
stairs behind, and throwing his light ransiently
upon us, discovered our position, and closed it
again. changed my position and placed nay
back against the wall, to defend myself from
my new assaant He approached us in the
dark, and when passing sent blow at random
that feled him in the corner of the hall next his
companion still standing,
into my office adjoining the hall, with the hope
of ping through the window on the side
walk. ] had scarcely crossed the thieshhoid OIL
the door when received blow behind the ear
and on the neck that staggered me about twelve
feet into large office-char, which fell over, ana
with it-By the time I regained my feet, j
felt the grasp of IL hand on my shoulder; we
closed, and got what wrestlers call the under
hold. but it availed me little; l was thrown with
force upon the floor, and my antagonist on top
of me- | kept my arms casped firmly around
him. and pressed him closely TO my breast and
face. that I might prevent him from striking or
using his knife, if he had one. In moment ne
said Il am stabbed and the warm blood poured
so profusely into my face, that l turned ASIDE
my mouth and nose to free my breathing
He grew weak at once, and turned him Off
from me, and half rising, with one knee on the
floor, received q blow OH the pit OF the son-
ach TINT deprived me of all further apprehen :
sion and consciousness, and when awoke L
found myself solus, and in a cold persplra''en'
with no other suffering but sickness and vomt'
ing. Vomiting seemed TO restore my clrcuIa.
ron. and became warm and in short time |
was able to get in the I'd story, and rim Tor the
servants, who slept five stories above the array
| Thew furnished me with warm water anu dry
night clothes, and i went to bed less exhausted
than agitated and slept hut little. Wheh DAY
light shone in upon the oattie hoor 1t pa'o '1",
TO the Office door distance of 10 feet, was
covered with blood, and in many places SO
thick and coted to cover the moor cio'h
The Office chairs were overthrown, papers scat
tered about and despatched with blood. Aoou
90 square feet of the carpet was red, anu aoon
sever, SQUARE feet was soaked in blood. Out OF
the side walk it was traced in streams, and OF
, the opposite Green street corner 1t was renewed
and from there, in the center OF Green streef'
J was traced to Fourth street, and again IN Hree"
> near Houston, the position OF man sn'lns wa
marked in blood. .. u.
7 have received no very serious injury. In
stab in the arm has wounded but slightly TIT
!; tendon of the biceps muscle, anu as precau
tionary measure, hang it in ribbon 10 Keep l'o
from motion and prevent 'nhama'1 % h na SUI
in the side was stopped by rib. Inc near.
under obligation to this rib for protection AM
: -" Cd 60. nIacinp il there. The blow received
on y neck causes most pain and 'aiig% % it it
carrying the head. My nervousness aiss anu aqua
ton was cured by nine hours oil s,eeP. o.
have every reason to believe thai ihere We e
four men in the house, thar but one followed m, M
into the basement; that the man guarding tn n,
upper front door, suspectng what e was g ,bat b
, below, abandoned his post and iie"i .''a. ' NV
man in the office was in subordinate eapac ~
carrier of booty as he took no part in ,a the v;n
fray ill re,reuted there my way to the new WIN
dow; and that he was unprovide6 win ngn'S Sn'
WEAPONS, MS he used none; that the kn'ie 'o"h -;
in the blood where he lay was dropped by n,
: companion, when the mistake was u'ss ,ohhsd
in the Inference of his friend, am staooeu