Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1847-04-24

A NARROW ESCAPE,

-
In the month Of October, 1926, my YES
sci was laying at Mobile. | went ashore
one bright morning, TO do some business
with the house to which ! was consigned,
and as | passed alongthe street, it occurred
to me that | might as we'll have q beard Of
a weeks growth reaped, before presented
myself at the counting-room. | stepped
iNo BARRIERS shop, and taking the cbair'
told the barber to proceed
H. was a bright mulatto, a good looking
young fellow, not more than W and lwen-
~ years of age, it appeared. HIS eyes
were large, black and l%ustrous, unnatural
ly l]Dstrous, / thought. His ann at
first was quiet and respectful. thought
he was a long while lathering my face,
and told him that he must have bought his
soap ut the wholesnls price. Laughing
he replied that mine was a long beard, and
that he knrw what he was about.
care you the Dos, here, my mani" l
asked.
Eyes" lie answered; "my Mister set me
TIP, and I pay him twenty dollars a month
for my lime"
That is a good interest on the capital.
invested, " I remarked; ''can you pay your
,ent and live on the balonce ofy,ur savings
80 yes, and Iay up something b%csides2
sometimes | receive thirty bits a day"
''Tben | suppose you will buy your free
dom one of these days"
Gas for that" he replied, 81 care little.
| have all the liberty [ want, and enjoy
mysel, as ! 20 along"
"But should you marry and have chill
dren you would not wish to leave them
s~Iaves1"
"YesI would, because they would be
better off than if they were Free"
BY this time he hid laid down The brush
and commenced running his razor over the
| strop, looking at the b'ade every time he
drew it across the leather. His hand trem-
blcd u | tile, and his eyes abso uteIy burn
ed like Goals of fire. did not feel uneasy,
but | could not avoid Watching him closely.
At list he commenced shaving me.
| NY head being thrown back, | was able
to keep my eyes directly fixed on his own.
Why | did 50 | cannot tell; certainly | APP
pretended nothing, but | did not remove my
gaze for a single moment while the razor
was passing over my neck and throat. He
seemed to grow more and more uneasy, his
eyes were as bright, but not as steady as
when | fr,t observed tham. He could
not meet my fixed and deliberate look. As
he commenced shaving ny chin, he sand
abruptly
"Barbcrs handle a deadlr weapon, SIR"
"True enou h, my man" | replied, but
you handle yours skillfully, although | no
tice that your hand shakes a little"
"Thats's nothing, sir-T can shave just
as well. My hand shakes because ! did
not have much sleep last night. But,
was tbinkin' just now" he aided with a
laugh, chow easy it would be for. me to cut
your throat"
very Tx ly," replied, laughing in re-
turn. but looking a; him-"very likely, yet
| would not advise you TO try the expert
ment "
Nothing more was said. He soon fin
is led, and [ arose from the chair just as an
eide " gentleman entered tie shop. The
last conner Invested himself of his coat and
cravat. and took the seat | had vacated.
/ weut to The glass, which did not reflect
the chair, to arrange my collar. Certain
ly | had not at I'D before it a single mo-
ment, when | Misunderstanding like a sup
pressed shrek, a gurgling, horrible sound,
that made my blood run cold. turned,
Great God ! there set The INF .r;unate gen
eman, covered with blood, his throat cut
from ear 10 ear, and the barber. now a
raving maniac, dashing his razor with ire
mendous violence into the mangled neck
On the instant the mans eye caught mine,
the razor dropped from his hand, and he
fell down in a fit. rushed towards the
door, and called for assistance. The I'M
fortunate man was dead before we reached
the chair.
We secured the barber. who, as | sub
sequently learned, had been drinking deep
" the night before, and was laboring I'M
der mania a potu. His fate / never heard
The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Herald, under dale Of 29th
March, says:
"We submitted to you, some days ago,
a passing hint, sufficient to awaken the
attention of the bulls and bears Of Wall
street, to the subject ofthe proposition in
contemplation, for the establiskasent of a
revenue system in Mexico, to aid IN sup
port Of the vigorous prosecution oftho war.
You will since have learned, from inquil'
les made upon the basis ofthat information