Litchfield enquirer., 1849-11-29
MlSCRnEA AMY.
A Singular Adventure.

Oh tH0 NOAlcR0 Oh 0UTSSOUSS uHF0 O1LcN
heard him relate the following anec-
dote:
One day that he had procured the
bodies Of two criminals, who had been
hung, for the purpose Of anatomy, not
being able to find the key of the dissect-
ing room. at the moment the two SUBJ
jccts were brought, he ordered tEem to
be deposited in an apartment contiguous
to his bedroom.
During the evening DR.. Basconn, wrote
and read as usual previous to retiring to
rest. The clock had just struck one, and
all the family slept soundly, when all at
once dull sound proceeded from the
room containing the bodies.
Thinking that perhaps the cat had
been shut up there by mistake, he went
to see what could be tho cause of the
unexpected noise. What was his aston
ishment, or rather his horror, on discov.
ering that the sack which contained the
bodies was torn asunder, and on going
nearer he found that one of the bodies
was missing.
The doors and windows had been fas.
tened with the greatest ,are, and it ap-
peared impossible that the body could
have been stolen. The good doctor felt
rather nervous on remarking this. and it
was not without an uneasy sensation that
he began to look about him. when to his
horror and amazement he perceived the
missing body sitting upright in corner.
Poor DR.. Bascona at this unexpected
apparation became ransfxed with ter
ror, which was increased by observing
the dead and sunken eyes of the corpse
fixed upon him; whichever way he mo-
we'd, those dreadful eyes still followed
him.
The worthy doctor, more dead than
alive, now began to beat a quick retreat,
without, however, losing sight Of the OBJ
ject of his terror; he retreated step by
step, one hand holding the candle, the
other in search Of the door, which he at
length gained; but there is no escape, the
spectre has risen and followed him, whose
hvid features, added to the lateness Of
the hour and Stiffness of the night, seems
to- eonspire to deprive the poor doctor
of the little courage he has left; bis
strength fails, the candle falls from his
hand, and the terrible scene is now in
complete darkness.
The 60 ID doctor has however, gained
his apartment and thrown himself on his
bed but the fearful spectre has followed
hint has caught him, and seizes hold
Of his feet with his hands. At this oil
max of terror the doctor loudly exclaim-
ed, Whoever you are, leave me" At
this the spectre let go his hold. and
moaned feebly these words: Pity, good
hangman have pity on me" The Doc
tor now discovered the mystery. aud re-
gained by little and little his eomposurc.
He explained to the criminal, who had
SO narrowly escaped death, who he was,
and prepared to call up some of his fam
| lily.
do you, then, wish to destroy me y
exclaimed the criminal. eff l Pm dis
covered, my adventure will become pub
lie, and l shall be brought to the scat
fold a second time. In the name of
humanity, save me from deathy'
The good doctor then rose md pro
cured Light he muded his unexpected
visito; in au old dressing gown. and hav-
ing made him take some restoring cor
dial testified desire to know what crime
had brought him to the scaffold,
He was deserter.
The good doctor did not we'll know
what means to employ to save the poor
creature. He could not keep him in his
house, and to turn him out would be to
expose him to a certain death. The
only way. then. was to get him into the
country; so having made him dress him.
self in some old clothes which the kind
doctor selected from his wardrobe, he
left town early, accompanied by his pro-
tege, whom be represented as an assist
ant in difficult case upon which he had
been called in.
| When they had gat into the open
country the wretched creature threw
himself at the feet Of his benefactor and
liberatOr. to whom he swore eternal graf
itude; and the generous doctor having
relieved his wants by a small sum OF
money, the grateful creature left him with
many blessings and prayers for his hap
piness,
About twelve years after this occur
renee DR.. Bascom had occasion to visit
Amsterdam. Having gone one day to
the bank. he was accOsted by a well
dressed man--one who had been point
ed out to him as one VI the most opulent
merchants Of the city.
TIE merchant asked him politely If
he were not DR.. Bascom. OF London
and on his answering in the affirmative,
pressed him to dine at his house; which
invitation the worth doctor accepted.
On arriving at the merchants house, he
was shown into an elegant apartment,
where a most charming woman end two