The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-11-27
Fatal FrOiic.

p, About twenty years ago, young gen
tleman, remarkable for strong nerves, was
at a party consisting of a few friends, where
ghosts and supernatural agency became
the subject of conversation. After few
remarks by some of the party, the young
pentleman's opinion was asked, when he
firmly declared he had no belief whatever
in such mons nse, and would as soon meet
a herd of ghosts as flock of sheep, and
would no more mind passing a night in a
reputed haunted house than by his own
friends. One or two of the party deter
mined to try his nerves, and one gentleman
in particular offered to wager dozen bot
ties of wine that h, would be afraid to sit
up all night with corpse. He instan ly
accepted the bet, provided he was allowed
a fire, pair of pistols, and glass of grog,
and his house being made the scene of trial
of his nervous faculties. These terms be-
ing agreed to, the parties separated, the
next evening being appointed for the de-
cision of the bet The time came, and
everything being in readiness pistols, fire
and grog-the corpse was brought in by
the party who laid the wager, assisted by
a-friend, envelopcd in a white sheet, plac
ed in coffin, and set down in the mlidl'
of room At this instant the youns
hero was called down from the room t.
speak upon some triAing business, whicl
he instantly dispatched, and returned VI
stairs. The parties who brought the corps'
in, after wishing him good night, were OF
the point of departure, when he carneStl,
said to them. "Now, if any tricks are at
tempted to be played with me, will fir
at the corpse, if one it is, for | strongl,
suspect it is living being" They made
no further answer to this threat than thes'
ominous Words" Remember twelve o.
clock - He was then left alone. lii
stirred his fire, slipped his grog, and made
himself as comfortable as he could. A
length the solemn hour of midnight arriv
ed. As the last stroke of the clock vibra
ted on his ear, he distinctly saw the corps
begin to move He snatched pistol from
the table, advanced to the coffin, and ex
claimed, " If you stir another step, Wi
fire." To this injunction he received n
answer the supposed corpse rose up
the coffin, and stepped out. He repeat
ed his threat-it still advanced-he fire
and the bullet was thrown in his face b
the corpse. He fell to the ground with
piercei g shrek, and rose lunatic-l
which wretched state he remained till h
death, which happened about year aftt
this tragic and truly heart-rending seer
occurred. A more lamentable instant
of cruel folly perhaps never occurred
Had but its victim for a moment retiectt
he would have been saved; but the id'
eff the bullet being returned, or perhal
that of shooting fellow creature, too
such an effect on his nerves that reast
forsook her empire, never more to retur
A moments forethought would have sa
ed him. During the time he was CALI
out of the room, to speak to the pers'
who wished to see him, (who was par
concerned the bullets were drawn fro
the pistols, and given into the hands
the corpse, who was one of the party pre-
ent when the wager waslad. The occu
renee is never thoug t of by either of I
actors in this fatally-foolish affair, but
asccasions sigh or pang of remorsc.