The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-09-13
A RIDE WITH A MADMAN.
4 RAILWAY INCIDENT.

some distance from my own residence. The
time being no object with me, and the country
through which my yroute lay very beautiful, l
was resolved to take it in what was to me the
most ENJOYABLE way ;sbut after dilgcnt inquiry
for any thing in the shape of a stage, found
that the mai coach had ceased running the
week before; SO that "the rail-: my only
chance Of getting to the place of my ~des''i':
tion. WhereuponI made a virtue oil hecessl-
ty-subnttng, though with the worst grace
in the world !; for my habitua dislike to this
mode of travelling was increased by one OF
those unaccountable fits ofrelnctance to taking
q Journey which sometimes seizes one, and
which is usually set down to the score of ner-
vousness So / tried to explain mine; which,
as the time drew near, rose to complete dread
/ Of it, to my no small annoyance, for ! had a
contempt for; omcns and presentiments; and
zeaously, but yaiilly, l tried ito pooh! pooh!
myseifout of it,
The morning broke, dull, wet, oppressive,
with apparently h;lfa score of thunder storms
in reserve lormy especial use; at at six o'clock
jumped up from, an uneasy dream, N which
l was struggling with some nondescHpt wild
beast, to 6ud .l-had only. half an hour left to
make my toilet and get to the station. vi
course, everything went wrong; strings slip
ped iuto kuots-bultons flew. Never was
there such confusion. could not be quick,
was in such hurry Hastily swallowing
cup OF tea, (part of which, to crown my mis-
haps, went the wrong way.) ran to the station.
reached it; found the time had been altered;
got my ticket; and sprang into carriage,
which tcmptedme as containing only one oceu-
pants and the huge mass slowly took its
noisy way from under, acres surely, OF glazed
root, and speedily left it behind.
The rain ceased as we got into the open
country; fine breeze sprairg up, which blew
away my fidgets, and E'began internally to
lang h at myseIf,for having been such tool-
not forgetting tc congratulate my better self
on lis having trumphed over the nervous fears
that had be>et me. Itreally became almost
pleasant ft,was a mail,tran, so that, was
secure from, the plague of frequent stoppages,
and their consequent flesh starts. There was
ain cxhcrating atmosphere-the dark clouds
that had spoken of thunder when rose, now
betrayinS no such obstrcperous intentions, but
quiet ~ taking themselves off as fast as they
could The weight on my spiritswas removed
yes, began to:be susceptible OF modIhed
sort of enjoyment, and IN the gaycty-of my
heart told my felow:traveller that it was a
fine day-a remark to whh he vouchsafed me
no answer, save such as might be called the
tiring ON me pair of eyes that looked vast:
tp like trve Goals They almost made me start !;
butI considered it was no business of mine
The gentIemans eyes were his own, and
doubted not that mine, owing to short, sleep.
less night, were us much too dull as his were
too bright; so ;whsked my pockct-kerchef
across them, by way of polishing thea, little,
took out 2 newspaper, sank into cosy corner,
and prepared to read, or sleep, a.. the case may
be- In the very drow>iest part OLA long speech,
was just going off into the most luxurious
slumber imaginable, when I was reused hy the
restfessness of my companion, who, rs walked
up thoroughly, seemed laborlng under some
strong and inexplicabe excitement. lie looked
agatcd, changed his seat frequently, moved
his limbs impatiently, borrowed my paper. and
in trice returned it with some unlntelligib!e
observation; then peered anxiously ly out OF the
window, through which he thrust himsclfso far
as to induce me to volunteer Caution, which
he received pleasantly, stared at the wheels, as
though he was calculating their revolutions, and
then resumed his seat.
His perturbation was manifest. could not
imagine whatpoSsesscd the man; but at length,
noticing the agitated manner with which he
often glanced through the indow, as though
to see whether we were followed, determined
that he must be some gcn,lemanly rogue to
whom speedy flight was indispensable, and that
l. rl,n
fiom fear of pursuit-a fear that to me seemed
on, of those vain ones peculiar to the wicked,
for we were then nearly at the ultimatum OF
railway speed and did not expect to stop DC
fore reaching our destination, still-at a consid.
cradle distance. His whole manner and ap-
pearance confirmed this view "f the case. |
presumed his evil conscience had injured up
special engine" at our heels, and, after in,
dulging in few appropriate moral reflections,
Ito m, SELF of course,) | resumed my paper.
The next minute he was opposite to me. l
heard light movement and raised my head
a strong knife, such as is used in pruning trees,
was open in his hand and, with eyes verify
scinlilI lting, his startling address, in 4 tone,
the GOODNESS Of which strangely contrasted
with its import, was-"lm going to kill you"
The horrible truth flashed upon me at once;
he was insane, and alone with him, shut out
from all possibility of human help! Terror
gave me calmness. Fixing my eye upon him,
SO as to command his movements, and perhaps
control him, answered, quietly and firmly,
"No, you are not" It. was we'll [ was pre-.
pared. That moment he sprang on me, al d
the death.struggle began. grappled with him,
and attempted to secure his right arm while
again and again, as strained every nerve to
accomplish this purpose, did that accurscd
blade itt"r before my eyes, for my antason.
list was my superior in muscle and weight, and
armed in addition with the demoncaI str ength