The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-12-05
WHOLE NUMBER 1871.
A Moment of Horror.


romance or Of sentiment, but simply to mar.
rate All incident which happened to my.
self in the fall of 1856. I was bound
westward to my regiment, and stopped for
the night in the city of New York.
The city was crowded with strangers.
After unsuccessful applications at several
hotels, at last l obtained lodging at IS,
kept on the European plan. Here was
obliged to content myself with chamber
on the fourth floor, oddly enough arranged
in some respects, as, upon going to it, after
supping for the purpose Of changing my
travel-stalned dress, noticed the room had
no windows, with the exception of Il square
opening in the wall through which air and
light were admitted for the adjoining room.
10 the opening, too was attached shutter
in that room. ! dressed and attended tho
broadway Theatre, reaching my apartment,
on returning, about halE-past twelve o'clock
at night
When about stepping into bed observed
the wicket open, and a thought struck me
to take Il look into the adjoining apartment;
why it WAS know hot: perhaps so,,se of
my odd insecurity actuatcd me.
| got upon Il chair aud gazcd through the
window into the chamber. No one was
there; it was furnished like my own. A
lamp was burning upon the table, and on
the latter were lying a holster, whet-stone,
and pair Of large talse wAishers.
Well, thought |, these are rather queer
articles of wardrobe. After glance at the
premises, felt any thing but easy. finally
got into bed, first placing the lamp upon
the floor at the foot; and examining my
pistol, | laid it carefully under my head.
at first though quite fatigued, could not
sleep, and when did dose, my dreams
were uneasy and troubled. Macbeth had
been at the play at the Theatre, and witches
and black whi>kers, Banquo's ghost with
pistol, holsters, and tho like interesting Wis .
itors, were the companions Of my dreamy
thoughts. About o'clock, it might have
been, l was aroused by somewhat singular
noise. On listening, it evidently proceeded
from the next room. 1t could be likened to
nothing | had ever heard; it was low but
regular, and metallic i'll its sound, so to ex-
press it; such sound for instance, as might
he made in cutting glass with diamond.
Suddenly l thought of the achet-stone on
the table, and at the same moment became
convinced the noise was that of knife be-
ing sllarpened. The wheting now ceased.
My bed was placed in the diagonal corner
OF the room from the wicket and had been
lying with my back to the latter. turned
in the bed as noiselessy as possible, so as to
face the wicket, grasping my pistol! The
lamp was burning dimly.4 and all was still as
death.
AS my eyes fell upon the window it en-
countercd first hand placed upon the
sill, then rose by degrees a.. head, with a
pair of gittering black eyes, great heavy
whiskers, and long sharp knife, between
his teeth. think possess the ordinary
courage Of man, but must confess the
blood in. my veins seemed to cuddie as 1
viewed the apparition. Quick as lightning
sprang up i'll bed pointing my pistol, cried
out, "If you move muscle from your po-
stion, you are dead man." The eyes
glared, the head remaining, however as de:
scribed, the man not utterng syllable. I
got out of bed and with pistol still present-.
ed, and eyes fixed on his, hacked to the
bell rope and pulled it violently. In few
moments servant came up. called to
him to bring police offieer-there is some-
thing serious going on here: In moment
the passage was filled with the inmates of
the house. In short time Hstar" made
his appearance and took the man into GUS
tody. The landlord said he had arrived.
that evening without baggage.
| was summoned the next day before the
Police Court. While in the room gentle
man entered and claimed the supposed bur
glar as his brother, a maniac, whom he bad
been conducting to the Insane Asylum in
Philadelphia, and who had escaped from
him while in that city. lie had made his
way to New York, and with the well known
cunning af~a mailman, had managed 70
avoid detection. supposs.the "Power of
the Eye" for kept mine fixed on his, had
restrained him, otherwise be could easily
have mastered me in moment. Since
then, whilst in strange place, have been
careful to examine and secure my chamber
before retiring s.~u.T
i AN ARMY OFFICER. 80:
VIRGINIA MlLlTAKY IxsrIryEE.-We
L