The Nevada Democrat., 1857-02-11
A Moment of Horror +. by An ARMY Off, Err.

do not propose to tell story either of 70.
nance or of sentiment, but simply to narrate
an incident which happened to myself in the fall
Of 1856. / was bound westward 10 my rcgi-
ment, 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 lodgings at -s, 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
giong to it,, after supping, for the purpose of
changing my traveled-stalned dress, / noticed
the room had no window, with the exception of
u square opening in the wall. through which
air aud light were admitted from an adjoining
ROOM To the opening, too, was attached a
shutter in that room. dressed and attended
the Bowery Theater, reaching my apartment,
on returning, about half past twelve O'Clock at
night.
When about stepping into bed, l observed the
wicket open. and u thought struck me to take a
look into the adjoining apartment Why was
know not perhaps q sense of my odd insecu-
rity actuated me.
got upon chair, and gazed through the
window into the chamber. No one was there;
1t was furnished like my own. A lamp was
burning upon the table, and on the latter were
lying holster, milestone, and pair of large
false whiskers.
Well, thought /, these are rather queer artl-
Giles of wardrobe. After q glance at the prem
Uses, felt anything but easy | finally got into
bed, first placing the lamp upon the floor at the
foot; and examining my pistol, / laid it care
fully under my head. AT first, though quite
fatigued. could not sleep; and when did doze,
nv dreams were uneasy and troubled "Mac-
beth" had been the play at the theatcr, and
witches and black whskers- Banquo's ghost,
with pistol holsters. and the like interesting
visitors were the companions of my dreamy
thoughts About O'Clock, II might have been,
was aroused by very singular noise. On
listening it evidently proceeded from the next
room. 1t could be likened to nothing had
ever hear |; it was low, but regular aud metallic
in its sound-so to express It: such sound, for
instance, as might be made in cutting glass
with diamond. Suddenly | thought of the
milestone on the table and at the same mo-
ment became convinced the noise was that of n
knife being sharpencd. The whctting 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 and as noiseessly as possible. SO as
to face the wicket grasping my pistol The
lamp was burning dimly, and all was still as
DEATH
40 Hy tgt ltll upon INC NlHuUW, III eHCOUl-
tered first hand placed upon the sill; then rose
by degrees head, with pair of glittering black
eyes, great heavy whiskers, aud long, sharp
knife between his teeth! think possess the
ordinary courage of man, but | must confess
the blood in my veins seemed to curdle as
viewed the apparition. Quick as lightning
sprang up in my bed. and pointing my pistol,
cried out, II you move a muscle from your
position, you're dead man." The eyes gla. ed,
the head remaining, however, as described the
man not uttering a syllable. got out of bed,
and, with pistol still presented and eyes fixed
on his, | backed to the bel-rope and pulled II
violently. In Few moments a servant came
up. | called to him to bring police officer
there is something serious going on here. In q
moment the passage was filled with the inmates
of the house. In a short time star " made
his appearance, and took the man into custody
The landlord said he had arrived that evening
without baggage.
The next day gentleman claimed the sup.
posed assassin as his brother, u maniac, whom
he had been conducting to the insane asylum at
Philadelphia, and who had escaped from him
while in that city. He had made his way to
New York, and with the we'll known cunning of
u mailman, had managed to avoid detection
suppose the "power of the eye'-for / kept
mine fixed on his-had restrained him, other
wise he could easily have mastered me in a mo-
ment Since then, whilst in a strange place,
have been careful to examine and secure my
chamber before retiring