Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-03-14
A Moment Of Horror.
HY AN ARMY OFFICER.

do not propose to tell a story eithe
of n romance or of sentiment, but simply
to narrate an incident which happened t.
myself in the fall of 1856. was bount
westward to the city of New York.
The city was crowded with strangers
After unsuccessful applications at sever
al hotels, at last | obtained lodgings a
IS, kept on the European plan
Here | was to content myseIfwith cham
Der on the fourth floor, oddly enough ar
ranged in some respects, as, going to j
after supping for the purpose of changing
my travel-stained dress, noticed the
room hud no window with exception of d
square opening in the wall through which
air and light were admitted from the ad.
joining room. To the opening, too, was
attached shutter in that room. dress.
ed and attended the Bowery theatre,
reaching my apartment, on returning,
about half past l2 o'clock at night.
When about stepping into bed obser-
we'd the wickctopen, and thought struck
me to look into the adjoining apartment.
Why it was l know not; perhaps sense
Of my own insecurity actuated me.
got upon chair and gazed through
window into the chamber. No one
was there. 1t was furnished like my own.
A lamp was burning upon the table, and
upon the table was lying q bolster, a
whetstone and pair Of large false whis-
kers.
Well, thought |, these are rather queer
articles of wardrobe. After glance at the
premises felt anything but easy. / finally
got into bed, first placing the lamp on the
floor at the foot; and examining my pistol
| laid it carefully under my head. At
first though quite fatigued, could not
sleep; aud when / did doze my dreams
were uneasy and troubled. Macbeth. had
been the play at the theatre, and witches
aud black whiskers, Banquo's ghost with
d pistol, holsters and the like interesting
visitors, were. the companions Of my
dreamy thoughts.
About three o'clock, it might have been
was aroused by somewhat singular
noise. On listening, it evidently proceed
ed from the next room. 1t could be H.
kened to nothing had eyer heard; it was
low. but regular and tnetalick in It's
sound-so to express it, such 4 sound for
instance, az might be made in cnttlng
glass wite a diamond. But suddenly l
thought of the milestone on the table, and
at the same moment became convinced
the noise was that of knife being shar-
.pened. My bed was placed in the dag
onal corner Of the room from the wick
ct, and had been lying with my back to
the latter. ! turned in the bed as nois-
essIy ms possible, so rs to face the wick
ct, grasping my pistol. The lamp was
burning dinIg, aud all was still as death
As nv eye fell upon the window, it en-
cnnntered first hand placed upon the
sill, then rose by degrees a head, with
pair of gIittering black eyes, great heavy
whiskers, and long sharp knife between
his teeth. think possess the ordinary
courage of man, but must confess the
blood ih my veins seemed to curdle as |
viewed the apparition. Quick. as light
ming, / sprang up in the bed, and pointing
my pistol cried out, "If you move mus
Gle from your position, you're dead
rnan!'' The eyes glared, and the head
however, as described, the man
not uttering syllable. / got out Of bed
and with pistol still presented and eyes
fred on his, / backed to the bell rope
and pulled ii violently. In a few mo-
ments a servant came up | called him
to bring police officer, as there is sotne-
Ihiag serious going on here. In a mo-
,nents the passage was filed with the in
mates ofthe house. In short time star
made his appearance, and took the man
rto custody. The landlord said he had
arrived without baggage.
The next day gentleman claimed the
supposed assassin as his brother, a mani
&c, whom he had been conducting TO the
insane asylum in Philadelphia, andIwho
lad escaped from him while in that city.
He had made his way to New York and
With The we'll known cunning Of mad
nan, had managed to avoid detection. !
suppose the power Of the eye-for kept
nv eve fixed on his-had restrained him,
otherwise he could easily have mastered,
me in a moment. Since then, whilst in
| strange place, have been careful to
examine and secure my chamber before
'etiring.
~r4-- IL.