New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-14
The Iron Footstep.

Nii'S
to the age and character of the listeners terror sym
pathy doubt. ncredulity, or ridicule Still it con
tnues to be told, even by those who are urgent IL
their isayowa Of belief in supernatural Appearances
the story is kent alive and recollected in after life
for the bias is strong one of the mind, to dwell ever
on the shadows that pertain to that world of untred
being, which approaches toward us with its slow and
Z noiseless but Irresistible and overwhelming move
my whole heart to the following remarkable incident
as one which had undoubtedly occurred few years
before in the island of Dominica:
i During season of great mortality among the in.
habtants of that island, in the year =, veteran
Scottish regiment was stationed upon the high bluff
of land that forms one point of crescentular bay
and overlooks the town and harbor inland, towards
the east small plain extends itself; while on the
west and north, which is nearest the Shore and al
most overhanging it, were several long one-story
buildings hastily erected Of wood, for the accommo
dalton Of the officers of the corps, and consisting all
of three rooms each end with piazza on the side
toward the sea, extending the whole length of the
structure, and forming shaded and agreeable pro
menade during the earlier part of the day. The
rooms opened upon the piazza, and communicated
with each other by means of side door, which was
occasionally left open for the free circulation OF air.
In one of these barracks were quartered three otf
GERS Of the regiment, Major Hamilton, Capt. Gordon
and a third whose name cannot at this moment
recall. Major Mamiton's apartment was in the
centre. He had lost leg in the service, and usually
wore wooden pin, or stick, shod with iron; and
up and down this piazza for hours together, stopping
occasionally at Gordon's door window, ana some.
times looking in at that of the other officer, exchang
ing cheerful word with them they sat each ID his
| apartment, endeavoring to beguie the time with
dressing, reading, writing, thoughts of promotion,
of home, and of speedy and happy return to Britain.
The sound Of the Majors step was peculiar 1t was
only the blow given by the iron ferue at the end OF
his wooden leg that was heard; for although stout
man. be trod light with the remaining foot, and heav-
lily only with the wooden substitute, which gave forth
its note at short intervals he paced to and fro so
regularly that there was certain pleasure IN listen
ing to it. Sounds that strike the ear in this measured
way affect us more than others. The attention be-
come engaged, and they grow emphatic as we listen
The cakers hammer stroke, as it flies from the dock
yard of the busy post across some placid bay into the
green and peaceful country, is an instance OF this
truth the songster has it, in the line,
His very step has music int,
When he comes up the stairs,
and Lamb felt it, when he said of his physician, that
''there healing in the creak Of his Shoes" as he
approached his apartment Associated with this
measured movement Of the Major was his deep cherry
voice, that made light of danger and difficulty
whether on the field of battle amid the sick
ness which in mockery of the beauty of tropical skies
and scenery, devastating the colony at this mel
ancholy period.
This sickness proved fatal to several officers of the
regiment and after some time Majo Hamilton was
taken down with it. It was fever attended with
derium. The Major was confident of recovery, and,
indeed, rom the great eqlanliHhy anu Happy telu-
permanent of his patient, his physician had hopes al
most to the last These however, were not destined
to be realized He expired the seventh day after he
seized while he was endeavorng to speak to his
friend Captain Gordon, and was buried under arms at
sunset of the same day. Now, it was on the second
night after this mournfu event that Gordon, having
retired to bed rather late than usual found himself
unexpectedly awake. He was not conscious OF any
distressing thought dream which should have occa-
stoned this shortened slumber, and as he commonly
mo do butnn Df q mic Z
been latterly broken by the kind offices he had rem
dered his comrade, he was half surprised at finding
himself awake. He touched his repeater, and found
only past o'clock He turned on the other side,
and composed himself afresh.
Thoughts of his friend came over his heart, and as
his cheek reached the pillow he said Poor Ham-
ton! Well God have mercy upon ns!n lie felt at
the moment that some one near him said " Amen! y
with much solemnity. He was ef1ectualy aroused
and asked +" who is there ~ There was no reply
His voice seemed to echo into Hamitons late apart
ment and he then remembered that the door was
open that communicated between the two rooms. He
listened ntenty but heard nothing save the beating
of his own heart. He said to himself it is all
Imagination and again endeavored to compose him
self, and think of something else. He laid his head
once more upon the pillow, and then he distinctly
heard for the first time the Majors well known step.
1t was not matter to be mistaken about The ferule
sound, the pause for the foot, the sound again ;
measured in its return, as if all were again in life.
He heard it first upon the piazza heard it approach,
pass through the door from the piazza into the center
apartment, and there it seemed to pause as if the
figure Of the departed was standing on the other side
of that open door, in the room it had so lately occu
pied. Gordon rose. He went to the window that
opened upon the piazza and looked out. The night
was very beautiful I; the moon had gone down, the
sky was of the deepest azure, and the low dash of
the waves upon the rocks at the foot of the bluff,
was the only thing that engaged his notice. except
the extreme brightness and ucdy of solitary star,
that traced its gittering way of light toward him
the distant waters OF the ocean. All else was
still and reposed.
at is very remarkable" said he az could have
sworn heard it." He turned toward the door that
stood open between the two rooms. The Majors
apartment was darkened by the shutters being closed
and he could distinguish nothing inside it, He wished
the door shut, but felt repugnance at the idea
of closing it, and while he stood gazing into the dark
room the thought of being in the presence of dis
embodied spirit rose in his mind, and though brave
man. he could not Immediately control the bristling
sensation of terror that began to possess him. He
longed for the voice of any living being and though
for the moment the idea of ridicue deferred him, he
determined on calling up the officer who occupied
the other apartment He passed out on the piazza
and as he approached the other extremity. of the
building the sentinel perceving him presented arms.
Have you been long stationed here? " said Capt.
Gordon.
Half an hour was the reply.
"Did you-did you happen to see any one on the
piazza during that time ?"
81 did mott"
Gordon returned at once to his room, vexed with
himself for having been the sport of illusion of his
own brain. He closed his door and window and
went to bed. He was now thoroughly awake, and
had reganed he thought, entire possession of his
faculties. My old comrade,' said he, what could
he possibly want with me? We were always friends
Kind.hearted, gallant fellow that he was No man
ever was his enemy except upon the battlefield itself
Why should have dreaded to meet him, even if such
an event could possibly ben
And yet so constituted are we that moment OF
two after this course of thought had occupied hi
mind he was almost paralyzed with dread by the re-
currence of the same well known step, that now
seemed pacing the dark and tenantless apartment
He even fancied irregulality in it. betokened as
he thought, some distress of mind, and all that he
had heard of spirits revsting the of hei
mortal existence, to eXpiate hidden crime, en-
tered his imagination and combined to make his stu
alton awful and appalling. It was. therefore, with
great earnestness that he exclaimed: In the name
OF God, Hamilton, is that you?"
| A voice from the threshold of the communicating
door addressed him in tones that sank deeply into III
soul: Gordon listen, but do not speak to me. In
ten days you will apply for Through it will not be
granted to YOU You will renew the application in
three weeks, and then it will be successful. Stay nc
longer in Scotland than may be necessary for the adj
justment of your affairs. Go to London. Take lodg
ings at No. - Jremyn street. You will be shown into
an apartment looking into garden Remove pane
from above the chimney piece and you will there fine
papers which establish the fact of my marriage and
will give you the address of my wife and sou. Hasten
for they are in deep distress, and these papers vii
establish their rights Do not forget me y
Captain Gordon did not recollect how long he re
NAMED in the posture in which, he had listened tt
the spirit of his departed friend but when he arose
it was broad day He dressed himself and went tt
town drew a statement If the affair and anthem