The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-05-27
A MOMENT OF HORROR.
BY AN ARMY OFFICER.

r BY AN ARMY OFFICER.
I do not propose to tell a story either
of romance or of sentiment. But simply
to narrate an incident which happened to
myself in the fall of 1856. I was bound
Westward to the city of New York.
The city was crowded with strangers.
After unsuccessful application at several
hotels, at last obtained lodging ats,
kept on the European plan. Here was
obliged to content myself with chamber
on the fourth floor, oddly enough arranged
in some respects, as going to it after sup
per for the purpose of changing my trav-
el-stained dress, / noticed the room had
no window with the exception of a square
opening in the wall, through which air
and light were admitted from the adjoin-
ling room. To the opening, too, was at
tached shutter in that room. dressed
and attended the Bowery theater, reach
ing my apartment, on returning, about
half past IL O'Clock at night.
When about stepping into bed / observ-
ed the wicke. open, and thought struck
me to look into the adjoining apartment.
Why it was ! know not; perhaps sense
of my own insecurity actuated me.
/ got upon chair and gazed through a
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 bolster, a awhet-
stone and pair of large false whiskers.
Well thought l, they are rather queer
articles of wardrobe. After glance at
the premises, I felt anything but easy
l finally got into bed, first placing the lamp
on the floor at the foot, and examining
my pistol, I laid it carefully under my
head. At first though quite fatigued, !
could not sleep; and when / did dose my
dreams were uneasy and troubled. Mac
beth had been the play at the theatre, and
witches and black whiskers, Banquo's
ghost with a pistol, bolster and the like
interesting visitors, were the companions
of my dreamy thoughts.
About three o'clock it might have been,
Iwas aroused by somewhat singular
noise. On listening, it evidently proceed
eG from the nextroom. Itcould be liken-
ed to nothing I had ever heard, it was low
but regular and metallic in its sound, SC
to express it, such sound. for instance
as might be made by cutting glass with q
diamond. Suddenly Thought of the whet,
stone on the table, and at the same mo.
ment became convinced the noise was
that of a knife being sharpened. Ny
bed was placed in the diagonal corner o
the room from the wicket, and / had beer
lying with my back to the latter. ! turn
ed in my beds noislessly as possible, Sc
as to face the wicket, grasping my pistol
The lamp was burning dimly, and all wa'
still as death.
AS my eye fell upon the window, l en-
countered first hand placed upon the sill
then rose by degrees head, with a pai
of glittering black eyes, with heavy whis
kers. and long sharp knife between hi
teeth. think / possess the ordinar!
courage of man, but must CONFESS th'
blood in my veins seemed to curdle as
viewed the apparitien. Quick as lightning
Isprang up in bed, and pointing my pisto
/ cried out, eff you move q muscle fron
your position, you're dead manl"-
The eyes glared, the head remaining, how
ever, as described, the man not uttering
syllable. I got out of bed, and with pis
tol still presented and eyes fixed on his,
backed to the bell rope and pulled it vio
Iiently. In few moments servant cam
and I called him to bring police Office,
as there is something serious going O
here. In moment the passage was file
with the inmates of the house. In a shor
thine star made his appearance, and too
1.-THE man in custody. The landlord sal
he had arrived that evening without bag
lgage.
The next day gentleman claimed th
supposed assassin as his brother, a mani
&C, whom he had been conducting to tn
insane asylum in Philadelphia, and VIII
had escaped from him while in that city
j. He had made his way to New York an
& with the well-known cunning of q madmal
lhad managed to avoid detection. / SUP
posed the power of the eye-for l keI
my eye fixed on his--had restrained hin
otherwise he could easily have mastered n
in moment. Since then, whilst in
; strange place, I have been careful to el
anime and secure my chamber before r.
firing.
E When Jacob Behmen was on b
deathbed, his disciples gathered around
a order to ask him the meaning of certai
f passages of his writings which was o'
g scure. before he died. After he had col
t sidered awhile, he replied: "Well, my chi
: DIRE, I believe God and 1 both kaaeso Il
meaning once For any thing 1 kno,