Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-04-03
A MOMENT OF HORROR.
by AN ARMY OFFICER.

! do not propose to tell story either Of
romance or of sentiment, but simply TO
narratc an incident which happened to
myself during the fall of 1856. l was
bound westward, on my way TO the city of
New York.
a The city was crowded with strangers.
After unsuccessful application ut several
hotels. at last obtained lodgings at Mr.
-'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. going
to It after supping. for the purpose Of chan
ging my travel stained apparel, ] noticed
the room had no window with tn: cxccp-
ton Of square opening in the wall, thro'
which light and mir were admitted from an
adjoining room To the opening, too,
was attached n shutter in that room. !
dressed and attended the Bowery theater,
reaching my apartment at about half-past
l2 O'Clock at night
When about stepping into bed, obscrv-
cd the wicket open, and n thought struck
me to look into the adjoining apartment.
Why il was | know not; perhaps sense
Of my own insecurity actuatcd me.
got upon a chair and gazed throug the
opening into the chamber. No one was
there. twas furnished like my own. A
lamp was burning on tho table, and upon
the table was lying bolster whetsionc.
aud pair Of large false whiskers.
Well, thought !, these are rather queer
articles Of wardrobe. After glance at
the premises, felt anything but easy. ]
then got into bed, iirs: placing the lamp on
the floor at the foot, and examining my
pistol. / laid it carefully under my pill
low. AT FIRST, though quite fatigued,
could not sleep; and when | did doze, my
dreams were uneasy and. troubled. Mac
beth had been the play at tue thcatcr, and
witches black whiskers, Banquo's ghost
with pistol, holsters, and the like pleas
ant visitors, were tho companions. of my
thoughts.
About threc o'clock, itmight have been,
| was aroused by somewhat singular
noise. On listoning, il evidently proceed.
cd from the next room. 1t could be hken-
ed to nothing had ever before heard; it
was low, but regular and metallic in sound
so to express il, such a isound, for in
stance, as might 10 made in cutting glass
with diamond. Suddenly | thought OF
the milestone on the table, and at the
same moment became convinced the noisc
was that Of a knife being sharpcned. Ny
bed was placed in tho diagonal corner oil
the room frcm the wicket, aud had been
lying with my back to the latter. | turned
in the bed as no;selessly as possible. so as
face tao wicket grasping my pistol. The
lamp was bnrning dimly, aud all was still
rs death.
AS my eye fell upon the window, it firs.
encountered hand placed upon the sill,
then rose by degrees a head, with q pain
OF glitterins black eyes, great heavy whis-
kers, and long sharp knife between his
teeth. Think possess the ordinary cou
rage of man. but Imust confess the blood
in my veins seemed TO curdlc in my veins
as viewed the appari:ion. Quick as
Ilightning,I sprapg up in the bed. and poin'
ting my pistol, cried out:
"If you move a muscle from your posi-
ton, you're dead man p
j The eyes glarcd, tho head remaining
however, as described, the man not utter
; ing a syllable. got out ofbed, and will
pistol still presented, and eyes fixed OF
his, backed to the bell rope and pullc,
! it violently. In afew moments a servan
o came up called him to bring polio
officer, as there issomcthing serious goin
Ion here. In q moment. the passage wa