American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-08-28
A MOMENT OF HORROR.

OF Romance or of sentiment, but simply
To relate. an Incident which happened
10 myself in the fall Of 1856. was
bound westward to the city Of New
York.
The city was crowded with strangers.
After unsuccessful application to sever.
al hotels. at last obtain lodging at
---s kept on European plan. Hero
"as obliged to content myself with d
chamber on the fourth floor, oddly G.
nough arranged in some respects, as
upon going to it after supping. for the
purpose of changing my travel stained
dress, | noticed the room had no win.
dow, with the exception Of square o.
poning in tho wall through which air
and light were admitted from the ad.
joining room. 70 tho opening too was
attached a shutter in that room. |
dressed and attended the Bowery Thea
ire, reaching my apartment on return
ing about half past twelve o'clock at
night.
When sbou, stepping into my bed,
observed the wicket open, and lho'l
struck me TO take look into the ed.
joining apartment. Why it was know
not. per hops sense Of my o&n Gecuri.
ty that actuated mo.
got upon a chair and gazed through
the window into the chamber. No one
was there. IL was finished like wy osen.
A lamp was burning aud upon table
was lying a Holster. milestone, and
a pair OF large false %hiskers.
Well thought these are rather queer
articles Of wardrobe. After a glance
at the premises felt anything but ca
sy. finally got into bed. first placing
the lamp upon the floor at the foot, ex.
aminine my pistol, l laid it carefully
under my head. At fist, though quite
fatigued, | could not sleep; and when
| did doZe my dreams were uneasy and
troubled. Macbeth had been played al
the theatre. aud witches aud black
whiskers. Banqno's ghost with pistol
holsters and the like interesting visitors
were the cemPanions Of my dreamy
thoughts.
| About three o'clock it might ha1 1e
been.l was aroused by somewhat sing.
ular noise. On listening it evidently
Proceeded fl6m the next room. I,
could be like nothing had ever heard
1t was low but regular and metallic in il.
sound-so as 10 express it, such a sounC
for instance as might be made in cut
ting glass with diamond. Suddenl,
| thought Of the milestone on the table
and at the same moment became con
vinced the noise was that Of knife to
ing sharpened. My bed was placed il
a diagonal corner Of the room from the
wicket, and | had been lying with my
back to the latter. | turned in my bee
as iselessly as possible so as to face
the wicket, grasping my postol. The
lamp was burning dimly and all was as
silent as death.
rs my eye fell upon Tho window, il
ehcountefed first a hand placed upon the
sill, thoii rose by degrees head, will
pair of glittering black eyes, grea
heavy "ltiskefs. and long sharp knife
between his teeth. think posses tn,
ordinary courage o! man, but mus
confess the blood in my veins seemet {
to curdle as Viewed tho apparition.-
Quick as Lightning I sprang up in my
bed, and pointing my pistol cried out
"lf you move muscle from your po
sltion you are dead man" The eye,
glafea, the head how ever remaining a:
described, the man not uiieling a sylla
bio. got out Of bed, and with the pis
tol still presented and eyes fixed on his
lacked to the bell rope aud pulled il
violently. In few moments servant
came up. l called to him to "bring a
police officer, there is something serious
going on hcre;" in momopt the pas.
sage was filed with the inmates Of the
house. In short time star made his
appearance; and took the man into Gus.
tody. The landlord said he had arrived
that evening without any baggage.
The next day gentleman claimed
The Supposed assassin as his brother, a
maniac whom he had been conducting
to the insane asylum in Philadelphia,
and who had escaped from him while
in that city. He had made his way TO
New York and with the cunning of a
madman, had managed to avoid detec,
ton. ] suppose tho power Of tho eye
for kept mino fixed on his-had
restrained him, otho fwise hs could ca
silly have mastered inc in Moment
Since then while in a strange place
have been careful to examine and SO,
cure my chamber before retiring.
|