The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-04-30
A Moment OF Horror.
ny AN ARMY OFFICER.

/ A Moment OF Horror.
i st ~ ny AN ARMY OFFICER. 81 F7s
| LIDO not propose to tell story either of ro-
nance or sentiment, but simply to narrate an
incident which happened to myself in the fall
of 1s5--. Twas bound Westward to the city.
Of New, York. Il - t,a.se.. ~
( The city was crowded with strangers. Af-
ter unsuccessful application at several hotels,
at last obtained lodgings at ---'s, kept on
the European plan. Here I was obliged to
content myself with chamber on. the fourth
hoor, oddly enough arranged in some respects,
as, going TO it after supping. for the purpose
Of changing my travail stained dress, no.
ticed the room had no window with the ex-,
ception Of square opening in the wall, through
which air and light were admitted from the adj.
joining room. dressed and attended the
Bowery theatre, reaching my 'a2artmentment,
on returning, about half-pass II o'clock at
! night.
When about stepping into bed observeet the
wicket open, and a thought struck me to look
into the adjoining apartment. Why 1t was
know not; perhaps sens Of my own insecn-
rity actnated me. '
!! got upon chair and gazed through awin-
dow 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, milestone and pair
OF large false whiskers. t'ste'
| Well. thoughtI, they are rather queer ar
j ticles Of wardrobe. After a glance at the
premises, I felt anything but easy. i 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; and
when did doze my dreams were easy and
troubled. Macbeth had been the play at the
theatre and witches and black whiskers,
Banquo's ghost with a pistol, holsters and
the like inter esting visitors were the compan-
ions of my dreamy thoughts. 1.ga es.
4 About three o'clock 1t might have been,
was aroused by a somewhat singular noise.
On listen, ng II evidently proceeded from the
next room. II could be likensd to nothing
had ever heard; It was low, but regular and
metallic in its sound--so to express 1t. such
sound for instance as might be ma.e in cnt-
ting glass with diamond. Suddenly Thought
Of the milestone on the table, and at the same
moment became convinced the noise was that
of knife being sharpeued. My bed was
placed in the diagonal corner Of the room from
the wicket, snd had my back turned to the
latter. turned in bed a. nsislessly as, possi-
BILE, so as to face the wicket, grasping my pis-
tol. The lamp was burning dimiy, an. all was
Asmy eve fell upcn the window j encoun
tered first hand placed npon. the sill, then
rose by degrees head, with pair Of glitter
ing black eyes, with heavy whiskers, ana a
10 ,e sharp knife between his teeth. Ithisk
must confess the blood in my veins seemed
to curdie as viewed the aspiration. Quick
as lightning sprang up IN bed, anu pointing
my pistol cried out, s.If You move a muscle
from your position you're a dead man!' The
eyes glared, the head remaining, however, as
described, the man not uttering syllable.
|, ! got out oflbei and with pistol still presen-
ted and eyes fixed on his. backed to tie bell
rope and pulled II violently. In few moments
a servant came up. - called him to bring a
police officer, as there is something serious
going On here. In moment the passage was
If,led with the inmates Of the house. In a
short time a star made his appearance, and took
the man in custody. The landlord said he
had arrived that evening without baggage.
Thenext day "a gentleman claimed the sup
. posed 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 well-known cum
ming OF a madman, had managed to avoid de-
tectlon-q L suppose the power Of the eye
for kept my eye fixed ON his-had restrained
him, otherwise he could easily have MASTER
ed me in moment. Since then, whilst in .
strange place, have been careful to examine
and secure my chamber before retiring. GOO
Il AGooD OxE.-Dr. Magcon, recently in a
lecture on ssMindyyour sBusiness,' - tells the
following good one: Ees z @gf3 aW 4lftsa
a vo,ng man went from New York city to
! Che West, where he commenced business On
his own account, and married. His friends. in
the city Were interested in his welfare, and
when merchant was about TO journey to the
place where-the young man had located, he
, was requested to visit the emigrart, and aseer.
tain how he lived, what sort of a wife he had
. chosen. his prospects, SC. Accordingly th,
!. New Yorker ascertained the residence Of hi.
young friend. and called upon him quite early
in ths morning. He fonnd him in small
, neat cottage, and just taking his breakfast -
, The Introduction Of the New Yorker to his
wife was quite off hand and unceremonions
and he was requested to be seated, and r,rtaks
. Of theiaornipg meal The Young wife had
prepared the steak, biscuit and coffee with he'
. own hands, and for table had used hel
kpeading hoard, over which a napkin wa,
spread, and the .boardn placed on her lap -
| The New Yorkerdeclined q seat at the table
md hook his leave. On making his report .c
, his New York friends as to how he found his
young friend living, be described the style q
stmagniicent !"-asds for explanation OF tn
, superlatiye he said, that were he the owner q
, that young mans furnhare, be wsuld not take
u