The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-12-29
use, engaged in throwing stones at d flock of


house, engaged in throwing stones at flock of
geese.
"Oliver, can you tell me where Lizzie is?''
exclaimed my friend, rushing to his side and
eagerly grasping his hand,
"Ha, ha, ha! wouldn't you like to know?''
exclaimed the maniac. Il am going to be
married -those," pointing to the geese, "are
my friends, and they are going to be present at
the wedding. Ha! ha! won't we have fine
| tlmes?"
s.For Gods sake, tell me where Lizzie is, if
you know?, frartically shouted Harry. :,
Il don't know" exclaimed the maniac, imi-
tating Harry's voice.
My friend now turned away, and proceeded
in the direction of the minister's hoase, where
he informed me, preparations We're being made
to commence vigorous search for Lizzie. .,
A Whole week passed away and no trace had
yet been discovered Of the lostgirl. Her father
was almost distracted, and Harry was a victim
to the deepest anguish. Sometimes I actually
feared for his senses. had believed from the
first that the maniac knew more about the mat
ter than he chose to acknowledge. One night,
it was the sixth since her disappearance, Harry
and myself were standing short distance from
the house. beneath the shade Of dropping
willow. He was complaining bitterly, and
was trying to console him. Suddenly OBJ
served form, with lantern, stealthily gliding
past u.s. which instantly recognized to be that
of Oliver. directed Harry's attention to him
and proposed that we should follow in his track
unobserved for something told me that. We
might obtain clue to Lizzie.
The maniac walked rapidly towards the house
and we followed him. We saw him pause
moment before flight of stone steps, which
led into dark kind Of vault, directly beneath
the house.
Oliver descended the stone steps as we ap-.
preached, and we were soon near enough to
observe him unfasten the heavy oaken door
which led into the cellar. A horrible idea now
took possession of my mind, and looking at my
friend, perceived that he was influenced by
the same feelings. A faint groan was now
heard to come from the vault, as we descended
the steps and both of us rushed into it. 1t was
as had suspected. In one corner Of the cell
lar, chained to a post, was a female form. She
sat upon the damp earth, with her head lean-
ing against the wall. Her features, though
naturally beautiful, were now pale and wasted.
The maniac stood by her side, and was asking
her to become his wife. One glance was
enough for Harry. He saw that it was Lizzie,
and sprung forward, shouting her name, while
he dashed Oliver aside.
Lizzie opened her eyes, and family murmur-
ing bis name, sank in the arms of her lover,
We instantly bore her up stairs, and soon had
the satisfaction to see her recover. She in.
formed US that she had not tasted food for q
whole week, and accordingly she was supplied
with refreshments She then told us the story
of her strange disappearance, which was as
follows: ..-
While taking short stroll on her fathers
grounds,she was suddenly confronted by Oliver
who instantly seized her in his arms, placed one
hand over her mouth and then bore her off,
saying that she must and should become his
wife That he took her to the vault and made
her fast to post where he left her. She
shneked, and stroye to make herself heard but
all to no purpose. Day after day passed, and
no one came to her aid. She grew faint from
hunger and thirst, and had she not been discov-
cred that ght, would not have lived to see the
light of day.
Such was Lizze's story, and was now con-
vinced that it was her shrek that had heard
under my window. | will not attempt to des-
scribe the joy of the minister at his daughters
recovery, nor that of Harry, who was soon
united to her in wedlock. As for Oliver, he
was sent to the lunatc asylum, where he now
remains.
PHYSIOLOGICAL PHEsoMENoN.-An accident
occurred in pottery in the lower end of Fort
street, in the outskirts of Detroit, some davs
since, resulted in the death of an employee of
the establishment, which furnishes the most
singular instance Of the tenacity with which life
clings at times to the human Frame The man,
whose name we have been unable to ascertain
was engaged in the room where the machinery
employed in cutting and pulverizing the clay.
is situated. This machine is large Wheel with
heavy knives or cutters placed at equal distance
on its circumference. Some dsarrangement of
this wheel attracted the attention of the unfor-
tunate man, who attempted to reach into the
wheel and adjust it while it was revolving. In
this, however, be miscaculated the speed at
which the machinery was running, and before
he could withdraw himself from under the
knife, it struck him on the back of the head,
ow down in the neck, completely seyering the
upper and back portion of the skull on q line
close to the top OF the ears, and cutting through
md removing a considerable portion of the
brain.
The unfortunate man was a German, be-
ween twenty-five and twenty five years of age.
Dr. Zina Pitcher dressed the wound as well as
he circumstances would admit. The parietal
zone, which had been crushed to atoms in the
machinery, of course, could not be replaced.
.he dura mater. or membrane that encloses
he brain, had also been torn off, and several
unces of the brain itself were gone. In this
orribly mutilated and wounded condition the
nan was able to walk and converse, and his
enses were unimp&ssed. We learn that he
yed three days after:the accident.
We are informed by the physician who at,
ended him that in dressing the wound, he
'ok occasion to finger the brain, and that while
, doing the man was insensbe to pain, there.
eng apparently no feeling in it, but that upon
'uchng the dura mater the man instantly ex-
ressed the most acute sensitiveness. Had this
embrape been uninjured the man would prob
oly have survived the accident
We doubt if another case of such extraordi-
ary tenacity of life can be found in the records
accidents, but the actual occurrence of the