Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-02-10
from the Ohio State journal.
Marvellous Story.

.-
NJ. Alexander, of Geneva, had occasion to
go from Bruck to Laybach, passing through
a wild country, inhabited by mountaineers.
He sat out the latter part of last August.
These are the Terms, according 10 the Steele,
in which be recounts curious incident of
bis journey: --,, f--- 4.
"The day after my departure, l rode one
of the dwarish horses of the country,
which are alone capable of enduring the
fatigues of tbafrugged region; and, guided
by the owner of the animal, reached that
night an isolated inn, the only hall of
which was filled with charcoal-burners, who
were making a prodigious noise. i was
going to take my seat at hazard in the
middle Of this company, when | noticed
at the extremity of the room, and seat
ed alone beneath the only lamp which
lighted the apartment, a traveller, whose
physiognomy and dress conlrasted strang-
ly with the appearance of the rest. went
and sat down opposite him, but he made
no response to the salutation / addressed
to him, as took my seat, and he seemed
noL 10 KNOW tDat was t1ere.
"Meanwhile, the conversation, interrupt
ed an instant by my arrival, was resumed
more noisily than ever; but l could not
understand a word; the dialect of the peo-
pie was almost wholly unknown to me.
"'Monsieur,' said my taciturn vis-a- yiis,
in very good German, after quarter of an
hour had elapsed, these bandits are pre-
pairing to throw themselves upon you, apd
rob you. But do not be afraid. AS soon
IS you see them quit their places, blow out
the light, slip under the table, and crawl
ito the door. l will take charge of the rest
81 was about to ask an explanation, but
"'Silencep cried he, 'and attention.
4 -.In o few moments, the whole crowd
rose together, and pressed toward the cor
her where we were; but faithful to my in
structions, l extinguished the. light and
glided under the table, Immediately |
heard a whistling sound, like that of lash
cutting the air, then cries of pain and rage,
then smothered cries of men pressing
one another to avoid some danger. |
learned afterwards that this was occasioned
by my unknown benefactor, who was
scourging with loaded whip this band of
ruffians.
"Meanwhile, l crouched near the door,
waiting the issue of all this, when my
neighbor coming close to me:
"'Now, said he, in underione, 'on with
us. 1t is no lime to amuse ourselves
"Wehurried forth, and after while found
ourselves in comparative safety.
.."'But my poor guide, whom we have
left behind with those peoplen l excaim-
ed, suddenly reeolieeting him.
our guide is rascal, like the Others.
Il was he told them that You had money
aud watch. He would have had his
part of the booty
';In spite of the fatigue of my journey, the
emotions of that scene hal restored me and
Iwalked the whole night with my compan-
ion, and at daybreak found myself in open
German country. There was no longer any
danger. As TO my rescuer, the peril once
passed, be relapsed into his former iaciturni-
ty, and quilted Inc the same day, merely
advising me. if ever l travelled through
that county again, not to takea guide, and
above all, not to carry my watch and
money as l did. When, at the moment
of our separations. l enquired who be was,
that l might know to whom 1 was SO
much indebted:
-" Il am, said he, saluting me, ssI am
your humble servant! nsrl
"a ale turned his back upon me, and soon
disappeared. Singular beingl
"On the 25ih of last September, finding
myself once more at Laybach, l saw every
body running towards the market space
Urged by curiosity, | did as everybody did,
and arriving at the common rendezvous,
made one OF the great crowd that pressed
a scaffold, where man was about to be
hanged. But judge of my surprise, when
l beheld at the top of the lader, and lean
ing with folded arms against the gibbet,
and awaiting the arrival of the prisoner,
my liberator from the Inn of the Colliers.
He was the town hangmanp