Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1860-09-06
AN HOUR OF HORRORS.

In 1876, not long after the murder Of Colo
mel Davenport, on Rock Island, when many
parts of the West were filled with criminals
Of every grade and hue, and the traveller bad
good cause 10 be suspicious Of all he met. !
was juurncying on horse back through the
northern part Of Illinois; then but sparscly
settled. Ny companion was an only sister,
just recovered from a lingering attack Of fc.
vrr. We had buried both our parents and an
only brother upon the other side Of the Father
Of Waters. and were now vending our way
back 10 Now England. the land Of our nativity.
One evening, just As the sun was setting. we
emerged pnpn n broad prairie, stretching be-
yond US ~ far AZ the eve coul. reach. Ten
dreaFy miles had been trnvcrsed eince We bad
seen house. and now the little log cabin
which greeted our sight was ~ welcome as
the oasis 70 the urd Arab. Riding np 10 the
doOr, an old woman OF most frocious appear
anee answered my summons. and In reply 10
my question Of how far II was to the next house,
grunted ont that II was twenty-eiglt miles.
Here was dilemma Our horses were al
ready iAded, and my sister 20 fatigued that she
could scarcely retain her seat in the saddle.
To proceed was impossiblc, 10 remain there,
felt strange prcsentment would he hut
counting death From whispered contnlta.
tion with my sister. found that she shared
my suspicious respecting the old woman and
the character Of the house. Finally Of the two
alternatives, We decided TO ask for lodgings.
The old woman made some excuses-said
there was hut one bed In the house besidee
her own, and that she was not prepared to take
travellers.
As wra we'll armed--noi without some ex-
pcrience 10 hand 10 hand fighting, aud could
have bed foe my sister, l decided to remain
In r,cfercnce 10 venture across in the night
As we diamountcd rum our hcrses--a villain
Gus looking man. apparently twenty five years
old, came up from a rHvine beyond the house
with a gun upon his shoulder and large
hunting knife IN his belt. lie dia not look us
In the face. but east sidelong glances. indiea.
! tive OF one vhOac nonscience-wu III at ease.
Aftsr a supper Of venison and corn bread o.
which both my siatsr aud nysclf partook spar,
ingly. notwithstanding our long fast, | re
qucsted that my sister might be shown 20 bed
As there wns but one below, we knew the bed
must be In the loft, the floor Of which was laid
with "punchcons, leaving many broad cracks
Ascending by ladder, / accompanied my
sister 10 the room above, and having viewed
the place and somewhat reassured her, descen.
ded to pass half an hour with my hostess and
her son.
Upon engaging her in conversation, /
learned that she was formerly from Tennessee
that her husband bad been killed about a
year previous in fight about claim, and that
she was intending 10 return the next month 10
her native State. As became more acquaint
cd with her, my fears subsidized aud when
finally decided 70 retire 10 the rvom above
intending to sit and watch all night, forgot
to take my overcoat, in which were my pistols
and bowie knife.
Ny sister was still awake. and rcjoiced TO
find that. like me, her fears were gone Seat
ing myself upon chair without any back,
Nl.a ina
into doze, when | was startled by hearing
whispers at the foot Of the ladder. Cautious
ly rising to my feet, ] peered through wide
crack, and distinctly saw the old woman
sharpening tn. huge bunting knife. which now
looked double ts natural size. At the same
moment the young man leaned against stick
Of wood in the corner. causing Il 10 fall 10 the
hearth.
~Hushp whispered the old woman, "you
viii wake them up"
In q moment, like shock Of electricity, q
full sense Of our awful situation rushed upon
my mind. had evidently been wheedled into
confidence by the old hAg, that she might the
more easily murder US. And my pistols o,
horrors they were beyond my reach, and !
could see nothing save the chair, with which
10 defend myselE Had been alone, think
] should not have lost my presence Of mind,
But my sister the only near relative had
upon earthr-the life Of my sister hung upon
my protection, aud by one Of these strange
contradictions in nature, when should have
been most active, sank down on the chair
perfectly paralyzed.
l now distinctly heard the old woman as
cending the ladder, but 10 save my life conld
not move muscle Fortunately my sister
wac asleep aud In my dreadful extremity
was so base as to hope that the blow might
be struck with unerrinR certainty that she