The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-03-21

would have willingly given the contents OF NJ
wallet to have been out of that room, and fire
from the presence of the maniac with his hug
knife. AS spoke, L sprang out of the bed
determined to put as bold face upon the mat
ter as the circumstances would permit.
"Matter y. said he, with an emphases whicl
made MY blood run cold. ''You murdered her
Do you understand that Yes, you murdered
her. and her sp rit calls on me. night and da,
for the blood of the murderer-for gnur blood
DO you know VIII L mean? ?" and the ma1maI
hourished the knife 1ver his head, while at the
same time he kept that devilish stare fastened
upon me. This very night" he continued
| las Lilo ,ked into the water, 1 saw her spirit
!. there-the spirit of my own Mary whom you
murdered; and now p . - & =
''My dear SIR" demonstrated, ssyou are mis-.
taken in the person. l have done you nu
harm" ['''- '+ .'-l.
"You hav'nt ha By Heaven you hdve-
you murdered my wife and here is the picture;
look at it once for ever, for Mary shall be
avenged -- as -.l .'.J
7Tiemblingly looked into the picture as the
mailman held it up to the light, and perceived
the likeness. of beautiful young lady, tut
was SO terrified by the conduct of the man that
it my well be supposed did not examine it
very closely. In fact, felt that l was in no
very enviatle position Just at that time. Alone
in a room with mailman, armed with large
knife, mo prospect of assistance, and myself
unarmed, it was not at all strange that should
feel frightened I knew that the diseased
mind of my companion had imagined that
was the murderer of one whom he held dear
his wife. From my knowledge of the insane
too, l knew that unless succeeded in diverting
his mind, in some way from the thought that
T'had injured him, his fury would undoubtedly
lead him TO use the knife which he held so
menacingly in his hand. ft .. gT-vu-.ss
For this purpose | tried every effort in my
power, to pursuade him that was not the per-
son he supposed me to be; but all was in no
avail eii 81. a.. ar. r.f .l...r = g.
s.You t1i7 murder her " he exclaimed deci
dedly:s'and for the last ten yeors l have hunt
ed you, while Mary's spirit has urged ME on,
night and day, calling for the blood of her
murderer. Do you suppose l will now let you
escape my grasp? let you go after hunting you
all over the world? No Prepare YOURSELF
for Mary will be avenged to night, aud her
spirit will haunt me more" and as he spoke
he fuurshed the knife in unpleasant proximi-
ty to my head.
The matter was getting desperate. I had
racked my brain in endeavoring to think of
some ex xpedient by which | could escape from
my unpleasant situation, but in vain, and
knew that unless something was done, and that
quickly, his threat would be put into execution.
suddenly Il slTuCh Z. appedIiuS
understand him said
"You SAW Mary S spirit tonight in the wa
ter 2"
Yes" =
"Lct me look once more upon her, and will
die in peace Grant me the privilege of see
irg her spirit in the water as you saw it to
ni"ht"
He mused moment, and then said:
"YoI sIraI1. yes, you shall take one look up
.o1 h1,
you shall follow her!' and he uttered the lasf
sentence in such fierce tones that it almost
made my blood cold.
Having by this time got on my pantaloons
and boots. the maniac seized me by the arm
with one hand, with pressure which most
made me cry out with pain, and holding the
knife menacingly with the other, led me to-
wards the door. How hoped that some one
would be upon the deck, to give the alarm
But was disappointed. Not a single person
was to be seen in the bright mt onlght except
The pilot at his post and as his face was of
course toward the bow of the boat, could not
exrect him to observe my situation. To cry
out knew would be instantly fatal. for that
vllanous looking knife cleaned horribly upon
me, and even had | cried out the noise made
by the splashing of the wheels would have pre-
vented my being heard.
We reached the railing which surrounded
the hurricane deck. the madman still retaining
his yice-like hold upon my arm with one hand.
while with the other he held the knife. which
had anything but pleasing appearance to my
sight Y o~s.-..a- -s.- ..as Ssh -...
There ~ he exclaimed wildly pointing to
where the moon was reflected in the water,
$ ont you see her !--there-she beckons TO
m '-don't .you hear her ?'- --.. .-. -,
Of course there was nothing to be seen, lut
determined, if possible to profit by his delusion
and accordingly said f." iaa
Yes, 1 see her, she does beckon to you
and ,rhy 7o~'f gnu go to her?,'
e The knife dropped from his hand as I spoke
his gripe was looscned from my arm, and he |
exclaimed in wild plaintive tones which l can
never forget:-
eyes, Mary ,eW go TO you. am coming
now crining, and as the POOR wretch spoke |
he threw his arms up wildly, and with fran
tic ,rovement. jumped over the railing and |
sank beneath the blue waters of the Ohio
For moment / was spellbound at the ira
gic scene which had just passed before my eyes |
As soon as possible, however, gave the alarm,
but before II boat could be launched, the spirit
Df the maniac had doubtless gone to that of
his 80 Mary" for he never seen again alive.
Some time after this occurrence. | learned
hat the maniac with whom had the fearful
adventure, had been ior nearly ten years all
inmate of an insane asylum and that his in
sanity had been caused by the accidental death
If his vile. to whom he had Leen but Il short
me married. A few months before the oc-
;urrence narrated,1 he had been discharged
rom the institution as '.cured." ...,..- r..
narThe excitement in Northwestern Penn, i
where valuable oil springs have been found
within u few months, is constantly ON the in
rcase. Now and apparently inexharstable
prings are being opened, and the greatest
rouble seems to be to get barrels to hold the
ii which so freely flows out. 49,. r..r.
The great design that hove been digest
d and matured, and the great literary works
hat have been begun aud finished in prisons, i
roves tyrants have not yet discovered any I
l,o;ps thar can fetttr he mind ~ +,