Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-04-18
The Dangers of Ladies' Travel
Ing Unprotected - PIckpOck-
ets-ThriIling Adventure In "a
Tunnel.


A lady travelling by the land route between
New Yort and Boston, was unfortunate
enough TO lose her purse containing con
siderable amount Of money, which was un
doubtedly appropriated by gentlemany
person who occupied ths seat next to her, bat
who left during the time the train was pass.
ing through the long tunnel going into New
York city, having managed TO pick the lady 5
pocket during that time undetected, as half
an hour previous the purse was known to be
safe.
In recouutiug her loss to 8 friend who was
soon alter aboutto make the same journey
che danger Of gentlemanly appearing men
occupying the next seat seat to unprotected
females, aud in fact the danger Of trusting 10
appearances ct all was strongly dwelt upon
The new tourist was particularly cautioned
TO beware on going through the tunnel at New
York, aud, being thoroughly admonished,
concluded TO keep her pocket book graspsd
IN her hand during that perilous passage
The lady started; sure enough a gentlemanly
looking parsonage, on the arrival Of the train
at Springfield, solicited permission 10 i'll the
unoccupied seat beside the fair traveller,
which, according to the rules Of travel could
rot be refused. The strangers manners
we're those OF gentiemany ease, (pick pockets
in novels always are bis costume was plain,
serviceabls aud adapted for travelling. lie
was polite; he offered the lady his newspaper,
il was coldly declined; he volunteered few
remarks which received only chilling mono.
sylObe responses
Intact, he made no progress whatever in
becoming better acquainted with his neighbor,
aud evidently giving up in despnir, occupied
IA oil .srat .ly "A \. L
almost forgotten her travelling companion as
well as the adyice of her friend, when the
recollection OF both suddenly flashed upon
her as the train entered the Cimmerian dark
ness of the tunnel She hurfiedly fumbled for
her pocket, aud the finding OF lady S pocket
amid the folds of her dress is often matter
Of difficulty and now in the inpenetrable
darkness seemed doubly so. Neryously she
felt in the direction where she supposed that
was, till at last the aperture was
reached, and her hand thrust in to grasp and
hold her poeketbook safely till the train
should again emerge into daylight, when, hor.
ror of horrors she encountered the gentle
mans hand in her pocket.
Whether to scream for assistance, TO seize
the intruder, or in fact What to do she scarce
Iy knew however, acting npOn sudden rea
olution she seized the hand and held on, de
iermined to show tho william detected in the |
very act on emerging to the light
The train rolled slowly--it seemed so slow. |
ly on, that it seemed as il the end Of that ter.
rible tunnel would never bs ruaehed--ahe |
clutched the intruding hand with a Grmsr
grasp, which made no special effort to relieve
itself, probably knowing how useless would
be the struggle, OF else az both we're nnsloyrd, |
eeling content 10 rest in the soft warm clasu
that encircIed it, At length, however, the |
rain emerged into daylight, which found |
both lady and gentleman anxiously looking |
towards each other, the lady's face wearing a |
frightened, anxious expression, aud the gen.
leman's curious and puzzed one us he
gazed into the startled eyes of his compan.
on
"Sirl' she began Indignantly, tightening
her grasp, when, CHANGING to cast her eyes
lown, she found, oh terrible circumstance,
her hand an The outside pocket Of his coat,
desperately grasping his hand which it had
encountered.
The lady was covered with onfuson at
his unlocked for tnrn of affairs, and the gen.
leman, who was a man OF discrimination,
aw that the encounter was accidental, and |
hat each had probably received pickpocket
IMPRESSIONS OF the other from it Mutaal
explanations at length ensued and cards
we're exchanged