The weekly Butte record., 1866-05-19

cious 1rult, SHINING ike oalls OF goid
close to the waters edge. About noon,
l had arrived at Gadsden's Point,
which makes out in the bay; around
its bend, nestling ct its foot, lays the
town Of Tampa. Some darkies were
engaged in graphing for oysters at the
point, 80, hauling up, I took my half
shells very good naturedly. In an hour
more l had sailed to the town, where l
was met by q group Of people, who, Of
course, enquired who l was, and what
was my business. Finding out that l
was a Snowman, l had little difficulty
| in having my boat drawn up to secure
spot, my luggage transported to the
tavern, and the best room in the house;
and it vas but short time after that
had secured the court room, and was
in my chamber fling up my posters and
programmes. While was thus en-
gagged, of. q sudden, / felt q hot breath
upon my cheek. Turning around, l
jumped to my feet to see before me the
most repulsive. black ogre one could
imagine. I cannot fully describe him.
One of bis, limbs seemed straight, while
the other was curied up ike cork
screw. He had hump on his back,
while his hose and lips looked as of
fungus growth. The wool grew down
to his eyes, giving his entire face an in
human appearance. But while his
body was either withered or deformed,
wonderful was the muscular develop
ment of his arms which Sampson of old
might have envied. In short he was
the most horrible mystery l ever saw.
"What do you want % said l, re-
treating backward.
A cultural laugh was the response.
An idea struck me. - ~
"Can you post bills % said I, at
the same time showing him a pictorial
poster.
He gazed at it moment, and then
seemed to 60 perfectly wild. Falling
On the floor, he writhed and squirmed,
rolling over and over, behaving SO gro
tesquely that | looked upon it as farce,
and laughed. All at once he leaped to
the floor, standing near the door, gazing
at me with a steady, wild look, licking
his chops, his eyeballs almost exuding
from their sockets. My first idea was
that the monster was genius. | soon
found he was maniac. / was afraid
to call, for knew he would strangle
me before the words were out of my
mouth, as he was in an attitude of
tiger, crouching for spring. The
mammoth muscles of his arms swelled
and retreated, as his hands would clutch
and open. l stood looking him steadily
in the eye. The only weapon l had,
was large knife, clasped, in my pock-
ct. Slowly let my hand drop till it
rested on the handle. Then | took
more courage.
''Get out Of the room this moment'
said I.
With protruding eyes and hellish
leer, the froth oozing from his mouth
and dropping on his breast, he yelled
out
"You am de man! I'se don gone
huntin' de swamps an bayous. i'se
foller'd yer tracks right in an out-an'
now Use foun' We CUB her to me
now-here-or I'll chaw yer ups -
found the crisis had come, l pulled
my knife from my pocket, opened it in
a second, at the same time crying for
help. The moment uttered the word,
he made bound for me, which | par
TALLY lodged, his hand however clu,ch-
ing my shoulder. Quick as lightning
| drew my knife across the tendons,
cutting a deep cash, which loosened
his grasp. Again l cried for help,
bounding for the door, but the ogre fol-
lowed me, and with his other hand
caught me by the throat, burying his
fangs in my shoulder. made two Or
three lunges at his face, severing his
nose and cutting out his eye, but l
found he was strangling me-I could
not breathe. Tighter and tighter he
gripped my throat, until a giddiness
seized me and l fell insensible to the
floor. When conciousness returned, l
found myself lying on the bed uninjured,
gentle female hand bathing my fore
head and pouring some Bourbon IN the
right spot. Explanations soon followed.
My antagonist was madman who had
been confined in the calaboose their
Lunatic Asylum), for over year, who
had escaped day or two before, hiding
in the woods, but had probably followed
my boat with a madman's method, and
taking the opportunity had entered my
room unobserved. He was terribly in
jured for before be was taken from
me the men had to beat him unmerci-
fully, and return him to his chains,
where, perhaps, he recovered.
The facts were soon noised around
the country, and for two nights l had
crowded houses, at each performance
adding to my programme my Tampa
adyentureand when upon the third day
l landed at Egmont Key, where the
skipper was awaiting me, | told him
that be was right in saving the people
were as ''nice lot Of folks as l ever
playacted to- only there was one thing