North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-04-06
WHOLE No. 703.

rise in the carriage. He leapt over to me
where l was seated. l saw the geam of a
knife in the air.
Mad with passion and surprise, I grasp
ed the descending arm. A furious deter
mination to preserve my life inspired me
with the strength of giant. The ferocity
with which | seized the wrist forced the
hand open. The knife fell and then
commenced silent, furious struggle
lie seized me by the collar and clung
with the tenacity Of tiger. heard him
swapping his teeth as if he were e,deavor-
ing to bite. We swayed from one end of
the carriage to the other. | felt how
weak i'll health had left me, and prayed to
pass out into the light, that | might the
better see how to encounter the ruffian.
Suddenly l felt myself swung around
with tremendous energy. l bounded
against door which opened, and we fell
on the lines in the very centre of the
tunnel.
The fall seemed to have stunned him.
for be fell under me and remained there
for Il time motionless, For myself re-
ceived an indescribable shock such as is
experienced in collision but | retained
my senses. | heard the roar of the train
dying away in the distance. l saw the
red gleam fading ike the eye of dying
demon.
| still clntched him by the throat, nor
did | dare reIinquish it. My situation was
frishtful. | suspected that down train
would soon be passing, and in the intense
blackness of the tunnel could not see on
which line we had fallen. I7would have
stretched forth my hand to grope for the
rails | might have found place of safe
ty by judging Of the distance between
them but felt the form of my assalant
commencing to writhe beneath me. His
struggles grew iercer. He endeavored to
rise, but with the fury of despair kept
him pressed down, one hand on his throat
the other on his breast. What | desired
was to render him inscnsible. | would
then leave him in the darkness, and gropc
my way as could.
1t never occurred to ms at the time that
there was no need to make him insensible
in order to elude him. The darkness
would have rendered my presence invisible
to him. But my mind was hopelessly
confused. was breathing sulphureous
air made thick and difficult by its black
ness. My only thought was to keep the
rufian down. | was only capable, indeed,
Of this thought.
A few minutes had elapsed when l
heard distant rumbling like approaching
thunder. 1t increased. | seemed to feel
wind blowing against my face. l tasted,
too, a continuous draught Of smoke and
steam. | knew that train was approach
ing, and my hair lifted on my head.
What rails were we on -? The suspense
was frightful.
My assailant increased his struggles.
lie became furious. lie was evidently
Sighting to throw me down, and over in
the direction OF that side of the tunnel
along which came the roar Of the train.
| saw his object, and madly pressed upon
him. His body frantically writhed. lie
twisted under me as if be revolyed upon a
pivot lie endeavored to shrek some
words to me, but my throttling grasp
made his voice no mere then a horrible
hoarseness.
[ saw the red and green lights Of the
engine approaching. They grew N size
and lustre with a hideous rapidity. There
was a roar, a shower Of dust, wind that
struck me down like blow from a strong
mans fist then followed the dying rattle
ending in dali and sullen moan.
rose to my feet. | crossed over to the
wall, and, feeling along it, took a walk
with all the speed my sinking frame would
suffer me to put forth. How long |
walked | know not. Ny passage seemed
interminable. The damp of the wall
against which nay hand constantly pressed
froze my blood. Now and then | stumbled
over piles ofrubbish lying grouped against
the side and sometimes my grouping was
bewildered by my coming across recesses
into which NV hands guided me.
A. 1
ious, in the distance. 1t was daylight;
the aperture Of the tunnel, and pushed
forward with invigorated spirits. neared
it slowly, for this star seemed to maintain
an inexorable distance, and would not
enlarge. How shall describe my Joy as
I gained the twilight of its rcfection-as
| advanced and felt the pure air Of heaven
upon my dry checks ana burning lips-I
saw the blue sky, and the dim vista Of
pae, green banks
As got into the light, cry escaped
my lips. My trousers were spashed with
blood. There was one ensanguinel line,
as if fountain of blood bad played upon
me.
| seated myself to recover my strength.
| could see that presented a dismal and
terrible spectacle. My coat was torn, my
hands were black too, judged, was
my face-my collar had been torn frem
me, and the skin at the ends Of my fingers
had been lacerated After reposng mys
self climbed the bank, and perceived at
the distance of about mile small sta
ton. | made toward it, and gained it. A
| La,