Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-05-12
EATON, OHIO, THURSDAY, MAY p, 1870

| God above US that am not the man yoI
saw at the foot of this tower at the TIM
your wife left your
A terrible laugh came from his ashy
lips as he swung the hammer around hi
head.
Every plausible, indeed, but believe
not a word of it. Thou, fend, art in my
power. 1t is Just five minutes more, anc
| this candle dies Then we, too, will die
But no, not die-we will fly into eternity
with the noise of thunder and with the
flash of lightningP
s'What do you mean by the word Fly ?''
shouted with impotent rage.
| "Ha, ha, ha, thou stupid fool. Cast thy
false eye towards that glass box. It con-
tGins tqoe7rty po,I1I6s Of percussion posoder
! One stroke with this hammer, and we
/ together with this tower, will fly into the
air. Ha, ha, ha, it will astonish the ma.
| tives of Bruckenau; it will arouse them
from sleep. The falling stones will crush
in their dull skulls. l rejoice at this, for
thou vert born in that accursed town
Ha | only three minutes more!" cried he,
looking at his watch, which he held close
to the Pickering light of the expiring
candle.
Three minutes more, and am in eter-
nifty Good God what fearful thought.
I, who felt so happy, SO full of life and
health. !, who came to Germany with
the certainty of marrying the girl loved
in my youthful days; the maiden who had
waited ten long years for my return, be-
cause che believed me true to my vows.
And have to perish Was there no
means of escape? 1 looked down. A
black chasm yawned at my feet, for the
mad man had removed part of the
stairs. / knew / was not able to leap
across that guf-it would be suicide to
attempt it. i
Taoo min.ttes,n came like death-knell
to my ears. The Englishman was still
leaning against the railing and shading
the candle with his hands in order to pro-
long it's life Where was now my hope of
escaping him in the darkness?
My entire former life passed with light
ming flash through my throbbing brain.
Remembered the joyous scenes of my boy
hood, my first love, my departure for the,
to me, unknown lands beyond the ocean.
I thought I again heard the words of my
dear mother as she gave me her blessing.
" Be good boy, Herman, fear God, and
do no one wrong" were her last words
as she pressed me to her bosom Then I
departed. The voyage to the United
States, my struggle with poverty, my
in the far West, my success
in the gold mines of California, my joy
full return to my fatherland-all, all,
rushed and surged through my mind.
"One more nsin1EteI Pray to God fo1. thy
iniqg6ty !" came from below. But could
were approaching.
What was that Something vague and
which assumed shape,
carne quickly TO my mInds eye saw
the sports of my boyhood. Providence,
allwise and unerring, had shown me the
means of escape. Often had sat, like
one upon horse, on the top of ratings
d nd eli q
smooth surface. There 20 as railing before
me poa0! ~ taUa- = -i4-.t 81
The Englishman still leaned against it,
Quick, Herman, ere it is too late
= The next moment was on the railing.
felt the air whiz past me. I felt that my
extended feet struck something which
yielded to the impetus. heard dull
crash /; terrible cry followed-thenI re-
membered no more. h1y ts
When awoke realized that was ly:
ing upon something soft stretched out
my hands-a cry of terror escaped my
mouth. I had touched the face of the
dead Eleanora. I had fallen into the
coffin. i'-
Again lost my senses.
When awoke found myself in bed;
my father, mother, and my aff1anced bride
were standing by my bedside. They told
me that in the morning shepherd had
found the door of the tower closed He,
looked through the keyhole and saw
dead man. He returned to the town,
telling every one he met on the way the
fearful sight he saw. The door was
broken open. 1 was found insensible.
The Baron Dale was dead. A broken rib
had penetrated his heart. In his memo
randum book was found detailed ac-
count of his life, and with pencil he had
written his intention of destroying him
self and me, whom he supposed to be the
betrayer of his wife. The glass box did
contain white detonating powder, such
IS is used in filing percussion caps.
My true narrative is soon ended.
Six months passed away ere I could
leave my bed, and months elapsed ere
my full health. married and
to: San Francisco. . 1 am not
quite positive if the Englishman was
mad, for he had laid his plans well.
Mine was singular escape from sud-
len death. Those dreadful fortyjtfUe min
1tes, during which was at the mercy of
l f1end, are indelibly impressed upon my
Era. 40