Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-09-21
A Keepers Story.

A Keepers Story.
IT was in the year 1856, that importan
business called me from the small town O
N to the city Of A., a journey o
about twenty miles. When about hal
way between the two places, a rain sto.n
overlook me, aud made it necess nv for me
to put up for the night. l ac"r iingly
drove into faimyard aud requested per
mission to stay through the night My
request was readily granted, and after O.
lug my horse PROF erly cared for, repair
ed to the house with my host, where a
warm sui per was Awaiting u.s. -Four rosy.
checked children were seated around toe
liable, beside the matronly looking mother
After supper drew up to the fire to en-
Joy smt Ike with my new trend. AS the
man lighted his pipe, noticed deep scar
that extended across his hand. On asking
him the cause Of it, | saw my host and 8
wife exchange CLAN ces, and noted shadow
dit across her handsome face. After draw.
ing a Whit or two on his pipe, he said:
There is story connected with that
scar that shall never forget; and even
now, as | am sitting here in safety, with
any dear wife aud children arouud me. |
cannot repress shudder at what might
have been"
On my saying that should like to hear
the story, he commenced IS follows:
was formerly nj ght .watchman in
the Insane Asylum over in A.. had
been at my employment about two years,
whom the incident l am about to relate
happened. My wife and had been mar
ried about year, and she had tried to get
me to leave the asylum, and find some less
dangerous employment, as she termed it.
L had laughed at her fears, but as she
seemed so anxious about il, | had prom
used in one month more to do as she asked.
The month had nearly expired only one
more night remained had to 90 on nv
watch at ten o'clock. On this particular
night | was seized with nervous fear
of know not what, but still felt that
something was about to happen. In vain
/ argued to myself that l had watched
there two years, and nothing had happen
ed, but argue as would, that shadow
still hung over me. I had three galleries
to 90 through, and ON each side Of these
galleries were cells in which the patients
were confined. AS passed along, / would
occasionally see some bony hands thrust
through the CRATES, or some poor fellow
would rave at me. accusing me of-he
knew what himself. As passed into the
third gallery it was with such feeling
that could hardly help turning anu flee
ing back to awaken 8 me of the attend.
antss but, laughing at MY idle fears, as
then termed them, l resumed my duty.
Passing along, became aware OF an un-
common noise in one of the cells in which
new patient had been confined. I walk
along and looked through the CRATES, but
saw nothing out of the way, and was
o1n
groan passed from the lips of the man on
the straw in the corner-he was one of the
worst patients, and We could not give HIM
a bed to sleep on as he would tear it into
pieces. Immediately unlocked the door
and passed into his cell. / approached
him, leaving my KEGS in the lock. As
stopped over him to see what was the mat
ter, he sprang to his feet, and before
knew what he was about, planted a stun.
ming blow in my face, which sent me
reelIng into the farther corner. The same
time that he struck, he sprang past me
through the door, and before I could pre-
vent bin, had closed and locked it, making
me prisoner. Then picking up the Ian
tern, which had set on the door outside,
he held it up and glared at me with his
terrible, bloodshot eyes, and muttered:
go know where they put the big carv-
ing knife, and now that have got the
keys, will get it, and death will be your
portion
"ssying this, he started of, leaving me
in the dark. He wasa large and powerful
man, weighing nearly fifty pounds more
than did, and in his present state match
for two like me- In vain I tried to think
Of some way of escape; there was none.
The window was strongly grated; the door
dozen men like me could not move. I
thought of my dear Wife aud darling limo
cent babe, and tears would come in my
eyes in spite of all I could do. What
would she say when was borne CHASTITY,
bleeding cOrpse to the house Sometimes
I would try to hope he would forget me,
and not come back, but reason told me
better. / tried to pray, but instead of hay
ing my mind on what said, l was con-
tinually listening for his returning foot
steps. At last they came, neartr and
nearer, and as he came in sight noticed
he carried long carving knife in his hand
As he approached the Cell he accidentally
dropped the lamp, leaving us in darkness
A faint ray of hope pierced my mind.
Gould not dodge out as he unlocked the
door, Nearer and nearer he came, and
at last stopped at the door. I could hear
him cropping for the keyhole. At last I
heard him insert the key and turn it.
Drawing in long breath, I nerved myself
for the encounter, and as the door opened,
I made spring at him, and Providence
favOriDg me, caught him by the collar.
Putting forth a desperate effort, twitched
him, and tripping him at the same time,
sent him to the further side of the room.
Immediately sprang out and was locking
the door. when he rushed to it, but find
ing it locked, reached through the CRATES
and with his knife struck me across the
band, while was removing the kew. AS
he went 10 draw back his hand, 1 seized it
by the wrist and catching hold of the knife
with my wounded hand, wrenched it from
him: The next day left the asylum for
good, aud have never been inside of one
since. We bought this farm, and have
lived here ever since; and, now, friend,
you can judge, whether l can ever look
back TO- that night without feeling of
horror"