The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-10-02
ThrOttling a Burglar.
An American Youths Bedroom i'm Vienna
Invaded by an Italian Thief.

An American Youths Bedroom in Vienna
Invaded by an italian Thief.
The following extract from n letter
from Mr.. Frank Harding, of Bingham
ton, to his parents, dated Vienna, Aug.
10th, is published in the Binghamton
Republican " L retired to rest feeling
in good spirits, and dropped off to
sleep as easily as babe whose chief
occupation is to lose itself in the arms
of Morpheus. 1 wandered off into
dreamland, thought of home, of friends,
of my old boat Zeta, and was looking
about for familiar faces, when was
suddenly brought back to my little room
in far distant Vienna by sharp, quick
sound just above my head. Without
moving [ turned my eyes toward the
window, which discovered to. be wide
open and the moonlight streaming in,
making every object in the room almost
as plainly distinguishable as in broad
daylight. All was deathly quiet for a
few moments then l heard just the
faintest sound, and Immediately after
ward the moon was shut out from my
view, and form crept slowly up on the
window SILL The midnight thief
turned, looked back, as if he was no.
ticed by policeman, and, as his face
was turned to the moonlight, I realized
that L had something worse than Ger
man to deal with-my visitor was I'M
doubtedly an italian or Spaniard-the
most cht-like people in the world. l
rose upon one arm noiselessly, and wars
about to spring upon him, and by a
sudden thrust pitch him into the street,
but ere had formed the thought per-
fectly, he jumped inside and commenced
feeling about the room hurriedly.
Hanging upon chair just opposite me
was my vest, containing my watch and
some hundred and fifty gulden. My
visitor evidently did not perceive me,
or, if he did, thought 1 was sleeping
but know my eyes were open as wide
rs they ever were. He commenced at
the foot of the bed, crept around the
room, examining everything as he went,
and as he reached the bureau next to
the chair upon which hung my watch, /
thought it was time for action, and re-
solved not to let my things go without
at least the satisfaction of knowing that
[ had struggled to retain them. Jump
ing quickly from my back, went clean
out of bed and landed square on my
feet before the astonished individual,
and ere he had time to recover himself
L seized his throat between both hands,
and if didn't pinch then, L never did.
L thought myself master of the situa-
ton already, and fairly chuckled in my
excitement, but [ did not know who 1
was dealing with.
The rogue seemed to enjoy the chok-
ing and took it quietly for about q
minute, when he made quick move
nent, and so unexpected that L WAS
thrown back upon the bed and L saw
him thrust his hand quickly to Ills
side. This time 1 anticipated him
he was evidently feeling for the Span.
iard's best stand-by-a stilleto. l
must own was now little frightened,
for L don't relish cold steel, so caught
him by the arm and said in German
What do you want here ?" He an
swered me in poor German, Hush, OF
L will show you. Oh, how did wish
for my revolver, which was resting
quietly in the bottom of my valise
where L placed it more than three
months before. 1 don't know why, but
never thought to call for help. Ny
position was beginning to be anything
but desirable. My visitor, was sure
was trying to produce knife, and
was determined he should not do it
not liking such odds against man il
night-shirt. 1 was getting the bes
of my unlimited guest a second time
and commenced to deal him few blow
upon the head from an arm in nowis
weak, when he freed his right hant
and L received a well-directed bloy
upon the forehead. / staggered back
and as 1 recovered myself the felloy
lodged out of the door, out to balcony
and from that he jumped down som
fourteen feetinto the garden. Ihave no
seen him since, but the waiting girl
in the house told me they found a MAJ
in the garden next morning, and lie
him out, as ne said he was there tn
night before, fell asleep, and did no
wake until the doors were locked fo
the night. 1 related the whole story t
the woman who owns the house, an
she is so fearfully frightened now tina
she locks the windows and piles II
chairs before them, besides keeping
dog in her room. The description tina
the girl gave of the man coincided wit
mine exactly. l was trembling littl
when l went back to bed, but from e1
citement, as I had no fear during tn
whole affair, except for that little piec
of steel that the villain was CONSTANT
endeavoring to get hold of. L creI
into bed fearfully dissatisfied, but
the morning, when thought the matte
over more calmly, I concluded that
was better for me as it was-havin
lost nothing, and knowing that 1 Wa
not injured, and that L was not necess
tated to take the life of human being
L have often thought what 1 would d
away off here if any one attacked M
but L found that all my precious plal
nings were not suited to the occasion
My room is but fourteen feet from I'll
sidewalk, and the rogue had no troub
whatever IN climbing in by using IL
lightning-rod. Hereafter L shall kee
my windows closed when 1 room c
the first floor, that may not be guilt
of inviting or enticing strangers
enter"
A Man With Broken Neck Stands u