The Van Buren press., 1873-09-30
THE CHINA CLOSET.
What Happened Danbury Man Who
Intended Witnessing the Departure
Of the Grapic Balloon.

The Danbury News says that one Of
those distressing accidents which no
amount OF preparation can guard against,
occurred on Pine street the other day.
Mr.. Hopley, the insurance agent, iatend-
ed going to New York at quarter to 10
a. m., to see the Daily Graphic balloon
A friend suggested it to him Just about
. half an hour before the train would
leave, and Mr.. Hoplcy fastened home to
change his clothes and tell his wife.
When he got to the house he found it va
cant, but hoping that his wife would
come in before he departed, he got out
Sunday suit and began disrobing. lie
mad got on his clean shirt, and was add
ing the collar before drawing on the
pants, when he remembered that his
sleeve buttons were in the stand drawer
In the dining room, and be cautiously
moved in there after them. He found
the buttons and secured them, when the
hall door opened, and his wife voice
ana the voice OF feminine friend were
heard approaching He would have fled
BACK to the bedroom but he could not
leave the apartment he was in without
being seen by them. For one instant il
seemed as IT he would drop dead and
run into the carpet The next, he per
celved the open door of the china closet,
and Immediately bolted in there and
closed the door. Mrs. lIopley anl the
iady frieni came into the room AVID, 70.
marking on the heat, drew their chairs
close to the open window and brought
out their sewing. Then they fell to talk.
Ing absut the weather and Mrs, Robbins
black corded silk and remedies for
worms, and other topics OF engrossing
interest. MIR Hopley hung to the door
WIN awful tehaclty. and perspired and
thought The darkness was intense. and.
to add to the unpleasantness, a mouse or
rat was heard among the papers on the
floor. Mr.. Hopley was not a tmia 'man.
but he was bare legged and bare 70 ted,
sand when man is thus situated a mouse
isabout the lsst thing he wants to think
OF. sui, the voices ontside continued,
and greater grew the heat in that china
deset. Mr. Hopley did not dare to make
the least noise to alarm his wife, because
OF the presence Of the other lady, whose
voice he could not recognize. How he
oiu curse thst balloon and the man who
suggested has going to see il, and Pro
lessor Wise, and how bitterly he regret
ted that he eould not think of that other
aeronats name (Donaldson), that he
might curse him too But still the two
ladies gkded on through the mazes of the
neighbors' affairs, without the least sign
OF abatement He heard the clock strike
ten, and also eleven. Once or twice the
mouse came quite close to his feet, start.
ing the perspiration afrcsh, until he could
feel 1t trickle from his chin and down his
pedy. Then he moved his foot to rest
himself, and it struck against something
solt ana hairy, and he uttered n half.
suhed shrek and jumped up, striking his
head against shelf, and bringing piece
OF some kind Of crockery to the floor.
his wife sprang to the door in alarm, but
Hop'ey caught the knob and clung to it
with tho grip OF death. Mrs. Hopley
tried IN vain to open it, Then she
thought ofa burglar being concealed in
the closet, and cried for help, still cling.
ing to the door to keep the fsrocious in
trader from dashing out and Draining
noth OF them AMI burning up the house.
Her screams, added to those of the fe
male friend, alarmed the neighborhood
IN an instant, and among those who
aashod IN was old Mr. Stocton with
double. barreled gun, and as soon as he
learned the trouble, he turned the dread
ful weapon full upon the door. There
was stunning report, chorus Of fsmi
nine shrieks mingled with terrific howl
from the other side Of the door, and the
next instant the unhappy Hopley, with
both legs fall of shot, was writhine on the
noor OF that closet The doer was opened
the women pushed up to get sight got
it'and Immediately dispersed with another
shrek. Hopley was put to bed and DR..
Myers summoned, who picked ou, the
shot. which had merely pricked through
the skin, and applied the nccdtu! rene.
dies, and to- day the patient is quite CON-
Portable, and will be at hi. Office again
this week.