Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-10-09
Distressing Accident to Danburian.

DisucsSlnS Accluent 10 DanDur1ans
One of those distressing accidents
which no amount of preparation can
guard against, occurred on Pine street,
yesterday. Mr.. Hopley, the insurance
agent, intended going TO New York at
9:45 a. m. to see the Graphic balloon.
A friend suggested it OHM just about
half hour before the train would leave
and Mr.. Hopley fastened home to
change his clothes and tell his wife.
When he got to the house he found
it vacant, but hoping that his wife
would come in before he departed, he
got out his Sunday suit and began dis
robing.
He had got on his clean shirt and was
adding the collar before drawing on the
pants, when he remembered that his
sleeve buttons were in the stand drawer
In the dining-room, and he cautiously
moved in there after them. He found
the buttons, and secured them, when
the hall door opened and his wife's
voice and the voice of feminine friend
were heard approaching. lie would
could not leave the apartment he was
in without being seen by them. For
one instant it seemed as if he would
drop dead and run into the carpet.
The next, he perceived the open door
of the china closed, and Immediately
bolted in there and closed the door.
Mr.. Hopley and the lady friend came
into the room, and remarking on the
heat, drew their chairs close to the open
window and brought out their sewing.
Then they fell to talking about the
weather, and Mrs. Robbins black cord
ed silk, and remedies for worms, and
other topics of engrossing interest.
Mr.. Hopley hung to the door with aw-
full tenacity, and perspired and thought.
The darkness was intense, and, to add
to the unpleasantness, mouse or rat
was heard in among the papers on the
floor. Mr.. Hopley was not a timid
man, but he was bare-legged and bare
footed, and when a man is thus situated
mouse is about the last thing lie
wants to think of. Still the voices out
side continued and greater grew the
heat in that china closet. 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 did curse that
balloon and the man who suggested his
going to see it, and Prof. Wise, and
how bitterly he regretted that he could
not think of that other aeronaut's name
Donaldson that he might curse him
too. But still the two ladies glided on
through the mazes of the neighbors'
affairs, without the least sign of abate-
ment. He heard the clock strike ten
and also eleven. Once or twice the
mouse came quite close to his feet,
starting the perspiration afresh. until
he could feel it trickle from his chin
and down his body. Then he moved
against something soft and hairy, and
he uttered half -stihed shrek and
jumped up, striking his head against a
shelf, and bringing a piece of some
kind of crokery to the floor. His wife
sprang to the door in alarm, but Hopley
caught the knob, and chung to it with
the grip of death. Mrs. Hopley tried
in vain to open it. Then she thought
of a burglar being concealed in the
closet, and screamed for help, still cling
ing to the door to prevent the ferocious
intruder from dashing out and Draining
both of them, and burning up the house.
Her screams, added to those of the fe-
male friend, alarmed the neighborhood
in an instant, and among those who
dashed in was old Mr.. Stocton with a
double-barreled gun, and as soon as he
learned the trouble, he turned the dread
full weapon full upon the door. There
was a stunning report, chorus of fem
mime shrieks mingled with a terrific
howl from The other side of the door,
and the next instant the unhappy Hop
ley, with both legs full of shot, was
writhing on the floor of that closet.
The door was opened, the women pushed
up to get sight; got it; and imme-
diately dispersed with another shrek.
Hopley was put to bed, and DIR. Myers
summoned, who picked out the shot,
which had merely pricked through the
Skin, snd applied the needful remedies,
and the patient to-day is quite comfort
able, and will be at his office again this
week.-DdnburU NeUs.