Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-04-23


amid bewildering confusion and minglin
OF voices and forms underlined in darkness.
for am near-sighted and the mystery o
the occasion was much increased by ths
fact. As VIC proceeded. I felt myself ar
preaching nearer and nearer to my doom
And yet would not speak; would NO
implore help; ! would not throw myscl
upon the protection Of the police. l wa
resolved either to escape by my own ur
aided sagacity or strength Of arms. or I
take the worst that could a.fall me. l fel
tha. the fiends that followed me were sen
ny God, and that I must abide the ISSUE
l scorned to seek an asylum at that me-
ment.
lam now going to describe phantasms
which, although they were the tricks o
madness, l as yivilly recall at this hour q
though they were the realities oe yes
|tcrdsy.
At last we reached the Astor house. On
'y the old gentleman and the lady hav
mentioned we're with me in the stage
Then, for the first time, my fear becam
% great that for moment my insane
'firmncss failed ME. asked the gentle
man with an air of indifference as good y
l could command whether he was goin.
as far as Wall street? He replied no; tha
ne was about to get out there. Accord
ingly he stopped the omnibus and descend
ed with the lady. Fearing to be lef
alone in the vehicle, lest should be taker
ut a disadvantage, also alighted AIT
would have followed them. lmmediatc.y
the other stage stopped and my blood
hounds. numbering about dozen, follow
ed me.
As usual. the space in front the Astol
house was brilliantly illuminated by thu
lights of the hotel. To avoid the shade O
St. PAurs church, l crossed Broadway
diasonal'y; but my pursuers were close
upon mc, with hurried commands and
e]acu:atIons. such as: keep closce''-
Stand by'-''Takc care to head him off
-"If he attempts TO 60 into house, down
with him!' As advanced they became
more compact, aud all were near me. A,
length We were within two doors of q no
tel. Its front was brightly lighted, and
k.o's Of guests and other persons were
seated or standing at the doors and win.
dows. resolved to take refuge there.
raced myself up with the intention oi
rushing in. My pursucrs suspected my
purpose; for heard them cry: ''Don'1
let him enter there"-''knOck him down!'
But I determined to take that chance and
bring down upon my head there and i'm
mediately the worst that coutd happen.
carried in my hand small Whalebont
switch, having at the top round. lcaden
knob covered with sort Of whip-cord
grasped this about half way down, but
continued u walk steadily forward, turn
ing my face neither to the right nor the
left to scrutinize the men who pressed
close to my side, not quickening my pace
nor betraying the slightest alarm or ankle
ty till ! came upon stream of light thai
fell toward me from the street lamp be
fore the hotel entrance.
Az turned composedly To- enter thu
place, one of my devils cried: ''Now
toys, close up qulckl' Hardly were thu
words uttered, when I flung myself upor
the man who was nearest to inc. and, will
all my force, dashed the heavy lcaden head
Of the cane in his face, and struck him
squarcly between his eyes.
No time to be lost. I rushed through
the vestibule. Fairly leaping over men
seated at the Goor, over piles of the bag
gage, over the ofiice.counler, I ran Though
q small door and up some stairs, crying
''Stop lheml Save mer' and at last found
myself on the floor of q servants room at
the very top of house, with servants, clerks
and guests around me, giving me water,
bathing my temples aud rendering me
such assistance as they could, while blood
flowed copiously from my mouth and nose
and stained my clothing and the floors.
This was delirium tremcns. All that
have related ct the pursuit and conflict
was but an accusing vision. My abused
brain had conjured up the horrid warning.
And yet that very night, walking the floor
with my kind friends. told them the
story as circumstsntially as tell it now;
~ clearly aware, too, Is am at this mo-
ment, that my foes were spectres.
It was q severe and terrible penalty in.
flicted upon me, one which had the effect
of bringing about . reformation in my
habits and character and tho ficnds who
seemed intent on dragging me down t.
hell, providentially changed my course
and drove me from the drunkard's grave
to which my steps were tending.
A LITTLE HERo.-Two children still
and stark on q snowy slope-thc cir
wrapped round in the coat of the boy
and both young faces fixed by frost in ths
calm repose of death-was the picture
presented to the eyes of the wcaried
searchers near Mount Ayr, Iowa, the
other day. The Winters cold has taker