The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-19

self approaching nearer and nearer to
my doom. And yet would not speak; I;
l would not implore help; / would not
throw myself upon the protection OF the
police. 1 was resolved either to es-
cape by my own unaided sagacity Of
strength OF arms, or to take the worst
that could befall me. l felt that the
tiends that followed me were sent by
God, and that 1 must abide the issue. l
scorned to seek AN asylum at that mo-
ment.
l am now going to describe nbantasms
which, although they were tha tricks of
madness, as viyidly recall Mt this honr
as though they were the realities of YES.
terday.
Az nst we reached the Astor House
Sn.s LILY .no gu sentleman and the lady l
navy nsa" ineM.,oneu s'hao e. were with me in the
S~a SSc"so. anem, aVi the 1irst time, my fear
;S..... ooao ~ s.oac that, for moment, my
., lnsane NJ 'mnoss es. failed me. asked the
senuemal, sI Win an air of Indifference as
goUu o, as e coa,u demand, whether he was
SOi"s ~. n, as iaa na as Wall streetp He replied
a Ao,nI;sn,,, vas about to get out there.
MoS9ouansy, aNS dasy, he stopped the omnibus,
- ~I A Aaeae"v,ssnded a",s with the lady. Fearing
sbo.Ia ~ w ie' h alone in the vehicle, lest l
smouia De taken nc disadvantage, also
alighted, and would have followed them.
aa,n~uia'ely I'M the other stage stopped,
anoamy anu my oloodhounds, numbering about q
oozen, lollowed me- t.,4
u.e,, ns usual, the space In front the Astor
,ho ouse was brilliantly Illuminated by
sne tights OF the hotel. To avoid the
sHnade Hne Of st. raups Church, crossed
n,oroadway diagonaliy; but my pursuers
were close upon me, with hurried COM
mands and calculations, such as: s'keep
close'-''stand by"-E'take care to head
him of'-'If he attempts to 20 into a
house, down with him." As advanced
they became more compact, and all were
doors Of hotel. Its front was brightly
lighted, and knots Of guests and other
persons were seated or standing at the
doors and windows. I resolved 10 take
refuge there. / braced myself up with
the intention of rushing in. My pursu-
ers suspected my purpose; for I heard
them cry; "don't let him enter there"-
''knock him downw But determined
to take that chance, and bring down upon
my head, there and Immediately the
worst that could happen. i carried in
my hand q small whalebone switch,
having at the top round, leaden knob,
covered with sort Of whip cord. l
grasped this about half way down, but
turning my face neither to the right nor
to the LETT, to scrutinize the men who
pressed close to my side, not quickening
my pace nor betraying the slightest
alarm or anxiety, till came upon q
stream Of light that tell toward me from
the street lamp before the hotel en-
trance.
A turned composedly to enter the
place, one of my devils cried, "Now,
boys, close up, quickw Hardly were
the words uttered, when l flung myself
upon the man who was nearest me, and,
with all my force, dashed the heavy
leaden hea6 of the cane In his lace, and
struck him squarely between his eyes.
men seated at the door, over piles
OF the baggage, over the office-c0unter, l
ran through a small door and up some
stairs, crying, "Stop them! Save meW
and at last found myself on the floor of
a servants room at the very top Of the
house, with servants, clerks and guests
around me, giving me water, bathing my
temples, and rendering me such assis-
tance as they could, while blood flowed
copiousiy from my mouth and nose, and
stained my clothing and the floors.
This was delirium tremens. All that
l have related, of the pursuit and con-
fict, 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 circumstanially as
1 tell 1t now; as clearly aware, too, as
am at this moment, that my toes were
specters.
1t was severe and terrible penalty In
flicted upon me, one which had the ef-
feet of bringing about reformation in
my habits and character; and the fiends
who seemed intent on dragging me down
to hell, proyidentially changed my
course and drove me from the drunk
ards grave TO which my steps were
tending.