Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-06
ACCIDENTS OF A LIFE.
The Wonderful Adventures OF
New York Merchant.

cember night, in the year 1908, Mr..
Nicholas Young, Il respectable mer-
caant of New York city, turned the
key in his store door and directed his
steps homeward.
He had been busily engaged in tax
ing account of stock, and was, there.
fore, unusually late. A model of regu-
larity in all his habits, he was never
known to be out of his house after ten
IN the evening, except on such periodi-
cal occasions as the present.
He was a plain man of forty-fve,
who had never married, and
inhabited an unpretending but
comfortable abode in what was
then the semi-rural district about
Blocker street. His family consisted
solely of his old housekeeper and a col
ored man.
He had not walked far on the night
in question, when he was startled by a
cry as of female in distress, seeming
y proceeding from close carriage,
which was driving past at moderate
rate of speed. The vehicle had not
gone twenty yards further before the
cry was again raised, clear and shrill,
and he distinctly saw white handker-
chief waving from the window.
Constitutionally fearless, and endow
ed with no small share of native chiv-
airy. Mr.. Young lost no time in hasten.
ing to the rescue of the presumed cap
tive. Accident seemed to favor him,
for just then the driver dropped his
whip, and, before he could recover it
and regain his seat, the merchant was
at the carriage door, which he attempt
ed to open. He was resisted by a
strong grasp from within, while man
thrust his head from the window and
angrily demanded what was meant by
such unwarrantable intrusion.
Mr.. Young as peremptorily inquired
whether female was being carried off
against her will, and stated his inten.
ton of searching into the matter. He
was answered at once by blow on the
head from a slingshot, or similar in.
strument, which felled him to the
ground insensible. On recovering, he
found himself lying, gagged and bound,
at the bottom of the coach, which was
being driven furiously. Defenseless as
sheep borne to the shambles, he
could only await his fate with such res
ignation as he could muster.
Hours seemed to pass before the vehi-
Gle came to stop, when the door wa:
opened and he was lifted out in silence
by two stout men. He now saw by the
glimmering starlight, and they were
standing On the end of a long wharf-a
pier-the other extremity of which was
hidden in darkness. Rocking on the
waves almost under their feet, lay 3
small row boat. Into this, still without
word being spoken, he was transferred
by the same hands and it was made
fast to the stern of sailing vessel
which lay close by with all her canvass
set. His two captors climbed aboare
the latter craft, whose anchor was i'm
mediately weighed, and she stood GU
to sea, towing Mr.. Young, alone anC
helpless behind her.
Before morning the boat was cast off
the sailing vessel quickly disappeared
from his view, and the unfortunate
merchant found himself drifting, with
out oars Or provisions, at tn
mercy of the waves. When da,
broke he had succeeded in freeing on
of his hands, and shortly afterwards re
leased himself from all his fasteninga
He now discovered that his poke
had been rifed and his watch and wal
let taken, together with the keys of hi
Office door and safe.
On the morning following MI
Young's abduction, Mrs. Comft, hi
housekeeper, awaited in vain his ap
pearance at the breakfast table. Neve
before, during the fifteen years she ha
lived with him, had be been ten mir
utes behind time. Of course, he Nigh
be indisposed. With some trepiditio1
she went up stairs and knocked at hi
chamber door. The summons, agai
J and again repeated, awakened no ri
} Spouse. He might have gone out for
: walk, though such had never been hi
habit. An hour passed, and she gre
seriously alarmed. Finally, when
business acquaintance of Mr.. Young
: called to inquire why his store remain
ed closed, Mrs. Comfit procured assis
: ance, and her masters door was broke
lopen. A careful search of the appar