Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-06-01
A NIGHT OF HORROR.


were, face to face with that dread of the
human race. On the mighty ocean,
when our fair bark was tossed as If it
were q feather, l could gaze upon the
surging hillows with awe, aye, with ven
eration-for there amid the roaring of
the tempest, the lashing of the waves, l
saw the power and might Of the Deity.
Death amid the storm and tempest, the
flashes of lightning and the roaring of
the thuHder,I had no dread for me. To
die thus. amid the war of elements,
would be glorious triumph over slow
WHY Why should write this sketch, Why
desoribe a night, of horror, the remem-
brsbice Of which, although many years
have passed away, makes me shudder
stll9 Is it because it lives in memory,
like some horrid specter. 1t may, how
ever, tend to withdraw the mind from
that conc afearfhl episode In my life,
which, ikea dark shadow, keeps out all
sunshine. TO test this theory, l send
you this sketch, for the memory of that
night of horror
Like drop that night and day
Falls cold aud ccasclcss, wears my heart
away. ~ -s
The State House clock had struck eight
when the clerks left the Office / re-
manned alone, as had some important
business to transact, with which the
clerks had nothing to do. I locked the
front of the office, and for one hour /
was busily employed at my work. In
one corner of the counting house stood
my mammoth safe-a huge affair. l
prided myself on being the owner of the
fixture,-1 could stand upright in it and
arrange my books and papers without
STOPPING. 1t was like a small house-o
an iron tomb, just as fancy might de-
termine. Near the safe stood an old
fashioned, rickety bookcase; a large,
ponderous piece of furniture. The safe
door, when opened, came within few
inches of it.
1t Is necessary to mention this book
case, for, had it not been there, the ad-
venture Lam about to relate would never
have been written.
WAS inside the safe, putting in its
place the last book, when there came
upon my ear the cry of " fire!" followed
by the rush of the engines down the
street. l listened for a minute, and was
in the act of leaving the safe, when-oh,
horror!-there came a crash! The book
case had fallen against the door of the
safeS and its spring was caught in the
intricate workings of the huge lock!
u was thus incloscd in a living tomb,
and as the dread sound echoed through
the safe l knew it was the kncll of my
death. For a moment l stood utterly
COnfounded, and when the true state of
my situation was realized no tongue can
describe nor pen portray the remotest
idea Of my feelings. Entombed, incased
in an iron coffin-all sound deadl The
shout 1 sent forth, as if it could be ever
heard, came back in nreverberating echoes.
Then again all was still-still as death,
for my voice was hushed! The few mo-
ments that had passed since my incar-
ceration seemed as so many years. How
wouldaI die? Raving mad, perhaps, or
by immediate suilocation. Already |
felt, the presence of the condensed air
acting on my brain-already l felt the
blood rushing in tumultuOus waves TO
my headi To die thus, struggling for
life in an iron vault was awful.
calculated the hours, the minutes,
and seconds before the time of opening
the sofilce, and then-then-the key of
pocket, and there was no duplicate. s
Hours and hours must pass away be-
fore, the safe could be opened. Opened
by whom? The man who made itt j
had no partnerin the business: my clerks
would not suspect that anything had oc.
CURED, and they would not attempt the
opening of the safe until they had heard
from me. How in Heavens name could
that beY Never, never would they hear
the sound of nay voice againl was
there-deaths prisoner in an iron vault;
they knew it not, nor even imagined such
a horrible contingency could be attached
to my absence. Even If it were So
even when the safe was opened, how
would l appear to themY A lifeless
CORPSE, or a raving maniac
did not shudder nor groan. All cor
poreal sensation was lost In that of the
brain. / felt that death in some horri
BILE shape was gathering its shroud
around me. In my excited state i'm
agined thatall was over with me. How
should | meet deathS Dash my brains
out against the iron,sided prison? No,
no; not while reason remained. II
were to lie down with my face pressed IL
the floor, and remain there quietly, shut
my eyes and keep out the oppressive
darkness, might not sleep? threw my
self full length on the floor, for, as
have already said, the safe was large
one, in the hope sleep or suffocatioI
would end my mental suffering. The
density of the eatmospheremust naturally
produoeethe latter result. No, no; here
was no atmosphere, for that was invisi
BILE, elastic fluid which surrounds the
earth, and presses by its weight the as
semblage Of eriform vapors. Here was
no air-n0 Tapor--no mOtiOn--no sounC
-atmosphere-to produce either of these
active ragentsr of the universe. No
Death. WAS far away, yet felt as if the
very silence was killing me. The buzz
ing of a fly, the hum of bee, or the
sound of that mysterious insect whose
peculiar imitation of time-piece give
it thesname of the "dead watch, +" ever
Interpretations pleasure was denied me
There came a change sudden as itwal
alarming. The brain began to throb
The heart beat inunison. felt its deer
pulsation; heard its deep, heavy thuC
against my breast. This l say heard
for it was part of myself. No othe
sound outside of my own person coulC
have reached me there. felt pain il
my head and brain; not an ordinary pang
but one thatstruck at the base of reason
Death was coming! Welcomed And
laughed the wild, unmeaning laugh o
the maniac. And yet l was not mad
butiso near II that had not reason tolC
me- was approaching apoplexy,
would have been raving Welcome apo
plexgi 10, however, came not. / rolleI
over and over in my limited cell;
screamed; ! yelled and shouted for help
and yet all the while was perfectly con
sciOus Of what was doing Death wa
playing with mel ] prayed, too, but di'