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

| Il tIlutHNOItu w Ut NhiIl, blIONb "
reason myself into patience, and wait the
coming day. Day alas what to me was
dayY For here all was night. But rea.
son failed. 1t had no argument to con.
| futc facts. Death was here and had to
meet IL. But howY Alasl alasl that
mystery was yet to be solved. All was
so still So silent-that my faculties were
benumbed. l remember wondering il
the voice of the Deity could be heard in
that dreadful place. Was this bias.
phemy. Perhaps it was but l was not
then accountable for either my words or
actions. ] was, for the moment, madl
took off my coat and made II pillow
of 1t. Slcepl OH il could only sleep,
and, m fOrgetfulness, escape the horrors
of my waking moments. Sleep was i'm
possible. There was II constant buzzing
in my ears, acute pains in my hcad-a
vertigo that drove me again to my feet,
and rceled round the limited space in a
whirligig for life. struck my head
against the side of the safe. / felt
no pain, for there was madness in my
acts, with just sufficient reason to add to
the horrors of my situation. What could
do now but rave and yell, calling for
help, we'll knowing there was no help at
handl Why did my senses remain to
torture me thus9 Why not go mad and
commit some fearful act to end my
misery? Because was in the hands OF
One who had issued his canon against self.
slaughter. trusted to Him. started
to my feet. My head struck the top of
the safe, and was dashed back again to
the floor. Again shouted, again l laid
fat ON my face and called on death to
come and end my woes. The shout was
echoed in low, rumbling sounds, then
died away, leaving the silence tenfold
greater. Like the darkness preceding
some great shock of nature, its intense.
ness could be felt felt it-feit it in
my heartfelt it on my brain-it was
pressing me to death.
Had | nothing else to think of but my
self Reader, ] have given my own
mental and physical sulEcrings while en-
tombed. / was not selfish even; ! an
alyzed my own feelings, and seemingly
forgot others outside of the tomb. What,
describe other sensations - sensations
that sprung from pictures l could not
bring my mind to ocontemplateY Pictures
of home--of wife and childrcn-friends
all these seemed, in my state, as only
adding to my misery, for ! was doomed
and they were for the time being happy
l kept those pictures back.
even magnified my suffering so that
memocy might be silent. l could moi
contei.splate in my excitement two dis
tinct events. | therefore settled all my
thoughts, fixed all my energies on one
oh;nct- n1fDroonrvatinp I would ctri W
to live-live for those who were even
now wondering why was not with them
Reader, strOve as hard to forget wife
and children and friends as did to mas
ter my dread of the horrible death await
ing me. Understand me. No one placed
as was could think of the past, present
or future with any degree of calmness
The reasoning faculties succumbed tC
physical excitement; they became antag
onistic, and, although l endeavored tC
separate the two, became more con
fused l could think of nothing but my
position. Beyond that, if l attempted tC
90, foresaw madness. So, to avoid al
that, centered all my thoughts on one
purpose-self-preservation. To accom-
plish this, could not, even in thought
go beyond my prison house. Why pro
ceed-why even attempt to describe the
sufferings | underwent? ravcd,
screcchcd, fell on the floor, rose again
reeled in maddening fury around my liv
ing tomb. Ieven medtated self-destruc
ton. l argued the point with death.
quoted authorities to prove that suicide
was justifiable in some cases, and mine
was case in point. My mind, weak
ened as it was, hesitated to grasp at this
mode of ending life, and there came W
at that moment, a small, Child-likc voice
saying: Hopc-hope on" Was it ,
voice, or was it merely imagination con
juring up sounds to soCthc me? "HopcH
l started! new light seemed to enter
my soul, and illuminate the Cimmeriar
darkness surrounding me. The reaction
caused by the strange phenomena was toe
much for my strength. lost all con
sciousness, and fell as if dead.
How long lay thus had no knowl
edge; when | came to myself it was tt
hear dull sound as if some one was
striking the safe. Was help at hand
Then came II grating sound-then 1
shoCk-then came II louder sound, as il
from the explosion of gunpowder-a
flash, rs of lightning, 1t came into the
safe and for an instant the whole space
was Illuminated. What could it meani
Was it dream? No! nol-rcalltyl The
safe-dOOr was thrown open, and as
rolled out on the floor of the counting
house again became unconscious.
When came to my senses | was sur
rounded by four rce-looking men-on,
was bathing my head, while anothe
| was holding me in his arms, What coulC
it mean? l was saved, but how and b.
whomG
They were burglars who came for tn,
purpose of plunder. They told me SO
and instead of money they found wha
they took to be corpse. They STOOD
apart whispered-seem to hesitate
how to act The safe was opened; tn,
owner was there at their mercy. Veal
as was, l at once discovered the caus
of their hesitation. .-..-...
"You came" ] said, "to rob me, in
stead of which you saved my life. Th
amount of money which you would hav
obtained is no inconsiderable sum; it i
| there-there in that second drawer iron
the right. Take it-divlde it between
yourselves, and with it take my thanks
You see am very weak-the excitemen
caused by my incarceration"
One of the men approached me ant
said; "We are robbers; we are in you
| power, but we are not murderers, w,
came for money, but"
/ interrupted him.
" No hesitation, sir; 1t is yours m,
! free gift-take it,"
He then joined his companions, con
suited awhile, then came to me and said
" Suppose, sir, that we were detected
Our entrance may have been observed =
the money found upon us--the condition
of this safe-thus, you see, upon sue
evidence we would be convicted at once.
"Will you place that chair before tn
table and help me to it? l am complete
ly unnerved. Seven hours in that saf
nearly killed me-"
The chair was placed as ordered-th
man who had spoken assisted me to il
| took paper and pen, and while thos
four stalwart, desperate men gazed upo
me, wrote the following: