The Osceola times., 1879-05-10
WITHIN AN ACE OF DEATH.

Some Extraordinary E.cAp~s- We urhed
for by Chsmbrrs' JOarnai.
We propose to offer to our readers a
few instances OF hsir-bresdth escapes, by
which various human beings have been
saved from death.
CJlonel ~Gimor, relating the story ef
hght in which he figured ,ssys In Ms
"Four Years in the Saddle :" " Turning
half round in my saddle to call on my
men. received a sudden shock aud felt
deadly sick, end at the same instant saw
man trail his gun and run of, killed
him before he had gone three steps. His
ball had passed through two coats and
stuck in PACK of cards in my left side
pocket. They were quite new, the wrap.
per not even having been broken open.
The suits we're each distinct. The bullet
passed through all, stopping at the last
card, which was the ace Of spades
Such another literal Translation Of the
phrase, "wirhm an ace of death" is not
upon record; but hair breadth escapes
are common in war. At the battle of
Laon, Steffens saw shell strike the horse
of Prussisn officer. Entering near the
shoulder, it caused the poor animal to
make convulsive spring ard throw its
rider, the fragments OF the shell being
projected on all sides, while the rider
jumped up from the ground unhurt.
During the Crimean war Colonel
Wyndhsm, dispatched 70 find out how
matters were going in the first attack on
the Rsdsn, saw soldier walking along
/ 81 a.. Oh ,.f
him. Presently, round shot came fly.
ing over the psrspet, aud the man was
hidden from sight by the dust Yhen
it subsided the colonel was sstonished
to find himself beside living man,
whose countenant, presented curious
sdmixture of fright and joy, as scratch
ing his head, he exclaimed: Why,
dash my buttons, but that was amazing
nigh" "Ay, ay, my boy" responded
the colonel, wed much better bs dig,
ging trenches at three pence rod In
Norfolk" To which his fellow-country-
man only replied: "What are yew tew
from Norfolk" ...,f.. .,.,.
Amazingly nigh death, although in
blissful ignorance of the fact, was the
Confederate staff officer marked down by
the Northerner's rifle, and only saved by
the officer commanding the platoon hap.
pening to recognize in him client OF an
insurance office of which he was secre.
tary, and striking up the leveled weapon
with: +" Don't shoot we've got policy
on him."
DR.. Brydon, the sole English survi
vor of the retreat from Cabul, during
the last Aighanistan war, WAS quite
aware Of the narrowGess OF his elcape,
but never could understand how ii came
about. Alter long and terrible ride,
he WAS just congratulatiug himself upon
having at last got clear Of the enemy,
when he found himself pursued BY a
solitary horseman. He had bu. broken
sword wherewith to defend himself, and
with this he managed to intercept a cut
at his head, directed with such force
that it cleft through the base OF the
blade and left only the bil., which the
doctor hurled in his sssailant's face, and
the next moment the Afghan cut
through Brydon's head piece and the
magazine he had that morning placed
inside it. Unarmed, half stunned and
hopeless, he mechanically stopped to re-
cover his fallen rein, when, to his sur
prise and reliei, his foe turned away and
galloped off leaving the doctor to drag
! himself to Jelalabsd.
The sword Of justice il not always
rightly directed, and sometimes it
comes near committing murder. A
young New Yorker named Wells went
one evening 10 Booths theatre, Taken
with a fit Of coughing, he left the the,
ater, iatendiug to 90 home; but after
going some little distance, IL came on
showing 10 fast that be retraced his
steps. As be strobe along, two men
came rushing down the street, one Of
them dropping gold watch nnd chain
which Wells picked up, and then went
after the loser, running into the arms OF
policeman, who marched him OF 10
the station TO explain matters. Pres
emily messenger arrived in hot haste,
saving the thief was wanted ut the Fifth
Avenue hotel. Wells was taken there.
and brought tacs TO face with man
living on a lounge covered with blood,
dis this the man who stabbed youY"
asked tue officer. 1t is" said the poor
fellow, falling back, never 10 speak
again. Wells wss tried for the mutder
found guilty, aud sentenced to be
hanged; and hanged he would have
been, it a fortnight before his execution
= prisoner in Sing Sing had not confessed
upon his death-bed that he had robbed
the man Of his watch, then stabbed him
and ran off, sfterwsrd dropping the
watch as he rsu. ... .I
Among the communists tried at Yer
sailles was Jean Bsptiste Pigerre, charged
with commanding the firing party who
shot the hostages q. Ls Roquette. He
protested he knew nothing OF the dread.
ful business, and was not aware that the
hostages had been shot until after his
arrest. His denial went for nou2ht. He
had beAn denounced by members ~ his
own party; three Of them on trial with
him declared be was at La Roquette.
M. Chevrieu, 4 prisoner there at the
time, said he saw Piserrs from bis cell