River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-07-10
A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE.
In the streets Of London.

- invent Garden Ihcdtre lnefe
was very crowded house, Madame Yes
'ris had been performing, and it was near
midnight when the curtain fell. In the
crush OF getting ont got parted from my
lriend Hawthorne, and found myself alone
IN the streets OF London. had only been
IN the elty about fortnight, so knew but
niue OF my waTabout, and felt atsaid TO
inquire OF strangers, having been warned
OF the terrible traps laid to ensnare young
| men from the county. | loeKed IN vain
for policeman or wbtchman, and wan
dered up and down q the streets were
almost deserted. Atlast | determined to
find my way to Grays Inn Road, Holborn
where our rooms wee, and turned as
expected, in the riglr direction. All at
once found myself in space from
which there appeaed to be endless out
| lets.
1t was dark hight. and the misera-
die lights in the streets only served to
make darkness visible. Here was
dilemma had not the slightest idea
which way | ought to take. was no
coward, but the hou ht Of beng caught
| by thieves ana plundered, and per
haps murdered for my gold, sent a
wild I rill through me, and bathed me
in cold perspiratDn. | had a large sum
of money in my pocket and a roll OF
notes In my pocSetb book, which ! had
lncautiously DELAYED putting IN the bank,
besides valuable god watch and chain,
an old heirloom. How inwardly blame
ed myself for bringing SO much wealth
out with me. | took few coins out OF
my purse and put item loosely in my
pocket, then thrust bath purse and pocket
book into an inner picket under my vest
had not a single. weapon of defense
about me, nothing bit my fists, and tnose
| could use to some purpose II needfui.
had just buttoned my coat, and deter
mined to take the widest street, or what
appeared to me such, when saw ,aan
crossing just before me. ! shouted
Good night" and asked my where
abouts.
Better find out" vas the surly reply,
as he passed on.
"Out on your inoirility Good-even-
ing, sir. Lost your way, eh, sire ex-
claimed voice near.n ne
''That have l replied, "and shall be
much obliged if you can put me right,
sir"
While l spoke l eyed the newcomer
as closely as | could. He appeared to be
of gentlemanly bearing, and, as far as
could discern, vas well dressed; his
speech bespoke him ABOVE the common.
| ''Well, sir, if any nan in Londcn can
put you right, | can. Tell me the spot
within radius of ten miles, and can
put you on it. Not street, not an
alley is unknown to Captain Cornelius
Smith. | know Pars, Berlin, Vienna
and Madrid almost IS well as London.
New York is by no means strange to me
in fact, / Just hail from that side Of the
Atlantic. What part Of this metropolis
may you want to find, sir!"
"My rooms are in Gray's Inn Road
Just out of Holborn. ] heartily wish
was in them at this moment
mo doubt, sir, no doubt. Gray's Inn
Road? Merely stones throw &c
straight on; turn to your right, then to
your left, to your right again; then to
your left Go straight on, cross Holborn,
and there you are. A stranger to London
| see, sir; up from the countr. Norfolk
did YOU say? I know Norfolk; stayed
there one shooting season with my friend
| Taylor. What sport we had Beg par
don, sir, you wish to get on. Allow me
to conduct you"
Thanking him, said I did not wish to
trouble him to go with me; if he would
| Just put me in the way, should be all
right.
"My dear sir he replied, II could not
think OF leaving you alone on such night
| So dark, and at such an hourl just the
| night for footpads. All, this London is a
queer place after dark; suspicious charact-
ers are afoat then. But perhaps you are
armed a pistol, life-preserver, or some
otner handy little means Of self-defenceF
| assured him that possessed no wea-
pom whatever.
"Ah | see. Garry no valuables; unsus-
picious. Never be too trustlna Leave
your purse at hame, ch. sir!"
II have little money in my pocket.
replied 'but harborno fear of robbers. >
This was scarcely the truth, hut l be
gan to be rather distrustful of my com
panion, as noticed we had turned down
a narrow, dasagreeable street.
cat any rate,n | continued, 81 have
| nothing that would make it worth their
while to modest me-"
"No2 Well, you are wise not to carry
your gold in your pockets or on your per
son. | had to buy that wisdom. Some
years ago | was on the continent, and
wanted to get from Vienna to Berlin; and
to do so | had to post it most Of the way.
Well, sir, one night the coach, carriage,
chaise, diligence, or whatever you might
call the vile conveyance | had to travel
| in, broke down, and we were benIghted.
| There were four of us, and two ladies.
Poor things | shall never forget their ter
ror. One vowed she saw the driver take
the pin out of one of the wheels at the
bottom of the hill, and felt certain he was
GSut VIII lac til, if not one of them.
We tried to allay their fear, but it was
no use. My fellow travellers looked to
their pistols, when, to their CONSERVATION,
they found the charges had been all
drawn. There was general shout OF
| treachery, and each prepared to defend
himself as best he could. We saw light
in the distance, and made the besJ of
! nr way to it. When we were III What
seemed hearing distance, we heard a
shrill whistle, and Immediately we're sur
rounded by band Of ruffians.
The one who appeared to be the leader
politely demanded whatever money, jew
elry and other valuables the party might
possess, at the same time intimating that
if it was not given to him quietly. he and
his braves would not feel the least COM
junction in taking it and sending the
owners to their last sleep in the great for
est ON whose borders we were. The poor
aides fell on their knees and entreated
mercy from the handsome cutthroat
Holding up their clasped hands, they dis
played their bejewelled fingers to the
greedy eyes of the bandit He stepped
forward, and, making a low bow, selzed
the little hands and relieved them OF
every ring. He then unclasped the brace
lets, and proceeded to remove the chains,
lockets and watches The younger lady
tainted. When the ladies were stripped
Of everything, the robbers turned their
attention to us; not that we had been
neglected, for the villains had pinioned
each of us so that we could offer no resist
ance. | had less cause to fear a search
than my companions, fer, except a
watch, | had but little money, but that
watch was to me a treasure. Such a
tlmekeeper | never met with; | never
knew it to vary two MINUTES i'll year
what did you say, sirl Don't think it
could be better than yours! | would
never believe there was another such
watch unless | saw it. Left yours at
home, ! suppose, sir? No. Well, |
should like To look at it, but as to its be-