The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-06-09
SELECT STORY.
UNEXPECTED PROOF /;
OR, DENoUEMENr OF A STAGE COACH
TRAGEDY.

/ was travelling agent for a large
firm, and in the course of business visit
ed the fourishing little town of Bellair,
where our people had many customers.
1t was about the middle of August, and
on the very night of my arrival that
usually quiet and sober place was
thrown into state of CONSERVATION by
the occurrence of very unusual cir
cumstance The stage coach was ac-
customed to arrive about 8 o'clock, but
on the day in question that hour pass
ed and the stage did not come in.
The timekeeper was in state of
great agitation, walking to and fro, and
wondering what had become of the
coach.
1t was at last supposed that some ac-
cident must have befallen the coach,
and assistance was being prepared in
the shape of horsemen to search the
road. These were nearly ready, but
when just upon the point of starting,
the loud blast of the coachman's horn
was heard, and anxiety as to the safety
of the stage was exchanged for wonder
as to the cause of its delay. A few
moments later it drove up in due form
before the Office, and little crowd
gathered to investigate the origin OF
such on unusual circumstance.
The coachman, upon being question
ed, gave very clear and simple expla
nation of the affair. A passenger, he
said, had suddenly insisted on alighting
and had banged the door so violently
that one of the horses had. taken fright
This had startled the other horse, anC
the two had galloped nadly away
nearly demolishing the coach, and were
not brought to until one of them for
tunately stumbled and hurt his fore leg
severely, causing considerable delay
The appearance of the horse witnessed
to the truth of this statement. Every
one was for the moment satisfied Will
this account of the delay, but only fol-
a moment, for the next instant mucl
more exciting and horrible discovery
than the delay of the coach was made
One of the porters lounging about
very naturally opened the coach dool
and prepared to assist the passenger
to alight. But no one stirred within
1t was too dark to see, but the porte
putting his hand in, felt the person o
human being, az he thought, very
wet, and who must, from his inssnsi
bility, either be sleeping or else was
perhaps, stunned by the accident oI
the road
"Helloa, John!" cried he, "who th'
duce have you got here7 The old gentle
mems either deadly asleep, or else he
tainted when the horses ran off,
The coachman, whose name, it ma
here be stated, was John Rush, replie,
very calmly:
"Oh, hes all right, Bill, Him and hi
pal had tiff, but l fancy they'd bee
drinkin', and now he's got asleep"
Saying so, he brought forth a Lantern
the light of which Bill afterwar
thought made him deadly pale. They
however, cast the light into the coac
upon the sleeping gentleman, but tn
next second they drew back with
shout of terror Bill saw by the ligh
that it was not the rain which ha
damped his hands; the stain upon thel
could not be mistaken. "It's blood
It's blood !" he cried, shaking the thic
crimson drops from his fingers.
As for poor Rush, the coachman, h
looked on in blank amazement, like
man stricken dumb. The noise whic
Bill made attracted the attention of a
around, who were now only just begil
ming to guess at the cause of the della,
A scene of terrible excitement followe,
The whole street was in confusion.
was discovered that the coach contain
ed only one passenger or rather h
corpse, for he lay in pool of bloc
quite dead, and it was evident that h
| had been most foully murdered. +
animation showed that he was m,
in the prime of life, we'll dressed, al
of gentlemanly appearance, but witho
purse, pocketbook, papers, or any 9th
arctlcle by which he could be identitie
excepting small envelope with ty
cards in it-supposed to be his own
and bearing the name of Samuel Re
inson. 1t was evident that he had be
stabbed suddenly in the neck, al
death must have been almost insts
taneous.
The excitement at Bellair was ve
great, The proper officials were 5,
for and an investigation made. Ev,
one was questioned as to who the m
derer could be and what steps could
taken to effect his capture. AS mil
be expected, all eyes were turned
Rush, the coachman, who was natul
ly supposed to be likely to know sol
thing about the matter. In fact, 30
people even suggested that he mi
possibly know more than he ca
to tell but this was only scandal.
was very calm and collected, and, 5
ing TO the police authorities that