Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-28
LOCKED WITH 4 LUNATIC.
A Young Lady's Fearful Experience
Her Mind Unsettled and Her Hair
Turned white.

From tie Baltimore 4 Herjc1H-
PIEDMONT. W. VA, Nov. - -Strang
things happen back on these old noun
tains, and the half Of the curious occur
rences are never told. The writer a few
weeks since spent several days deer hunt
Ing on the mountains. Game was scarce
but the party was a lively one, and VI
had a good time. 4 storm one night com
PEELED the party TO stop at farm hous'
and ask shelter A typical, hospitabl'
Southern Colonel asked as TO remain ant
make ourselves at home. Among the iarg'
family ga hered about the supper TABLE
the writer was particularly impressed III
strengthening woman who sat at th'
lower end of the table and was not intro
duced by the Colonel and had nothing Il
say. Her face was thin and haggard, anC
wore an expression OF settled melancholy
distressing TO behold. Her hair was snow
white. After tea niece Of the strange
looking lady. with whom the writer en-
gagged IN conversation, told him the fol
lowing thrilling story OF her aunps fear
ful experience, which hal affected her
mind and whitened her hair when she
was but nineteen years Old:
Bessie Knowing had been invited to
spend the Christmas holidays with an
aunt living about ten miles from Harper's
Ferry. She accepted the invitation. and
in due time arrived at her destination,
where she was warmly welcomed. Sew
eral other guests had arrived q week pre-
yious to my aunt, so that the house was
literally packed, leaving no accOmmoda-
ton Tor another visitor. On the lawn, a
short distance from the mansion, had been
built a One-rC0m cabin. 10 had been COM
fOrtably furnished by the hostess in anti
CIpatlon Of an emergency 0f the present
character. The hostess stated to
her niece that she would be obliged
20 place her temporarily in this cabin
unless she objected to the arrangement.
My aunt was naturally OF a bold adyen-
turous disposition, and lacked the natural
tmidity Of most girls. so that she quietly
agreed to the plan. Tired out with Der
trip, she told her aunt that she would like
TO retire early, so a fire was built on the
cabin hearth and everything made COM
Portable for the night Ny aunt was ac-
companied by her hostess 10 the cabin be-
fore she retired, and sat with her for some
time talking over family affairs. As she
started 10 leave she discovered that the
bolt had been broken of the door, necessi-
tating her locking the door on the outside
20 keep everything secure. This she did
after bidding her niece an affectiOnate
good night. Aun. Bess. after sitting
by the e for some time, became uneasy
and nervous, an apparent premOniti0n OF
what was about 70 occur disturbing her
She finally disrObed, and after replenish-
ing the fire retired. She toss about I'M
easily for a while, and then fell into fit
ful, restless slumber. She aWOke several
hours later with a violent start, the same
l. Al.
proximity Of some dread object. The IRE
was burning low on the hearth, and, as
the night was intensely cold, the cabin
was slowly getting chiller. II was
near daylight, hut she still felt
that horrible dread. as Of approach
ing calamity. She listened for some
time, when she heard something move
once OF twice under the bed. She nearly
tainted from fright, but having treasured
herself into the belief IL was merely a
dog, TUNED over 10 90 to sleep. Suddenly
she felt the bed move, accompanied by a
lOua yawn. she was nearly overcome as
she realized that the strange inmate was
not, as she had imagined, a dog. but must
be man. She lay in constant dread for
several minutes, not daring to stir for
fear OF betraying her presence, but finally
decided 70 make a sudden dash and gain
the door and liberty. She was on the pO mt
OF putting her resolve into execution,
when ste suddenly remembered that the
door Was locked on the outside, ard that
she was practically prisoner and at the
mercy or the unknown intruder. She laid
quietly in bed, moving neither hand nor
foot, the horror Of the situation steadily
increasing. till she feared she would lose
Der Tea-On. The seconds and minutes
dragged their agOniZing length along, till
the afwauk n 4 eli frfe "a
monster several times during these awful
hours raised the bed, causing its occu-
pant 70 experience untold agony OF appre-
pension.
Finally. the object crawled out from
under the bed. IL proved to be a man
clothed IN tatters, with the fragments OF
heavy iron shackles hanging 10 his wrists
and ankles. The hair and beard OF the
strange visitor were tangled and unkempt,
The former hanging below his shoulders.
The brute stretched his full length out by
the IRE. and, giving grunt OF satisfac-
TOD, fell into deep sleep. The occupant
Of the bed, realizing that al dsybreak she
would inevitably be dlscoved, cast her
eyes wildly around Tor a hiding place.
The heavily curtained recess 10 one ofthe
windows caught her eve. and she instant
~ resolved 70 make an effort TO
reach II. Raising herself quietly
on her hands, she crept nOiselessly
from the bed, and reached the
window IN safety. From this point Of
vantage she looked with agOBizing dread
on the sleeping brute. Overcome with
fatigue and fear. she WAS almost in the
act OF sinking 10 the floor, when she sud.
denly became aware of the baying OF
hounds, and the rapid hOOf beats of gal
looping horses. They approached nearer
and nearer, till she could distinguish the
excited voices Of the riders. She realized
suddenly that they were on the track OF
ire strange intruder, and silently prayed
ior Immediate succOr. The voices died
away in the distance, grew louder and
then sank fainter, the alternate conflict of
nope and fear almost rendering her fran
NC. They again approached closer, TIL
they seemed TO be just outside Of the cabin
door.
While listening she had unconsciously
dropped the curtain folds from her face
ana suddenly glancing In the direction of
the fugitive, she saw that he also had bpen
awakened by the confusion, and having
risen u his feet, was glRring at her face
win an expression that left no doubt AZ
70 NE madness. For moment she Qazed
n1slly INTO MS eyes, and then inside al
lhFOiuutery movement toward the door.
me spell which held the maniac was
broken, and be spranR toward her with a
Wild snarl. The unfortunate lady esye a
scream of despair. ana sank senseless IN
The moor. As her cyes closed % unuou-
sciousness she became dimly aware of n
bursting crash and terrific struggla
around about her. when she AGAIN
came TO she was Wing in bed
IN her Ruufa Foeldouna arrrouo,t..4