The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-05-13
Saved bza Horseshoe.

hobgoblIns, thieves or other noe
turnal callers, or for the luck il
brings in the door over which il
hangs, has not been illustrated
very clearly at any horseshoe door.
way We have yet heard Of Yet
there is one instance in which the
ioot-gear of the horse saved the
life of man who is well known to
| the citizens of Desmoines Iowa
Mr.. Morton, a gentleman of good
standing and whose veracity is un-
questionable, has repeatedly told
the story of how the old rusty
horse shoe saved his life, and he
says he never goes without the
''life preserver," as he jokingly
styles it in his breast pocket. On
one occasion while conversing with
some friends he said, "why | would
as soon think Of going to my own
funeral as to start on trip with
out the magic shoe. 1 would have
long since been dead had not pos.
sessed one. 1 will tell you how it
saved my life, then judge whether
there is anything in it. l was on a
business tour about six years since
looking after timber lands in Min
neseta. After my business was
satisfactorily transacted 1 was
returning by way of st. Paul, and
put up at the Continental. The
room assigned me was on the sec
ond floor, and overlooked the street.
1t was comfortable and fresh look
ing, and 1 anticipated a good
nights rest, for l was considerably
fatigued and could sleep without
rocking, as the saying goes, if
nothing had happened to destroy
my slumber. l lay down early and
was doing when / somehow re-
membered 1 had not fastened my
door, so rising and relighting the
gas, which had been turned out
when 1 retired, proceeded to lock
it. In going to the door L noticed
an old horse shoe hanging over it.
| paid no attention to it, however,
and returned to bed. Sleep was not
as easy this time as it was when
first lay down, so the hours passed,
yet no slumber for me. 1t was
passed midnight and 1 lay there
wishing for sleep but it would not
como to me that night. So l con
clIded to dress, and look over some
business papers. AS put my feet
on the floor before the act of dress
ing / heard an unmistakable noise.
The door knob turned. / listened |
for a brief time when whis-
pering was audible on the outside |
Of my door. 1 slipped on a few ar
sicles of clothing, and cautiously !
slipped towards the door, when l
plainly heard the plan of my rob-
berry and probable murder discuss
I'd by two robbers. They were
trying to learn which would be the |
safest plan to accomplish their de-
sign without my knowledge. l |
stood there a strong man and no
for 1 knew it would be sui
eidal teSattempt to alarm the hotel,
Dr. to combat with men as desperate
and INSCRIPTIONS as / knew them
TO be from their conversation.
had never carried a revolver in my
life, and this is the only time 1 had
ever cause to regret not carrying
1ne. / hoped to be able to discover
which might be Of SER
rice as a weapon of defence, but no
article in my room could be con-
Verted into anything warlike. My
bed was of the rope order and
spring mattress, which 1 learned
when / reached for q slat. The
chairs were cushioned bottoms,
and too heavy and clumsy for strik-
ng blow with altogether. So 1
to stand and fight the
robbers with naked hands rather
han submit to their geedy de-
nand. They were fOiled in the at
.empt to open my door from the
outside with nippers, for 1 had slip
ped the key cut of the lock. They
brought q Jimmy" into action by
which the door was easily thrown
open, and one of the men stepped
inside. Il Preached above the
1oor and lifted the old horseshoe
rom its resting place, with which
struck the burglar square in the
face, causing him to reel backward |
and fall fiat on the floor. On the
outside his "par' not expecting so
sudden an attack from within, re-
treated in good shape, not for
forgetting to fire his revolver as he
ran. The ball struck the horseshoe
[ held in my hand, the effect OF |
which somewhat deadened my |
whole arm for a short time. l pro-
coed to secure the man who was
now about to get upon his feet
when he grappled with me and |
proved to be of no mean strength.
1t wss nip and tuck for some time. |
l beat him over the head with the
rusty shoe till il fell from my grasp,
when a struggle of the most try
ing natured ensued for it. 1
gained possession of it at last and
to keep him from getting it hur-
riedly dropped it into my breast
pocket. 1t was plain that l must
give up when 1 began to call for
help for l .was fast losing my
and it seemed the robber
was getting more determined to
shed blood and was struggling to
free himself from my grasp and did
break my hold when he drew
deadly knife which 1 could see
plainly by the gas light in my room.
l closed on him again when he
struck a murderous blow that
would have have surely proven ia
tai had not the horseshoe in my
pocket received the point and left
me still unhurt, though weak from
my efforts to captures the robber.
The guests and hotel people in
general were aroused and thorough
ly excited when some one gave the
alarm of fire, and a panic was al
most the result Of the word fire at
that hour of the night. People
passed me without paying any at
tention to what l said, asking
Urlo -ot~l,a. NnoIr