Huntsville gazette., 1888-07-07

was my only refuge, and to it I sprung,
hastily climbing from the top of the
large ticket case, which stood directly
underneath.
Even while l was taking my hasty
fight, l heard the crash of every
thing that was used as battering
ram against the Office door. The mad
man had caught up one of the long
wooden settees which stood in the
waiting-roOm, and at the second blow
he drove the door from its hinges,
when, dropping his weapon, he rushed
in just in time to discover my hiding
place, as | drew my body through the
opening into the tower. The room
was very high, over eleven feet,
and had faint hope that he would
not attempt to reach me, a
hope soon dispelled, however, for he
Immediately began to ascend. By a
slight spring he was able to reach the
opening with his hands, and cling by
the finish running around it, and with
this hold he meant to draw his BODY up
through it by the strength of his arms.
Looking hastily around for weapon,
l was lucky enough to discover an old
hatchet, probably left there by the
linemen, after making some repairs
upon the wires. Catching this up with
the back of the blade, gave his knuck-
les such a severe rap that he was glad
to relinquish his hold and drop to the
floor.
A second time he tried it with the
same result as before, when, evidently
firing of this mode of procedure, he
gave utterance to nearly the first artic-
ulate words ever heard him utter.
"Boy!" he said, ''I'll have your life
for that, if nothing more. Strike my
hand but once more and | set fire to
this depot, and roast you like a rat in
his hole"
This threat, which l had no doubt he
would have carried out, filed me with
dismay. Oh, for a weapon with which
| could disable him at Oncei A blow
upon the head with the hatchet |
dared not risk now. | had nearly Civ
en- up all hope, when bright thought
occurred to me. | had a weapon, a novel
one to be sure, but deadly-the electric
light aCires. Our depot, and indeed, the
entire village, was lighted by electric
ity, generated by water power at the
dam, which ran the dynamos. Though
it was late, the power was still on.
Grasping my hatchet, with one
strong cut | severed a wire. Instantly
all was darkness, or nearly so. Two
lanterns, cne white, the other blue,
still burned in the office below, for it
is a rule Of the company that at all
times after dark these two signal lam
terms shall be ready for instant use in
case of necessity. BY their pale light
[ could see every movement of the
mailman below, who still sat where he
had fallen upon the floor, grOaning
and nursing his knuckles. The wire
now, of course, was harmless; being
severed, no current could pass through
it. Taking my knife from pocket, |
cut off the insulating material for
three or more inches from each end Of
the severed wire and awaited his
coming. My assailant was evidently
surprised at the sudden extinguishing
of the light, and with yell started to
his feet, and began his third and last
attempt to reach me.
held the two ends of the wire, one
in each hand, above the exposed
points, my hands resting safely upon
the insulation. AS he clambered up
as before, | struck the ends Of the wire
together to try the power. Instantly
following the contact, the light leaped
brightly forth, and showed him stand
ing there upon the little shelf, pre-
pairing to make the spring for
the opening, with d puzzled
expression upon his fiendish
face at my evident control of the light.
Then he sprang; both hands caught
the coping and rested there. Now was
my time. Quickly separating the
wires again, touched lightly one to
each of his bare hands as they clung,
and let the full current pass through
his body. The shrek that followed |
hope never to hear duplicated. A
convulsive tremor passed through his
body, and, relaxing his grasp, he fell
heavily to the floor.
| remained above long enough to
satisfy myself that he was past doing
me further harm; then, hastily de-
scending, | ran to the baggage room
and released the imprisoned watch
man. Together we moved the lifeless
body from the Office to the waiting
room, and a physician was summoned.
Every thing that could possibly be
done was attempted, to resuscitate
him, but was of no avail. His life
went out with electric current.
The watchman had made every en-
deavor to escape from his prison, the
windows of which were securely barred
and locked from outside; but without
implements his efforts amounted to but