Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-17
A NIGHT OF DANGER.
Thrilling Adventure of Traveller in a
Southern Forest.

DOUBT out JDdC / was lOSC.
All that day | had been tramping
through a wild and almost unbroken
forest. in one of our Southwestern states
Since morning | had not seen more
than half dozen human habitations, AID
they were of the poorest and rudest de-
scription. hardly fit for the abode Off wild
animal.
Since the middle of the afternoon, the
forest had been unbroken on ether side,
so thickly matted with trees and vines that
the eye could not penetrate a dozen feet
into the gloomy shadows
All there was to show that human
being had ever been that way before was
the apology for road that | was pursu-
ing, If there ever had been any travel up
on it, there was little sign now that such
had been the case. Bushes had grown up
where the ruts might have been, and In
many places the stout vines had crept
around, so that one had to keep a constant
lockout to prevent himself from being
tripped up by them.
Now and then in the thickest portion
of the forest, it was almost impossible to
keep what, in fact, was hardly more than
a trail. Here it would seem to branch
either to the right or left, but up to night
fall ! fattered myself that had not gone
astray. But now | had grave reason to be
worried.
At the cabin where [ had passed the
previous night, | had been told that
should come to another by the middle of
the afternoon, or a little later, providing
| made good time. But now night was
close upon me, and the habitatiOn | had
been looking for at every turn had failed
to materialize.
The prospect of night alone in the
dismal forest was not pleasant to contem-
plate | knew that in the dismal depths
about me, outlaws, mOonshiners and cut
throats had their refuge, and | did not rel
ish the idea of meeting them at any time,
much less of encountering them In the
darkness.
1t had begun to grow dark about me,
when | came to 81 point In the way
which puzzled me. The road fOrked
again and for the life of me | could not
determine which one to take, the right or
left.
As many had done before me, let chance
decide the matter. Setting a stick up
right, ! removed my hand, and let it fall
In the direction it would 1t fell to the
left, and so took that way.
| hurried onward now as fast as | could.
| wanted to make use of what daylight
still remained, and get to the cabin where
| was to pass the night, before it became so
dark that travelling would be impossible.
But my haste amounted to nothing. A
darkness which could be almost felt closed
in about me, and felt certainty that
must be lost The cabin | expected to
find had not appeared, and of It's exist
ence | had no reason to doubt The peo-
pie where had passed the previous night
could not have had 40 motive In deceiv-
ing me.
Stumbling along III the darkness, trying
to make up my mind to face the lnvltable,
that of passing the night out OF doors,
| suddenly tripped over something which
lay across the path, and went headlong
over it to the ground Mingled with the
shock of striking the earth was a thrill Of
fear, coupled with establishment. | did
not get upon my feet at once, but sitting
up, | reached out toward the obstruction
over which | had tripped. A thrill of
horror ran through my frame as my hand
touched it. it was the body of man.
sprang to my feet while | could feel
the hair rising upon my head. Had the
body been stiff and cold. my fright would
not have been so bad. By chance | had
placed my hand upon its face. and | felt
there was the warmth of LIE still in it.
This was not all. 1t was wet, and the
moisture stuck to my hands. Although
could not see, | felt sure that it was blood
that was sticking to them. An accident
had occurred or a murder had been COM
mitted, within few minutes of my COM
ing.
With trembling hands I sought for a
match, and when found one, | struck it
and glanced down at the object before me.
1t was the body of man, its face so cover
ed with blood that its features were not
discernible. The match went out and
was alone again in the darkness, with the
body of the murdered man lying at my
feet.
LIGHTED two or three matches at once,
but their light only revealed to me what
| had already seen. What could | do?
The thought of remaining by the side of
the dead man until morning | could not
entertain for a moment. | must go on
until considerable distance, at least, was
placed between it and me- This | lost no
time in doing. As fast as my feet could
carry me, hurried on, half unmindful if
was keeping the trail or not
For something like half an hour push
ed onward, end then came suddenly to a
standstill.
On before me light was giimmering
through the trees; but | was uncertain
whether it came from a fire or a will-o'-
the-wisp fitting through the tangled
mazes of the forest. But | would not be
long kept in suspense. Any company was
better than the dead man lying in the road
behind me- AS came near, the outlines
of a cabin disclosed itself, and out through
the single window the light was gleam-
ing.
| thanked my stars for this; without
been directed that morning; and had
stumbled as 1t were upon it by accident
The thought of finding those who had q
hand in the death of the man | had left IL
the road did not occur to me, and walking
up to the door, | gave long rap thereon
Some one commenced to move about. The
light was taken from the window, and, {
little later, the door was thrown open, ano
woman stood before me. She was MOI
very propossessing; and there was a scared
look upon her face, as she said:
WHO are you, and what do you want
here?"
Il am a stranger travelling through the
country on business. This morning | was
told | should find cabin hereabouts, where
| could get entertainment for the night. "
You had better go away. This is ne
place for an honest nan. They may bt
back soon and your life will be in dan
ger.
She would have closed the door, but
raised my hand to prevent it. At that
moment she uttered cry of terror.
What is tip | said.
Murderer. Look at your hands," she