Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-24
ATTACKED BY VAMPIRES.
Thrilling Adventure of Traveller in
HIeNicn.

| lEOn Il "Trip 10 the extreme southern p0r-
ton of Mexico. l was on my way from
Oajaea to Tuxtia and Vera Cruz, on the
Gulf coast, intending to take train at the
latter place for the States. 1t was one OF
the most uncomfortable journeys | had
ever undertaken had ridden for the
| better part of two days in a volancoche, a
vehicle with two wheels and no seat, the
bottom being made of ropes holding up a
mattress, on which / could either recline
or sit Turkish fashion. The motive
power consisted of three mules abreast,
spurred on by a swarthy native, Jose by
name, who alternately rode the left-hand
mule and alternately ran alongside.
1t was nearing night when we drew up
at a small place called Oxite. There had,
in times gone by, been quite collection
Of houses at Oxite, but now, since the
pack-trains no longer pass through there,
the main road having been somewhat
changed, running about three leagues to
| the west, there was nothing there habitable
but the posada, or hotel, which in It's day,
had been quite a large building. The
walls of court, with sheds and sleeping
apartments on the inside, showed It's for
mer dimensions, but only four of all the
rooms were in fit condition for human
being to live in. All in all, the building
had deserted and follorn appearance.
The regular inhabitants of the place were
limited TO three souls, Senior Don Tivur-
clio Beltran his wife and daughter.
After supper | sat on the hosts veranda
with his family, chatting as much as my
limited powers as a linguist would permit.
Miss Juanita entertained me by singing
several old Spanish and Mexican ballads
in way that thrilled me. She was very
piquant, and what of music the dilapi-
dated guitar lacked was made up by the
really fine voice and romantic surround
ings. l was charmed, and, though tired
| from my days travel, it was with regret
that heard Don Tivurcio's polite offer to
show me to my quarters for the night. Ny
room was one somewhat removed from the
others and furnished, as well as l remem-
Der, with a broken stool, jar of water.
and bulls hide; the latter, | knew from
experience, was my bed, so, spreading my
blanket upon it, l lay down, but sleep
could not The night was sultry, the
apartment poorly ventilated, and there
seemed to be thousand creeping things
Oh my body. | bore this as long as posi-
bic, and then, Selling my blanket, rushed
out in the open air. After walking about
for awhile | spread my blanket under d
stunted palm some distance from the
house, and, disrobing, l gave each of my
garments good shaking, and, having
donned them, lay down determined to
sleep as much of the night as possible.
'Here," | said. at is cool; | can sleep
now" The thousand voices of a tropic
night seemed to invite to slumber, and nv
| feet were already on the threshold of
dreamland when there came breezy,
whistling sound, and what | took to be a
large night bird swept past me, actually
brushing my face. | must say this was
rather startling, but, looking about me
and seeing nothing, / lay down again.
Scarcely were my eyes closed before the
/ rustling noise was heard again. Though
this time its wings did not touch me, the
creature passed quite near enough to bring
decided GOODNESS TO my face. / am not
superstitious, but am ready to confess that
Just then every wild story and legend of
| ill.omened birds that had ever heard or
read came to me with remarkable force.
and for the moment | was as much terri
fed as a child listening to a blood-curd-
ling ghost story lay still, however, for
what else was left me? at will never
do" | said, .'to go back TO the house: |
cannot sleep in there, and" those wings
again They came as regularly as the
movements of a clock. Yes, with even
fascinating precision, and fascinating is
the word, for those wings now had an in
terest for me akin to magnetism. The
regularity with which they came and
went seemed analogous to the well-timed
passes of a mesmerist Once more-they
are here and gone / was waiting anx-
| iously now each time for their coming,
and | remember thinking that the f,ilure
Of my aerial visitor to put in an appear
ance at the proper moment would render
me wretched. now" / said, II can
Sleep" and.I slept.
To my mind there is nothing well de-
fined as regards the remainder of that
night. | have faint recollection OF
placing my hand on my neck, and being
startled when it came in contact with a
large, living something's something
that struggled in my hand and was
glued to my throat. There was an
other creature fastened to my cheek,
near the left temple, and yet another
clinging to my breast which | had left
barred, owing to the warmth of the night
Even in my semi-coascious state, / was
aware that these creatures were drawing
the life tide from my veins, but had neither
strength nor inclination to rid myself Of
them. An utter indifference to all things
came over me. My mind was troubled by
no regret as to things past or misgiv.
ings in regard to the things Of the future
For once in my life, at least, / expert.
| enced sense of absolute rest Another
moment and sleep was upon me. Not a
| dreamless sleep, though. 1t seemed tina,
| was prone at noontide within some shady
grove, while the air was heavy with the
breath of countless rare and beautiful
| flowers Strange, shadowy forms, borne or
huge pinions, circled about me, but their
ever.restless wings cooled my feyered
| frame, and ! felt no dread Of them what
| ever.
But at last awoke / was aroused by
the frightened cries of Jusnita. She wa.
holding my head In her arms and l re
member hearing her say: Awake, sir
awake You should not sleep-My God
The blood the blood Oh, mother com,
at once. The poor American has beer
killed by the vampires. My God, wha
can ] do? He is dead" Then / felt on,
of her hands as she placed it over my
heart. remember hearing her say, joy
fully: NO; he vet lives. God, | thanl
thee !" And then / lost consciousness.
1t was FIVE weeks before recovered suf
ficiently to continue on my Journey. Neve
in my life was treated with more kind
ness than by Don Tivurcio, his wife an,
daughter.
1
FoR bronchial, asthmatic and pulmonar,
complaints Browns Bronchial Troche
manifest remarkable curative properties