Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-12-19
HELD BY THE HEEL.
BY ;. s. CAIRNS.
In the Yankee Blade.)

ABOUT 10 relate, Dttel me.
There had been a tragedy at L, the
circumstances of which were so horrible
and cruel that when the particulars were
given to the public all New England was
aroused to indignant excitement
At the time | was a reporter on prOmi-
nent daily, and, in responce to the sensa-
tlonal bulletin from our local correspond
ent at l., was sent on by the chief to
furnish long special despatch of the
case for the morning edition. left the
city at dusk, and reached my destination
seventy miles away, between nine and ten
o'clock.
1t Is unnecessary to enter into any de-
tail of the murder here. Suffice to say
that, after some trouble anu more delay,
secured a very successful report. and at
eleven O'Clock it had begun spinning over
the wires
L was IA small country place where
the midnight trains did not stop; but be-
fore leaving the telegraph Office | learned
from the operator, who was d genial fell
Iow,-do not stare,-that by hiring IL
horse at the village, which was a mile
from the station and reached in the day
time by stage, | could be driven to --
Junction, eight miles beyond, board the
train there, and be in in the city at day
light.
determined to act on this suggestion,
and after a few further inquiries set oil,
towards the village. The moon had gone
down, and thick clouds covered the SKY.
1t was dark as pitch. Not a leaf stirred
1t seemed as though the night were hold
ing its breath, premonitOry symptoms Of
| 4 iachrymal Outburst of rain | did not
| mind the gloom, however, and whlstled
along merrily enough.
The highway ran along the east side of
| the track for nearly a half mile. assembled
hill then descended abruptly to the
right, crossing the track at a sharp curve.
merlng lights of the village, situated on
a hill half mile west Of the rsilroad.
| | walked rapidly along, and descended the
hill to cross the track. Hardly had |
taken the first step on the plank crossing
when the heel of my shoe, by some un-
lucky chance, sank tightly into the space
between the rail and timber, and | was
thrown heavily to the ground.
Although shaken up considerably, I was
not badly hurt, and attempted to rise at
once; but my foot was firmly held, and |
only partially succeeded IN doing 50. now
turned my attention to freeing myself
from my uncomfortable position, thinking
it an easy matter that could be accomplish
ed by d simple turn of the foot TO my
conservation | found it absolutely imT IS
slble to draw my foot away, 50 securely was
it wedged between the raj and plank.
| began to grow excited. and twisted and
pulled my foot reCklesSly and violently
untis nearly exhausted There was no re-
suit, except that my ankle began to pain
me from the trough treatment. and felt
that 1t was beginning to swell.
10 escape from this trap, | found that
must take the matter mora cOniiy. BY Il
strong effort at selfcommand | became
calm again, and began to consider the
best way out of the fix Consulting nly
watch, which had an illuminated dial.
| found 1t was twenty minutes past eleven.
No train would pass till after one, and
this was the one | wanted to catch at the
junction. Therefore | need not worry lest
| should be run over; had plenty of time.
Yet from the pain in my ankle | feared |
could not reach home as early as intend
ed.
went systematically to work. and tried
to pull my foot out of the shoe Failure.
Again and again endeavored. Dead
failure. My foot was badly swollen.
A happy thought flashed through my
mind, and | almost shouted with joy
Jubilaut at the prospect Of deliyerauce |
felt for my pocket knife. Horrors. it was
gone. But no. Almost miracuIously, it
seemed to me, my hand that instant touch
ed itlying on the ground, where it had slip
ped when | fell. With thankful heart
opened its only blade.
then cut deeply into the plank where it
held my heel. But in my eagerness over
estimated the strength of the knife, and
before | had taken off a shaving. to my in
finite dismay and alarm, the blade snapped
off short, leaving the useless handle clutch
ed in my grasp.
now became thoroughly desperate.
reprOached myself again and again for not
having been wise enough to cut off the
shoe. But it was too late nov. for the
broken blade, even if | could have used
that, was away down in crevice where
my fingers could not reach it.
called wildly for help.
~ oucan getout, youcan getout! said
a COmmlseTating Voice
| started up. Bah! it was only frog.
'Goucan't, getout, youcan't f. youcant
youcan t. croaked the sympathetic
creature.
This was depressing. Fool. fool. fool.
fool, fool! hoOted an owl from the wooded
hill behind. And the frog subsidized.
Again and again my agonized voice rent
the dark with screams for help. No one
came or answered, and at last h0arse and
exhausted | sank down in despair.
All became still again. save for the
drumming of the telegraph wires over
head, which to my startled imagiLation
Spnn1ph II l-h Tho Of.
ing me OF doom. For some time | lay there
in a sort of stupor, when
"Bo-loom!'
reused up again "Bo-loom!" 1t was
striking twelve from the clock in the tower.
Then for the first time the full terror of
my situation impressed itself fully upon
me and | chilled with fear Each stroke
sounding out with relentless precision
seemed to even hasten the time when the
fast express would sweep round tina curve.
rush past and away, and leave me there
manned and bleeding, to die, no doubt
alone before the dawn.
Despair gave me mightier strength than
hope, but unguided by reason. Again |
put forth almost superhuman efforts to es-
cape. My foot was badly Sprained. but
felt no pam. | was frantic with fear.
and wrlthed in the dust like a demented
creature.
0, it was dreadful to be held there
without any hope of rescue, fancying
heard the horrible crunching OF tae wheels
passing over my anklel
Ny brain was on fire. | uttered shrek
after shrek. Would no one come?
Only the echoes answered. A terrible
calm came over me, and | burst into
paroxysm of uncomfortable. mirshiess
laughter
was again mad.
I lay PROSTATE and closed my eyes. 4
mild ana pleasant int0xication seemed to
take possession of me, much ike that
produced 10y morphia. Pleasing fancies
Hltted before me, and | thought them real.
In the midst Of all was present to nv dis
ordered brain an indescribaole feeling OF
relief.-Nhat an awful nightmare had
mad. but it was all over now: fearfuIly
realistic dream. but only an illusion. And
slept there as sweetly as l ever did on my
own he'd at home.
! slept thus, it seemed. a long time.
when | was awakened by clear, long
drawn sound
I sat up, hardly realizing where was:
and listened. 1t was the shrill warning
OF locomotive
Then it all came back TO me. | was not
safe In bed al home. out was crouching on
railway track, my foot held as in a vice,
waiting to be crushed by the train whose