Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-08-07
Held BY fHB. H|Ii'E|L. b
An Awful Nighth's Adventure ea q
Railroad Track. AZ


Twas few years ago on a dark
summer night that the adventure | am
about to relate befell me. III 5.a;i e
There had been tragedy at e.
the circumstances Of which we're 50
horrible and cruel that when the par.
ticulars were given to the public al
New England was aroused to indig-
nant excitement. At that time ] was
q reporter on prominent daily, and,
in response to q sensational bulletin
from our local correspondent at L---,
was sent on by the chief to furnish q
long special dispatch 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. s4sh v a5r-
1t is unnecessary to enter into any
details of the murder here. Suffice il
to say that, after some trouble and
more delay,l secured q very success.
full report, and at eleven o'clock II
had begun spinning over the wires. t'
Ii was small country place
where the midnight trains did not
stop; but before leaving the telegraph
Office l learned from the operator,
who was genial fellow---do mot stare
that by hiring horse at the village,
which was 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 the city at daylight.
l detirm,ned to act on this sugges-
tion, and after a few further inquiries
set off toward the village. The moon
had gone down, and thick clouds Gov
cred the sky. 1t was as dark as pitch.
Not leaf stirred. II seemed as
though the night were holding its
breath, premonitory symptoms of q
lachrymal outburst of rain. [ did not
mind the gloom, however, and whis-
tied along merrily enough.
The highway ran along the east side
of the track for nearly half a mile, as
cending hill, then descending ab-
ruptly to the right, crossing the track
at sharp curve, whence it bore off
toward the few glimmering lights of
the village, situated on a hill half a
mile west of the railroad. I walked
rapidly along; and descended the hill
to cross the track. Hardly had | tax.
en- the fist step on the plank crossing,
when the heel Of my shoe, by some
unlucky chance, sank tightly into the
space between rail- and timber, and
was thrown heavily to the ground.
Although shaken up considerably, 1
was not badly hurt, and attempted to
rise at once; bit my foot was firmly
held, and only partially succeeded
in doing SO. T now turned nv at
tention to freeing myself from my
uncomfortable position, thinking itan
easy matter that could be accomplish
ed by q simple turn Of the foot. To
my CONSERVATION found it absolutely
impossible to draw my foot away, SO
securely was it wedged between the
rail and plank.
I began to grow excited, and twist
cd and pulled my foot reck.essly and
violently until nearly exhausted. There
was no result, except that my ankle
began to pain me from the rough
treatment, and / felt that it was begin
mag to swell.
To escape from this trap, found I
must take the matter more coolly. By
q strong effort at self-command / be-
came calm again, and began to con.
slider the best way out of the fix.
Consulting my watch, which had an
illuminated dial, I found it was twen-
ty minutes past eleven. No tram
would pass till after one, and this was
the one l wanted to catch at the juno.
tion. Therefore I 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 ! had intended.
Invent systematically to work, and
tried to pull my foot out of the shoe.
Failure. Again and again / endeavor.
ed. Dead failure. My foot was badly
swollen.
A happy thought flashed through
my mind, and / almost shouted with
joy. Jubliant at the prospect of de.
llverance I felt for my pocket-knife.
Horrorsl it was gone. But no, AL.
most miraculously, it seemed to. me,
my hand at that instant touched it
lying on the ground, where it had
slipped when fell. With q thankful
heart I opened its only blade.
| then cut deeply into the plank
where it held my heel. But in my
eagerness oyerestimated the strength