The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-08
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
A Night struggle and Narrow Eseap'
from Two RaVinG ETadmoh

A Night Struggle anti Narrow E@sGnpu
from Two RavinG SIadmcn
About twenty years ago fearful
crime was committed at c., q small
town near Boston. The wife of farmer
named Dillon and her two children
were cruelty butchered by mailman.
The murderer, however, escaped, and,
though well known in the locality, the
police and citizens failed to discover his
hiding place. 1t was said that the ter
rible loss Dillon had sustained was driv-
ing him insane. He used to go from
house to house searching for Callagan,
the mailman, and vowing an awful ven
geance.
1t was about month after the muir
ders. was sitting by my tireside list
ening to the wind bowling outside,
when was aroused by d low, quick
knock at the front door. Opening It l
behold standing on the steps a half
naked, shivcring creature. Pushing me
aside he crept toward the fire. First,
however, he closed the door and gazed
searchingly around the room.
at once recognized Dan Callagan.
As | watched him he made sudden
spring from the fire and grasped me by
the throat. ielt my breath leaving mo
US was dashed against the wall. ! fell
to the floor nearly dead. / must have
remained unconscious for some time.
The first sight that met my opening
eyes is one | can never forget. In the
middle OF the room stood two figures,
their hands grasping each others
throats, their eyes leaping madly in
their heads! A fearful wound on one
OF their bodies, and Il dagger lying close
by told OF u fearful struggle,
Two madmen = Callagan and the
father of the murdered children! A
wild laugh resounded through the
room, and then l saw the head Of Gala
gan go crashing into the face OF his an
tagonist.
Dillon fell to the floor instantly, and
the next moment the dagger was buried
in his breast. quickly stood up and
was about to interpose, when the mad
man rushed upon me with the bloody
dagger raised above his head ready to
strike. had no means Of defending
myself, nor was there any apparent
chance OF escape. But moved out OF
his way and cluded the blows he aimed
at me for short time. Suddenly, |
stumbled over something and fell
through the window (which must have
been broken by Dillon into the street.
| heard the door opening, and on get
ting to the sidewalk saw the mailman
come leaping down the steps. / made
hastily for the next street, the murderer
after me. Seeing door open, rushed
into hallway and got into a yard.
For moment I considered whether l
could hold the door closed against him,
but seeing garden in the rear which
rose us high as the first story, and which
was accessible by row OF stone steps
projecting out Of the masonry, | let 20
the doorknob.
1t did not take me long to gain the
top, but the mailman was close at my
heels. Just then q terrible idea came
into my brain. / waited for the muir
derer at the top, aud us he was about to
spring into the garden quickly showed
him into the yard. He fell on his head,
breaking his neck.
AS he lay there dying his fearful cries
awolle the people in the house, and /
can never forget the awful scene to the
end of my life.