Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-10

Mr.. Crosby's Own Description of the Attack
Made on Him in Sicily.

Made on Him in Sicily.
PRIVATE LETTERS RECEIVED HERE FROM MR.. =.
W. CROSBY OF THIS CITY GIVE AN INTERESTING
ACCOUNT OF THE MURDERoUs ATTACK RE-
Gently MADE UPON HIN BY BRI6AND AT
GIRGASTI, SICILY.
Zone of the most startling and really terrible
events Of my life," writes Mr.. Crosby, "oc-
CURED on the evening of the 9th just after
had written the above lines. Night was ap-
preaching and thought would take a little
walk aud went up into main street. l
called at the house Of the British consul (the
only man in Girganti. resident. who could
speak English). He not in and mad an
appointment TO call at $50 on the morrow.
Walked for few minutes, and it was then
just about dusk decided to return to my room,
for an particularly cautious not to be out late
and to avoid all lonely or unlighted streets. I
use the word streets, but they are really alleys
ten to twenty feet wide. Wanting . little fruit,
stepped on. into the doorway Of q seven-by-
nine shop kept by woman and proceeded on
the serious task Of making my wants known.
There half-witted dumb fellow in the
shop. and while l bargaining with the
woman another man whom 1 did not closely
observe stepped up behind me and pro-
fessed to assist me in explaining matters
crossed the street and then went down long
fight OF stone steps which led to San
Truncisco street. on which my room WAS. l
noticed VIXEN at the top OF the steps that the
man had followed me. but thought nothing
wrong OF it. Twas public thoroughfare and
San Francisco street was well lighted and il
was barely dark. / felt some apprehension
because the man kept SO near me. At the
bottom OF the steps was less than 1C0 yards
from my room. Walking briskly off l had
got about twenty-five yards or so from the
steps when the fellow suddenly rushed around
in front OF me, said something in Italian in
fierce but suppressed tone ard made clutch
for nv throat. He and were the only per-
sons on the street. Twas with his left hand he
aimed to grasp nv throat. Involuntarily
threw up nv right hand and warded off his at
temDt. At the same instant said What do
you mean As l said the words he
stabbed me with awful force just over
the heart / cried out: Help. Murder,
words that would mean nothing to one
ignorant of the langusge) then struck out at
him. slowly backing away. In instant he
made another thrust. which fortunately l
caught nv left hand. half severins finger.
The assassin then fed. l was in great pain and
felt cure tba. my hour had come, and my
thought was TO get TO my room and leave a
message for M loved ones. l reached my room
calls. got in my room. sat down and began to
examine mvse,f. Soon became satisfied that
the knife had struck n rib, and that my life
safe. Meanwhile a big crowd had collected and
nv rooms were packed with women, children,
u dozen men or SO. besides a surgeon and three
or four policemen. i sent for the consul. Mr.
Oates. and through him explained the matter
to the police. told the surgeon my diagnosis of
the case. winch he said WAS correct and that the
rib was probably fractured or splinter OF bone
taken OFF.
Ike thought it one OF the most wonderful of
escapes. that the chances were a thousand to
one that the knife should have STRUCK SO ex-
actly in the center of the rib as to stop it
driven as ii was with such violence. Tie sur
geon dressed my wounds and proposed to the
police that accompany them to the shop
where got the fruit. the woman or the
dumb man would be likely to know the william
This they thought good plan provided that
felt able for il. had lost considerable blood
and nv understanding was saturated. but saw
that il was important that they commence at
once to look for the scoundrel This was done
and the woman questioned. with hat results
don't know. / returned to my room, went to
bed. but not TO sleep. Lying down was tor
ture. especially on the left side. worried
through the night, however. fairly well. The
morning brought me NV first mail for over
five weeks. Could messages from loved ones
ever come TO man at a more blessed time?
Strange as II may appear have rarely been so
happy now. The sunshine. the sea, the
whole world seems TO wear new beauties.
Il have had many narrow escapes, but l feel
now like raised from the dead, am SO
heartily glad that am alive.
The bandit evidently meant to kill first and
I rob afterward. and had selected that particular
I spot. think, for the attack, because near at
hand was q dark cavernous archway for the
contamination of the crime. He made no
sort of demand whatever. As said. he Kissed
| some words at the instant he made the as
sauIt. The villains ides was to strange, SO
taat could not cry out. and then do me TO
death with his long. keen knife. My clothes
are cut as though with sharp lancet. 1t
appals me when l think Of the affair and weigh
the chances that were against me. Had not
the clutch at my throat been successfully
thwar:ed or had the savage stab at the heart
not encountered rib and the last thrust OF
/ the cruel knife warded of, it would have been
all over with me-
/ subsequently the brigaud was arrested and
/ Mr.. Crosby identified him. readily picking him
out from four criminals who were placed In
| line before him.