Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-02-11
SOMEWHAT STRANGE.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF
EVERY DAY LIFE.
Queer Facts and Thrilling Adven-
lures Which Show That Truth Is
Stranger Than Fiction.


A New York Tribune contributor
who spent some years at work in a
powder mill describes an uncanny ex-
perience as follows: The last explosion
that occurred during my experience as a
powder monkey had an uncanny incl
dent, or forewarning, as some persons
would call it, connected with it, that has
always been a subject of much curiosity
to me. | have never been believer IN
the supernatural, but the case was ex-
actly as will state it. One warm even
ing in early June / started out for stroll
after supper, and on my return, about
10 o'clock, l had to cross a bridge over
stream connecting two of the mill
ponds. The corning mill was situated
behind bluff about 800 feet from the
road, leaving only the peak of the roof
visible from the bridge. The water
looked very inviting and was soon uu-
dressed aud swimming around in the
pond. After / had tired of this l
climbed out on the bridge and was lei
surely dressing myself, when, CHANGING
to glance in the direction of the corning
mil, strange sight met my gaze. There
perched upon the peak of the roof was
q grinning skull, the bony conformation
lit up with bright, phosphorescent
light, and the vacant cavities at the eyes,
rose and mouth perfectly black, gazing
ut me with its blank, unwinking stare.
looked at it for some time in astonish-
ment, then finished dressing and ad-
vanced slowly until l had approached to
within short distance of it; but still it
remained, with the same steady, baleful
stare. / felt cold, creepy sensation
pass over me, and although not really
frightened, feeling of awe took posses
sion of me, and turning went slowly
home, looking back now and then to see
it still grinning after me. About half
past o'clock the next morning the corn
ing mill exploded, followed Immediately
by its near neighbor, the glazing mill.
Ii the explosion had occurred shortly
after seven the loss of life would have
been large, as it was the custom of the
man who carted the powder from the
mill to begin his days work at the glaz-
ing mill, and usually there were five or
six, and sometimes more, gathered there
about that hour every morning. But the
forty-fve minutes time saved the lives
of all but the man who ran the corning
mill The pond, in which | had been
bathing the night before, was drained
and fragments of his body were found
strewn all over the bottom After the
mills were rebuilt and ready to resume
operations handed in my resignation.
II HAD an experience near Sweet
water, in Nolan County. Texas, about
ten years ago." said Harry L. Easily Of
Wichita, Kan. as he sat in the rotunda
of the Lacede House, st. Louis. II Twas
cowboy in those days | was riding
alone from Buffalo Gap to Big Springs
The second night was out / went into
camp about an hour by sun. staked
out my horse at the base of prairie
mountain, and while hunting around for
some faeots with which to make fire,
] ran across an opening in the hillside
Upon investigation found it was cave
My curiosity got the best of me and |
concluded that / would investigate it.
cooked both of my pistols and pro-
ceeded cautiously. Before l had entered
ten feet in the cave / was attacked by an
army of ferocious bats. / beat a hasty
retreat, of course, but they followed me
outside and few at me from all sides,
striking me in the face with their sharp
pointed wings and biting me on the
hands and ears. fought them as best
could and only frightened them away
by firing off my pistol several times, and
the flash of the powder had the effect of
driving them back into their nest in the
cave. OF course moved my camp that
night. The next day | met sheep
herdcr and related to him my strange ex-
perience. He then told me that few
months before rancher living near Fort
Concho was travelling in that vicinity
and had met with a similar experience,
only more serious than mine. He camped
close to the cave, aroused the bats and
they beat his eyes out with their wings
He was picked up two days later,
wandering around over the prairies, by q
party of emigrants. He had been made
crazy from his terrible fight and two
years later | learned that he had died in
the madhouse at Austin. | understand
that the cave was blown up with dyna-
mite about five years ago.
THERE was sensation the other Sun
day at North Derby Conn which the
worshipers who had share in it will not
soon forget. A dog and bull formed q
combination which proved demoralizing
&c the congregation of the Long Meadow
meeting house, otherwise known as the
Church of the Freedom, as it was the
first church in the state to take under
its roof colored people on an equality
with whites. The dog was doing in a
carriage which was tied near the church.
vnen stock dealer drove herd Of
cattle by the meeting house The dog
ran among the herd and stampedcd the
asttle. One steer, becoming frightened
dashed into the church and came 10 a
stand ia the centre Of the edihce. The
.Astor was in the midst Of his sermon.
As far as his hearers were concerned the
discourse ended then and there, rs every
body tried TO get outat once aud the steer
was left 10 undispuied possession OF the
place. The clergyman grew hoarse In
his cndeavofs o. have some Of the men
remain and drive the animal out he
eame down from the pulpit 20 undertake
The task himself, bat be- was not success
fuL add had be boz sought refuge in a