The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-21

as they strike the stony street. Yes
hear them, and they are coming nearer
nearer; now they are in the house.
hear the jingle of their spurs and the
clanking of their sabres and the rattle Of
their carbines With brain at1re, anC
uplifted chair | stood about watching
every avenue of advance, heard dis
tinctly the orders to kill me and give nc
quarter, expected to be shot every mo
m9nt. NY delirium was assuming
fearful state. The voices ceased.
cried in nv madness, Stand boys OF
we ere dead men" Promptly q voice re
sponded, eve are with you " Looking
in the direction whence the sounds pro
ceeded, and oh, horror Of horrors, rlgnt
over my head seemingly ready Jodrop,
the deadly implement was an old skull
with an axe without handle, between lis
teeth, with the edge toward me. /
moved to the other side of the hall,
Passed, and as | did so spied a carpenter,
with tools around him. | asked him for
a hatchet He held up a whip-saw.
insisted on having the Ratchet. lie re-
fused to let me have it. Then ] said:
"What are you acknowledgements or
Republican 2" He said: Don't you
know?" l replied, "No - He said: 81
am a Democrat; may | go to your room
with you" said: eyes, if you desire. :,
Then, this imaginary interlocutor walked
rapidly with me twenty feet and the
proprietor, Mr.. Cobb, and several Others
cried, For shame, thefght and danger
over COwles Is q coward, for he was
afraid to 20 to his room alone,
| protested that no such con
struction should be placed on my conduct,
that | had defended, single-handed, the
west wing of the corridor, and had never
moved till ordered. | could then see in
form at least a hundred Sowing, angry,
contemptuous faces. The proprietor told
me to prepare for horrible death. A
drummer came in, registered and asked
permission to see the execution. The
clerk repeatedly asked me to let him feel
my pulse, twitted me by charging that |
was afraid to die and was crying. lie
told me to get down on my knees and
beseech the heavenly throne; asked me
where ! wanted the little they would
leave buried; and the carpenter still
worked away on the addition to the
Office. l was assured by demons con-
jured up by the accursed morphine that
at 4 O'Clock was to be subjected to in
dignities too gross to mention. My eyelids
were to be cut off, my ears and nose
were to share the same fate. was to
be hung up, head downward, nails driven
through my feet, skinned from waist to
arms and then hot boiling tar was to be
applied. Great drops of sweat rolled Of
of me. The people in the street seemed
wild after my blood. The bells rung
the tramp Of the mad populace was IN
ceasing and incessant. Squads Of men
were hurrying here and there, singing,
curslng and shouting that they they were
going to hang Andrew Cowles. ''When,
was ased -Four O'Clock, was the an
swer. For what2" why, for cow
ardice."
So intense was my excitement
/ neglected to brace on morphine. Sc
real was the phantasmagoria l regarded
it as useless to make an attempt al
relief or escape. / had passed the point
where Hope could solace or comfort
The sky was rayless and the beetling
clouds hung heavily without silver lin
ing over me. was too proud to beg for
mercy, and too weak to command it.
madeno plant, asked no quarter, and
was entirely oblivious of possessing
within myself any immortal quality
whatever. The time was fast approach
ing when | should shuttle off this mortal
coil, and go to that country whence no
traveller returns. So real was it, that /
never questioned their right of condem-
nation. Hurriedly walked a limited
space over the tiled floor of the lobby,
and looking at the clock it marked $3.50
p N. At4 | must die. The optical de-
fusion in showing me 100 men had passed
away. There was lull. / furtively
glanced my eye over the lobby and
corridors, saw a negro on a
ladder about ten feet from the ground,
working away on the new office, and Mr..
Howell Cobb, proprietor, and at my feet
I found three hatchets Four o'clock
seemed to be a fatal hour. Then !
must die. There was no appeal. Those
who sat in judgment were obdurate.
They demanded their pound of flesh.
had never failed to defend myself why
should / noW2 BY all the laws of hospi-
tally recognized in the rude tent Of the
Bedouin, equally with civilized nations.
| thought Mr.. Cob had grossly proven
recreant. BY this time was mad, hope
less, desperate. Anticipating the hour
of four | quickly raised the hatchets, il
tending to kill the carpenter first, and
then Mr.. Cobb. | hurled Ratchet No. !
with terrific force at the carpenter
He saw me in time, and by
falling clear, escaped the deadly missile
Then as quick as a flask | sent another
at Mr.. Cobb, the blade of which didn't
miss his throat half an inch, but thankGoC
it inflicted no wound on him. CobE