Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-05-25

| oause nau once caused the discovery
or several iron tools, which heaven
knows how obtained-they had con-
cealed under their clothing, and on
another occasion discovered that they
were shamming when, on the plea of
illness, they desired TO be placed in
the hospital, probably because they
hoped to find the conditions there
more favorable for their plans OF
escape. The sccundrels were separa.
tea and heavily chained, but neverthe-
less one morning one and few davs
later the other vanished, chains aud
al, without leaving trace. About q
fortnight afterward l went to Cayuga
Bridge on some private business,
1T was noon when l reached the
end OF my ride, and I gazed with de-
light at the sunlit landscape before my
eyes. Cayuga Lake, one of those
which, with Lake Erie, form the net
work of inland lakes in New York. lay
before me in its peculiar loveliness.
Between rugged, rocky shores, con-
fronting each other like sullen foes,
the long, narrow sheet of silver ex-
tended its clear surface as if striving
to reconcile the two enemies who had
stared defiantly at each other for cen
turIes. Across the lake, which is about
forty miles long, and, at this point, Il
mile wide, the railway trains run on an
immense wooden bridge, marvel of
American enterprise, which has a
station at Cayusa Bridge, an insignif.
cant village.
MY business was soon completed,
and toward evening [ set out on my
way home. Are you familiar with the
pleasure OF ride on q summer even
ing? Cnyuga Bridge is surrounded by
extensive oak forests, through which I
had to ride considerable distance.
The huge, lofty trunks cast along
| shadows, and the tops rustled so softly
that one rather felt than heard them.
AS L passed beneath these woodland
giants, sweet memories of my far of
home stole into my heart. Absorbed
IN thought, loosened the bride of my
horse, which trotted slowly forward. 1
admired the bewitching blending of
co.ors produced by the rays of the
setting sun, as they shone through
the dense, dark green foliage and
seemed to kindle the edges of the
leaves. Suddenly ] was reused from
my dreams by rustling in the under
brush on both sides of the road.
seized my pistol and turned quickly,
but Mt the same moment received a
terrible blow, which deprived me of
my senses. True, opened my eyes
onca moro and fGnccd 1 saw indis-
tlnctly, as il in dream, one of the
escaped criminals bending over me,
then darkness shrouded my mind.
ut must have been late at night
when consciousness returned [
opened my eyes and saw above me in
the deep blue sky a.'radiant full moon.
A dull, heavy sensation in the back OF
my head made me try to put my hand
on the aching spot, but L discovered
that | was bound hand and foot.
Gradually [ collected my thoughts,
remembered the attack by highway
men, and terrible foreboding, which
made my heart stop beating, darted
through my brain. l felt that | was
laid across two sharp parallel proiec-
tions, which pressed against Inc most
painfully, and, listening intently, I
heard far below me faint splashing
noise. There was no Doubt was
lying across the rails OF the Cayuga
Bridge, bound, unable to move, with
the terribly certain prospect of being
cut into three pieces by the next
train.
81 almost lost consciousness again.
But soon recovered my composure.
Then 1 tugged desperately at my
bonds till they almost cut my muscles,
shrieked, and at last wept like a child.
| tried to roll myself into different
position, and remembered that an in.
cautious movement would hutl me in
to the silent waves OF the CaYuga-
bound hand and foot, motionless as n
stone.
81 hulderod and lay still. But not
long. The light of the large, to me
fearfully, brilliant moon, the splash
ing of the water below, the wind blow
ing softly, then the deathlike silence
again, rarely interrupted even by the
ulAtdhI HOlC Ol II Dlru-nll became I'M
endurable and inspired me with un-
spealable terror. And the rails The
rails Ny senses tortured me.
could not escape them. The wooden
beams trembled almost impsrceptibly
from the washing of the water. I
imagined l felt the approach of the
train and my hair bristled; the wind
sighed little louder. [ fancied [
heard the dull painting of the engine
and my heart stood still, only to
throb the next instant with such
dreadful speed that the pulsatious
were almost audible.
"There are some things, gentlemen,
which are totally incomprehensible to
me; one Of them is how l survived
that night. One thought stood direct.
ly before my mind. / must endeavor
to work myself into another position
If possible, get into the space be-
tween the rails-if 1 was not, perhaps