Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-11-27

My blood seemed TO freeze in my
veins My heart stood still; then il
started TO beat so rapidly that | could
hardly breathe. | had surely closed and
bolted the door, yet there il was open,
rs | could make out 10y the dim light
from the cubweb curtained window. AZ
the cooling pcTspiratiOn broke out at
every pore | realized that | had been
thoroughly frightened. | jumped up
and closed the door again and then
wrapped myself up III my blanket.
The room was ind arkness, except FOR
q gray streak from the window. tried
10 90 to sleep, but III vain. Sleep had
entirely fed. | desperately drew my
arm across my eyes as If 70 shut out
even the darkness and tried to think of
nothing
While | was lying still as corpse,
hoping that 10y a perfect physical mac
ton should hasten mental repose, AN
awful incident occurred. A something
dropped, as it seemed from tho ceiling,
plump upon my chess, aud the next in
slant fclt two bony hands cncircling
my throat. enGoGvoring TO choke me.
possessed ~ considerable physical
strength. = suldrnness Of the attack,
instead OF stunning me- strung every
nerve and -fo!c TO its highest tension.
My body ac.-4 from instinct before my
brain hal t.Io 20 realize the tcrrors Of
my position IA an instant 1 wound two
muscular arms around the creature and
squeezed it with all the strength of de-
spair against my chest and in few
seconds the bony hands that had fastened
on my throat ioOscncd their hold, and |
was free to breathe once more.
Then commenced struggle Of awful
intensity Immersed in the most pro
found darkness totally ignorant of the
nature of the thing by which | was SO
suddenly attacked, finding my grasp
slipping every moment, by reason, it
seemed TO me, of the entire nakedncss
Of my assailant; bitten with sharp teeth
III the shoulders, neck and chest; having
every moment TO protect my throat
against a pair of SNOWY, agile hands,
which my utmost efforts could not con
fine--thcse were combination Of cir.
cumstanccs which required all the
strength, skill and courage that | could
muster 70 overcome.
Al last, after silent, deadly, ex-
haustinS struggle, | got my assailaut
under by series Of incredible efforts OF
strength Once pinned, with my knee
ON what made out 70 be its chest, l
knew my self to be the victor. As rested
for moment TO catch my breath, |
heard the creature beneath me painting
IN the darkness and felt the violent
throbbing Of heart. 1t was apparently
rs exhausted as l was That was one
comfort
AT this moment | remembered that
had removed my leather belt when pre-.
pairing for rest and had thrown il across
the foot of the cot | reached out my
hand in the direction | thought the cot
should be. Happily my judgment was
not at fault and the first thing my hand
grasped was the belt In few seconds
more had, after fashion, pinioned
the creature arms.
/ now felt tolcrably secure. There
was nothing more TO be done but to
light my taper, and having first seen
what my midnight assailant was like
arouse my friend. | Will confess TO be.
ing actuated by certain pride in not
giving the alarm before. | wished to
make the capture alone and unaided
Never losing my hold for an instant,
gradually made my way to the place
where / had set the candle, then re-
leased my grasp with one hand and az
quickly as possible under the circum-
stances struck u match and lighted the
candle. Then l turned 10 look at my
prisoner
| cannot even attempt TO give amy de-
scriptiOn Of my sensations the instant l
looked / suppose | must have shrieked
with terror bat 10 this day | cannot re-
call clearly exactly how behaved
shudder even now as | think of that
awful moment!
saw absolutely nothing!
Yes had one arm claspcd around a
breathinA painting, corporal shape, my
Other hand gripped with all its strength
throat as warm and apparently fieshy
as my own, and yet, with this living
substance IN my grasp, with its body
pressed against my own. and all within
the circle Of illumination of the candle,
l bchcld literally nothing! Not even an
outline-not even IA vapor!
wonder that | did not faint or go
mad on the instant Some wonderful
instinct must have sustained me- for,
instead Of loosening my hold on the ter
rible enigma. | seemed to gain an addi-
tlonal strength IN my moment of horror
and tightcncd my grasp with such won
derful force that | felt the creature
shivcring with agony
just then the captain rushed into the
cell. As soon as he behold my face
which | suppose must have been an aw-
full sight to look upon--he FASTENED for
ward, crying out:
Great heaven, what has happencd?"
Captain! Captain!" cried. Come
and help me! Oh, this is awful have
been attacked by something or other,
which have hold of, but can't see it'll
| can't see itl'