The record-union., 1897-10-22
A STRANGE CATASTROPHE.
Cwritten for the Record Union" by
Harold Francis)

(Written for the Record Union by
Harold Francis)
If every man and woman in this
world We're to brood over the fact, that
we never know what Unforeseen ca
lamity might happen 10 US from one
minute to another, this would, indeed,
be miserable, melancholy and super
stitious world. We often wonder what
We would do if such and such a thing
should happen to US. We think we
could never overcome certain common
place happenings, and yet, when We
are brought face to face with them,
sometimes unconsciously, the tangled
meShes seem to unravel without muen
effort, and when the dread occurrence
is past, We breathe a sigh Of relief ana
wonder how we stood it. But neces-
sity is the mother of invention, and no
matter how small the key-hole may be,
we manage, without the aid of a fairy,
to squeeze through it. Witness this
strange event which happened to the
writer:
Supper was over, and we had re-
paired to the sitting-room. The shades
Of evening were falling over the sky,
and in the bay window sat middle
aged woman, putting in the last
stitches on a skirt She was a dress
maker and fair. fat and probably 40.
When I say she was fat" be it un-
dersrood that I do not mean plump,
but fat-weighing, say, about two
hundred pounds. In spite Of her su-
perfluous flesh, however, it is only just
to say, in her behalf. that she is an ex-
ceIent dressmaker and a delightful
conversationalist-nay gossip, if you
like. The women folk of the house
were seated around her and presently
one, more thoughtful than the others,
said:
Hadn't we better have the light
It?"
"Oh, never mind,'' she answered,
tersely, I'm almost done"
With one strong pull, she whirled the
full skirt around, and commenced 10
deftly pull out the basting threads.
And the women, so eager were they to
have the skirt finished and allow the
poor. overworked ressmaker to de-
part, pcunced down upon it like so
many vultures trying to seize some
helpless victim. With their assistance,
the basting threads disappeared, and,
rising. she said:
AANAN II -. anu tlACl1 S4a41SlllS OiAl
of the windows, added: Goodness, how
dark it has grown!"
'Oh, don't mind that" ventured one,
Frank Chats me) will walk to the
cars with you. Won't you, dear?'
What COULD I say? Even though I
may have been interested in the book
had picked up, I couldn't demonstrate.
So, of course, hastened to assure her.
Certainly! Charmed"
AS we walked down the front stairs,
I offered to carry her little grip, in
which she had slowed her sewing uten-
sis We had a walk of some four
blocks before US. Cars galore are more
accessible. but to reach the particular
one which would land her before her
house, we had to take a longer walk.
We live in Alameda, and she in Oak
land.
We had not walked more than a half
block, when she said to me:
Mr.. Stickler, would you kindly car
ry my wrap? I don't know what ails
me- but I must stop a minute I feel
so flushed and warm
We waited for a few minutes. and
then proceeded, although I noticed that
she walked with an effort. At the next
corner we stopped again. BY this time
she was beginning to show signs of Civ
ing out
We'll, I declare" she gasped, halt
ingly,~ what can be the matter with
me?"
You don't feel like fainting, do you -
I asked, solicitously, beginning to get
alarmed. But consoled myself think
ing that she would pull through. for
there vas only two blocks more to be
covered.
She didn't answer me- but began to
breathe heavily, and finally her throat
began to rattle, as if she was being
throttled.
Can't do anything for you?'' said.
Sit on this step here and I'll run for
a small glass of whisky or something. -
No, no" she managed to say, ''don t
leave me. I must get to the car. -
Something dropped, but I could not
stoop to pick ii up, lest she should fail.
Spurring herself on, with a mighty ef-
fort, she walked a few steps. She
halted a moment, elutched at her face.
and then, as if by miracle. walked on
hurriedly for about a block, leaning on
my arm.
A dozen schemes presented them
selves to me but each one. after sec
ond thought, proved unavailable. Not a
soul was in sight. With every step.
she seemed to be in greater distress un-
III finally she began to twist. and
squirm, and heave. and writhe. as if
she were going into commissions. Never
was man placed in such an unfortunate
position. Her body began to get limp.
and gradually her great weight made
itself apparent. If something did not
soon happen. I, too, would topple over.
But Fate willed it otherwise. A
couple of bikers came along and I be-
seeched them to aid me- With their
assistance, I managed to get her to a
sidewalk crossing-one block from the
car line-where We seated her, with her
feet in the gutter.
What is the matter?" inquired one
cyclist
rs she drunk?" said another
.She acts like she's dying" chimed in
still another.
was speechless. I bent over the
suffering woman, my heart filled with
sympathy and regret at her misfortune
After I had collected my senses, 1 as
sured them that she simply had been
attacked with a spell of asthma, to
which 1 knew she was subject.
Mrs. Needle said l. as she began to