The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-03-18
A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE
The Mental Agony of a Man Penned CT
with Earantulas.

citic limited recently were two pas
who attracted the sympathetic
attention, both of the trainmen ara
their felloW-passengers. The lady had
evidently not vet reached the age Of
two score years, and was strikingl.7
beautiful, while her companion, upon
whom she lavished q wife's tendcrIy
devotion, might have been either 80 or
60 years old, if one was to judge from
his face, upon which were mingled III
dications of youth and extreme age
that were at once perpleNing and mystl-
flying. ~ -
His name is James Payne, and he is
resident of Parkersburg, W. Va,
where his family is well-to-do and
highly respected. Two months ago he
started for the Pacific coast, intending
to investigate the business opportuni'
ties of that region, with view to get
ting married and locating there. He
purchased ticket to Seattle, and be-
ing we'll supplied with money anticl-
pated an enjoyable trip and speedy
return to his sweetheart.
On the train between Green river and
Pocatello his pockets were picked, ana
money, ticket and everything taken.
He was even unable to telegraph home
for money, having no money, and de-
1ermined to make his way through by
the box-car route. On the second night
Of his stay in Pocatello a west-bound
special pulled in, in which were several
fruit cars. Congratulating himself
that he might now speedily reach his
destination, he climbed into one Of
these cars through an open end door,
and prepared to make himself as COM
Portable as possible. He had scarcely
concealed himself before the door,
which it appears had been broken open
by tramps, was closed and sealed. but
this did not at the time occasion any
serious alarm on his part. The car
proved to have been loaded with bananas,
TO some of which he was glad to help
himself. being very hungry, and argu-
Ing that it was no crime for a man in
his predicament. He then composed
himself to sleep. These fruit special;
generally run under a 60-mile order.
as this one proved to be doing, and
when the passenger awoke with a start
q few hours later it was to find himself
in Egyptian darkness, with the train
flying along with a terrific speed. He
had been aroused from his sleep by
something having a soft, velvety touch
creeping stealthily across his face, and
struck match to see what had dis
turbed him. To his horror he saw sew
eral large tarantulas, which, in his eX-
cited imagination, assumed the proper
tons of ordinary land turtles. Startled
by the light, they scurried away while
his blood ran cold and his limbs were
almost paralyzed as the Pickering
match died out and he realized the po-
sition in which he was placed.
Young Payne did not dare to strike
another match, even if his trembling
hands would have performed that
service, but he knew that he was in tho
| most imminent peril of his life. To
leap from the door of the car meant
certain death, and the probability Of
| his fate remaining forever a mystery
| to the loved ones at home. While these
| thoughts darted through his mind 81
cold hairy substance dashed itself in
his face, and thinking his time had
come he tainted.
How long he lay unconscious he doe
not know, but when he again came to
| life it was broad daylight. and the train
still speeding like the wind. He tried
| E.,
found that it was fastened, and that
he was doomed to suffer hours longer
the prospect of an attack at any instant
| from the hdeOus creatures, whose
| character he knew so well. The strag-
Cling rays that penetrated the cracks
of the door enabled him to see dimly
the objects about him, and the cold
perspiratiOn broke out on his forehead
as he recognized his visitors of the
night before. and saw that their num-
Der had been trebled. He looked about
for loose board, and found a small one,
but knew if he was attacked tho
t.rantulas would leap at him, and that
he could not ward them off. His ap-
| prehension was increased when he saw
that they had engaged in one of those
fearful deadly combats among them
selves for which they are so well know
in the south, and by which they fur
nish to the natives about the same class
of amusement as the horse race and
the bull fight. For hours he sat there.
facing these dreadful creatures, who
neither advanced nor retreated. Then
night came on, and again he was merci-
fully rendered unconscious.
When next he knew what was going
OH about him he was on a cot in hos
pital in Portland. He had been there a
month, and had gone through we'll
nigh fatal attack of brain fever Mean
time the authorities, having discov-
cred his identity from his delirious
talk, had telegraphed to his people,
and the young woman he was to marry
had FASTENED to his bedside He had
not been found until the car was opened
at its destination, when he was unco1,-
scious and raving like maniac. A
mark in his forehead indicated that he
had in reality been bitten by tarant1,-
la. probably when he tainted the sec
Il