The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-12

Chicago, Jan. IA special from st
Joseph, Mo, says: In a Pullman car on
the southbound Missouri Pacific linn
tied Friday night were two passengers
who attracted sympathetic attention
The woman was strikingly beautiful
while her companion might have been
either 80 or 60 years old. Sharp lines
disngure his otherwise attractive fea-
lures, and there was a quick, nervous
movement of the head and hands that
suggested palsy
The mans name is James Payne, and
he is a resident of Parkersburg, w.
Va, where his family is Well-to-do.
Two months ago he started for the Pa
cific coast. On the train between Green
River and Pocatello his pockets were
picked. He was even unable TO teie-
graph home for money, and determined
to make his way through by the box
car route on the second night of his
stay in Pocatello a westbound special
pulled in, in which were several fruit
cars. He climbed into one and pre-
pared TO make himself as comfOrta BILE
as possible. He had scarcely concealed
himself before the door was closed and
sealed. The car proved to have been
loaded with bananas. He composed
himself to sleep.
When ne awoke it was to find him
self in darkness, with tie train flying
along with terrific speed. He had been
aroused by something soft and velvety
creeping stealthiiy across his face. He
struck a match to see what had dis
turbed him. To his horror ne saw sew
eral tarantulas.
Payne did not dare TO strike another
match, and he knew that he was in
imminent peril OF his life. To leap
from the car meant certain death.
While these thoughts darted through
his mind a cold, hairy substance
dashed itself in his face and he tainted.
How long he lay unconscious he does
not know, but when he again came to
life it was broad daylight and the
train was still speeding like the wind.
he tried the door and found it fastened
and that he was doomed TO suffer
hours longer the prospect of an attack
a any instant from the hideOus crea-
lures, whose character he knew so we'll
The struggling rays that penetrated
the cracks OF the door enabled him to
see dimly the objects about him, and
he recognized his visitors Of the night
before and saw that their number had
been trebled. He looked about for a
loose board and found small one, but
he knew II he was attacked the taran-
tulas would leap at him and that he
cOuIu not ward them Off.
His apprehension increased when he
saw that they had engaged in a fearful
and deadly combat among themselves.
For hours he sat there facing those
dreadful creatures, who neither ad-
Nanced nor retreated. Then night came
on and again he became unconscious
When next he knew what was going
on about him he was on a cot in
hospital in Portland. He had been
there month and had gone through
a well-nigh fatal attack of brain fever
Meantime the authorities, having dis
covered his identity from his deiiriolIe
talk, had telegraphed to his people a
the young woman he was to ma
had fastened TO his bedside.
de had not been found until the car
was opened at its destination. when
he was unconscious and raving like
maniac. A mark in his forehead indi-
Gated that ne had in reality been bitten
by q tarantula probably when he
tainted the second time. AS soon as he
was able TO travel he started for home
by easy stages, first having married
the devoted woman who had Joined him
under SlIph DIV