The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-11
REPORTERS FERTILE MIND
Invents might of Horror" Story at
St. JOSEF oh, Mo.

st. Joseph, Mo, Jan. lin a Pull
man car on the SOuthbOund Missouri
Pacific limited last night were two
passengers who attracted sympathetic
attention. The woman was strikingly
beautiful, while her companion might
have been either 30 or 40 years old
Sharp lines disfigured his otherwise at
tractive features, and there was
quick, nervous, movement of the head
and hands that suggested palsy.
The mans name is James Payne, and
he is a resident of Parkers burg, w. Va.
where his family is well-to-do. Two
months ago he started for the Pacific
coast. On the train between Green
river and POcatellO his pockets were
picked. He was even unable to tele-
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 west bound special
pulled in, in which were several fruit
cars. He climbed into one and prepar-
ed to make himself as comfortable 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 he awOke he
found himself in darkness with the
train flying along with terrific speed.
He had been aroused by something soft
and velvety creeping across his face.
He struck a match to see what had dis
turbed him. To his horror he saw sew
eral large tarantulaS.
Payne did not dare to strike another
match and he knew that he was in i'm
minent peril of his life A cold, hairy
substance dashed itself in his face and
he tainted. How long he lay uncOn-
sciOuS he does not know, but when he
again came to it was broad daylight
and the train was still speeding like
the wind. He tried the door to find it
fastened and that he was doomed to
suffer hours longer the prospect of an
attack at any instant from the hideous
creatures, whose character he knew so
well. The struggling rays that pene-
trated 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 num-
Der had been trebled. He looked about
for loose board and found a small one
but he knew if he was attacked the
he could not ward them off.
His apprehension was increased when
he saw that they had engaged in a fear
full and deadly combat among them
selves. For hours he sat there, facing
these dreadful creatures who neither
advanced nor retreated. Then night
came on and again he became uncon-
scious.
When next he knew what was going
on about him, he was on a cot in hos
pital in Portland. He had been there a
month and had gone through a well
nigh fatal attack of brain fever. Mean
time the authorities having discovered
his identity from his delirious talk, had
telegraphed his people and the young
woman whom 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 unconscious and raVing like q
manias. A mark in his forehead indica-
ted that he in reality had been bitten by
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 who had joined him under
such peculiar circumstances.