The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-12
A NIGHT OF HORROR.
Penned Up with Tarantulas In a
Banana-Laden Car.
a Travellers Dreadful Experience Lands
Him in Hospital-Comforted and
Taken Home by q Devoted
Sweetheart.

Occupying a stateroom in a Pullman
car on the south-bound Missouri Pa
cific limited recently were two pas
sengers who attracted the sympatheti
attention, both of the trainmen ant
their fellow-passengers. The lady hat
evidently not yet reached the age c
two score years, and was strikinglJ
beautiful, while her companion, upor
whom she lavished a wife's tenderlJ
devotion, might have been either 30 OF
co 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 perplexiDg and mysti
tying.
His name is James Payne, and he is
a resident of Parkersburg, ". Va.
where his family is well-to-do ard
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 well supplied with money antici-
pated an enjoyable trip and speedy
return to his sweetheart.
On the train between Green river and
Pocatello his pockets were picked, and
money, ticket and everything taken.
He was even unable to telegraph home
for money, having no money, and de-
termined to make his way through by
the box-car route. On the second night
of his stay in Pocatello west-bound
special pulled in, in which were several
fruit cars. Congratulating himself
that he might now speedily reach his
destination, be climbed into one of
these cars through an open. end door,
and prepared to make himself as con-
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 loadedwit 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 specials
generally run under a 60-mile order,
as this one proved to be doing, and
when the passenger awoke with star.
a few hours later it was to find himself
in Egyptian darkness, with the train
flying along with terrific speed. He
had been aroused from his sleep by
something having a soft. velvety touch
creeping stealthiIy 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 We're
almost paraiyzed 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 the
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 n
cold hairy substance dashed itself in
his face, and thinking his time had
come 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
still speeding like the wind. He tried
the door, and almost tainted when he
found that it was 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 stray
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 small one,
but knew if he was attacked the
tarantulas 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 known
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
on about him he was ON q cot in a hos
pital in Portland. He had been there
month, and had gone through a 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 uucou-
scious and raving like a maniac. \
mark in his forehead indicated that he
had in reality been bitten by n tarantu-
II. probably when he tainted the sec
und time. As soon as he was able 10
travel he started for home by easy
stages. first having married the hand
some and devoted woman who had
Joined him under such peculiar cir
cumstances. His physician says that he
Will in time recover his health and
strength. although he viii never set
over the effects of his awful encounter
,,.ith Ia tnrr:Ila farnnt,,las il H.