The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-16
A FIGHT WITH A LEPER.
His Hands CrumpIed and Flesh
Dropped OF in the Fray.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times
Peter Miles, a resident of this city, and
whose profession as surveyor has led him
into many strange and weird adventures,
left the city last Wednesday for Wilkes
barre and upon finishing his work deter
mined to go cunning in the mountains near
by. He left that town early Thursday
morning, and, going to Glen Summit,
alighted from the train and started over
towards Gouldsboro. at one time a -four
ishing town, but now deserted. The coun-
try Whereabouts was at one time covered
by forests. but is now stripped of trees,
and presents a desolate appearance, par
ticularly at this time of the year. There
where the trees once reared their branch
ing tops proudly heavenward, now is seen
only desolate mass of brushwood, stunt
ed by the barren soil and shriveled by the
fierce rays of the SUM- This makes excel
lent cunning ground and because of the
few residents the game is plentiful.
Lured by the excellent sport Mr. Miles
soon lost his way and wandered here and
there searching for a house. Darkness over
took him in his search but he still perse-
vered an his endeaVor Finally striking a
road he proceeded along 1t and after walk
ing about mile discerned a building. He
Investigated this and found it to be
ramshackle affair of two rooms All the
windows were devoid of glass and the door
was partially broken from its hinges.
In one corner was an old stove, and,
| gathered some wood, he started a fire. The
flames clearly showed the place to be very
| dilapjdated but, tired out by his walk,
| determined to pass the night there He
| gathered some brushwood, and, after at
! tempting to close and prop the door, he
stretched himself upon his improvised bed
and was soon asleep.
How long he remained so he cannot tell,
but he was awakened with start and
premonition that something dreadful was
going to happen. He did not arise, but
lay, with every faculty alert He listened
for noise but hearing none, tried to re-
assure himself, when his strained hearing
caught the sound of breaking twigs He
Jumped TO his feet and rushed to the win
dow fronting the road, and looked out. AT
this point he detected an odor which, he
said filled him with undesirable horror,
stencil as of dead flesh, mixed with the
vapor arising from the offal of animals.
Sickened with fear, he saw a form APP
proach from the underbrush and walk
directly towards the window where he was
standing Involuntary he stepped back
wards. and as the form came nearer he
saw that II was clothed in a mans habili-
ments II came to the window and placed
hand on the sill.
Miles reached for the hand and grasped
it. To his horror it, crumbled in his grip,
and with a low, cultural kissing noise the
form wrenched itself from him and stag
gered backward. Miles picked up his gun
and started for the door, which he had al
tempted to fasten, and as he reached It
the man, throwing it to one side, fell upon
Miles and grappled with him. Miles clutch
ed the mans throat and struggled desper-
ately to free himself, but seemed power
less in the iron grasp which held him.
All the time the sckening smell that he
had at first noticed appalled, his senses and
choked him Mr.. Miles says he thought
that duel of strength lasted fully three
hours though 1t was probably only ten
minutes or so. Finally with a tremen-
dous effort he shook himself free, rising to
his feet and dragging the man with him.
What seemed horribly uneXpiainabie 70
him. although he could not think clearly
at the time was the fact that every now
and then livid pieces Of scaly, furrowed
flesh came off in his hands Throughout he
was thrilled with an intense loathing and
disgust Summoning up his remaining
strength he pulled the grooming object 10
the door and pushed him out into the
NIGHT. Then he fell senseiess to the floor.
When he came to the sun was shining
upon his face as he lay upon the ground
Two men were leaning over him, evident
w farmers Of the vicinity. One of them.
who afterward gave his name as Arthur
peal lifted UP his head and gave him
some brandy from the flask which he had
taken from his pocket. Revived by the
drink. Mr. Miles, though still very weak,
rose to his feet. The room bore but small
evidences of the fearful struggle of the
previous night. On closer search, how
ever. were found the upper joint of the
middle finger, together with several bits
of bloody discolored flesh ana some torn
rags, The brain of Mr.. Miles was still.
confused; bit by bit ne recolected what
had happened. Carefully gathering up the
flesh and cloth, he left the hut, closely
followed by the men. On the soft ground
without the doorjamb he saw eight foot
prints. two Of which he recognized as has
own; four others, by careful study proved
10 be those of Peal aud his companion,
Josiah Hopping. There remained but two
more and these were of a mans bare
feet. that ran from the window to the
door. Sure that they were on the right
track. the three men followed these.
For some time the task was compare
lively easy the marks leading through
soft earth along the road 70 the edge OF
the underbrush where they had to follow
some 400 yards from the hut. they came
to an open glade. where the tracks van
ished, Searching every inch OF the ground
they came upon a CHASTITY relic OF the
strange visitant 1t was a hand torn ana
bloody, evidently cut by some sharp rock
and then wrenched from the arm. Salts
fed that this clue would bring ultimate
detection. Miles and his companions re-