The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-11

Curious Story of a Night at an In
dianapOIis Hotel.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton. in de Journalist

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, in the Journalist.
While under the direction of the Lyceum
Bureau, during the decade from 1S70-ISS0 L
travelled eight months in the year. from
October to June, mostly in the Western
States, speaking nearly every night. 1t was
my custom, in the large cities, always to
stay at the same hotel that the landlord
and clerks might know me- and l might be
received at any hour of the night. If pos
stble always secured a room on the second
floor with balcony, for safety, in case of
fire.
One night I arrived rather late at Indian
apoliS, having previously telegraphed. The
hotel was crowded, az there was some I'M
usual public gathering, just what, l do not
remember. On meeting me in the parlors
my kind but distracted host said: Mrs.
Stanton have not a room in the house for
you. | am sorry. but you will be obliged to
go to some other hotel" That 1 replied,
Il cannot dol you must give me a bed in the
parlor If you have no other place." well, !"
said the host laughing, I'll see what l can
do" So while was taking supper he sur
veyed the ground and at last returned to tell
me he had a small room on the third floor
but with no balcony. If I would accept
We'll" ] replied, since 1 can do no better
/ must accept that In due time he an
nounced that all was ready.
/ found pleasant little room, lighted
with gas, bright fire in the CRATE, every
thing looking fresh, clean and attractive
Being very tired | lost no time in going
to bed. AS usual l left the gas burning. and
looked under the bed and in the closet to
see that neither men nor cats were any,
Wnere concealed. / was soon sound asleep.
when suddenly found myself in the strong
grasp of a powerful man. At the same in
slant cry of despair rent the air, an agon-
lied voice Shrieked. "Oh. save me, motheri
save mev' Terribly frightened ] sprang
from the bed in horror. But all was still. I
searched the room in vain. No one was
there. the gas was still burning the door
locked. everything as I left 1t on going to
sleep So concluded the terrible experience
/ had just had must have been nightmare
and as l was thoroughly tired by my long
journey of the previous day. my excitement
was soon overcome and I fell asleep again.
Only a few moments had elapsed, however,
perate arms and my ears were filled with the
sound of that piercing shrek: ''Oh, save me,
mother, save met Again l shook off the
horror, and, fully awake, convinced myself
that | was alone. and that NO one had en-
tered my room. Gradually grew calm and
then, from sheer exhaustion, slept once
more. My rest was as brief as before, for
in an instant. it seemed, the grip was around
me and the voice tore at my very heart
strings: ooh. save me. mother save met
IT is useless to rehearse the continued tor
ture of that night. Suffice 1t to say that with
the dawn only. it ceased.
When the maid came to make the fire, she
said: "How did you sleep madam / re-
piled, 81 have had night of intense suffer
ing" ooh" cried she. bursting into tears,
II told them not to put you in this room.
man died here yesterday with delirlum
whole house. For days his constant appeal
was: oh save me, mother save mel
This startling confederation OF my recent
impressions quite unnerved me. begged the
maid to remain until / could leave the room
whose walls had witnessed and were still
tracted soul. / never think OF that night in
IpdianaDOliS without a Shudder.