Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-05
HuGGEDBY a SUPERINTENDENT.
Mrs. Stanton Recites Frightful Per-
sonal Experience out West.
IF You PROFIT By THE FOLLOW

While under the direction of the w.
ceum bureau. during the decade Of
lS7O-1SS0. 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 / might be re-
ceived at any hour Of the night. II
possible always secured a room on
the second floor with a balcony. tor
safety in case of fire.
One night ! arrived rather late at In
dianapolis. having previously tele-
graphed. The hotel was crowded, as
there was some unusual public gather
ing. just what do not remember. On
meeting me in the parlors my kind but
distracted host said: Mrs. stanton, /
have not room in the house for you.
am sorry, but you will be obliged 20
go to some other hotel" That I re-
piled, 1 cannot do; you must give rrle
a bed in the parlOr il you have no other
place. We'll" said the host laugh
ing, IN see what can do" So while
] was taking supper he surveyed tn.
ground and at last returned to tell me
he had small room on the third floor,
but with no balcony. If would accept
that, he would have it prepared for
me. "Wel1.'' l replied, "since can do
no better l must accept that" Undue
time he announced that all was ready.
I'found a pleasant little room. light
ed with gas. bright fire in the CRATE.
everything looking fresh, clean and at
franfivp Rain1 loe-
time in going to bed. AS usual, left
the gas burning. and looked under the
bed and in the closet to see that neith-
er men nor cats We're anywhere con-
cealed. ! was soon sound asleep, when
suddenly l found myself in the strong
grasp of powerful man. At the same
instant a cry of despair rent the air,
an agonizing voice shrieked. "Oh. save
me, mother! Save mel" Terribly
frightened, l sprang from the bed IN
horror. But all was still. ! searched
the room in vain. No one was there
the gas was still burning. the door
locked, everything as l left it on go
ing to sleep. So l concluded the ter
rble experience l had just had must
have been a nightmare. and as l was
thoroughly tired by my long journey
of the previous day, my excitement
was soon overcome. and l fell asleep
again. Only few moments had
elapsed, however, when / again felt
the clutches of those desperate arms
and my ears We're filled with the
sound of that piercing Shrek: "Oh
save me. mother. Save me-" Again /
shook off the horror, and, fully awake.
convinced myself that l was alone. and
that no one had entered my room.
Gradually l 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
heartstrings: "Oh, save me. mother.
Save mel"
1t is useless to rehearse the cOntin-
ued torture of that night. Suffice it to
say that with the dawn only it ceased.
When the maid came to make the fire
she said: How did you sleep. mad
ame?" | replied: Il have had night
of intense suffering "Oh." cried she
bursting into tears, Il told them not to
put you in this room. A man died
here yesterday with delirium tremens.
His cries could be heard over the
Who're House. roi Trays Ills coHstdHt dp-
peal was: "Oh, save me. mother.
Save me-"
This starting confederation Of my re-
cent impressions quite unnerved me.
! begged the maid to renlains until 1
could leave the room whose; walls had
witnessed and We're still repeating the
despairing appeal of that distracted
soul. I never think of that night IN
Indianapolis without shudder. =
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, in the, Jour-
nalist.