The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-15
An Americans Close Call When FACE to Face With a
Death as Horrible as DemoniaCal Ingenuity Gould De-
wise and Attempt to Bring About.

before him. begged for mercy-not for
life. that knew 10 be out OF the ques-
tion-but for swift and painless death.
Strange as Il may seem. pleaded for
death. then. as, in the wicked history
Of the world, thousands upon thousands
have pleaded for life.
shoot me. vasquez." groaned. "If
you have any trace of humanity left in
you. beseech you put a bullet into my
brain and end me at once"
But I saw that my petition only added
to his fendish delight. He listened with
his head on one side. as one might 20
some delicious strain OF music. and
there was no relenting in his cold, sin
lister smile. SO I prayed no more. but
nerved myself to meet my fate. After
all. I reflected. the bite Of a noyullo was
nearly as swift as a bullet in the tenn
pie. At the utmost my sufferings would
be over in a few breaths
do your worst. you low. pitifuI. cow
ardly creature" I said, looking him
calmly in the eye. Il do not fear you -
The man seemed absolutely surprised.
even abashed He looked about him
with an uncertain. hesitating air; hen
the evil smile came back TO his lips.
without replying he seized me by the
collar OF my jacket and dragged me to-
ward the noyullo den. expected to
be cast into IL forthwith; but. % my
surprise. I felt myself borne out upon
the yucca trunk. three-fOurths OF the
distrance from the hither brink OF the
pit and there bound fast TO the tree by
three or four swift, dexterous turns
OF the bohuco vine. AS I lay with my
head slightly raised upon some
branches 7 could command view OF the
movements OF Vasquez.
To shoot you. senOr." he said calm
". when he had fastened me and re-
turned to the bank would be no re-
venge; for 1 perceive that you do not
fear death. To throw you among the
thing. But I wish to make you suffer:
and. senior. think have discovered
the means"
He busted himself gathering a guam
tity OF light. resinous branches. which
he piled upon the trunk OF the yucca
at it's junction with the bank. When
he had collected a considerable heap
he set fire to IL. And now I understand
his plan He meant slowly TO burn
away the yucca upon which lay. until
It fell OF its own weight. and mine. into
the midst OF the deadly creatures which
could hear Kissing and rustling in the
chasm below.
Surely no more ingenious torture was
ever devised by the Imagination OF the
dreaded Venetian Council OF Ten A
swift. sudden plunge would have been
nothing compared with this slow wait
Ing With glaring eye I watched the
fire gnawing into the trunk. To and
fro went vasQuez. gathering bark and
branches to pile upon his FIRE; some
times singing a gay Spanish song as
he toiled. again throwing himself upon
the turf to smoke and eye me with lazy
Indifference
How 1 existed during these long. fear
ful hours without going stark mad
do not know Every event OF my whole
life passed before my mental vision. al
most as II re-enacted then and there.
Oh how roor. mean. and sinful appeared
my career. thus brought in review upon
the threshold Of the unknown world,
How many an act I regretted, How
gladly would 7 have besouGht pardon
for wrongdoing to many whose very
names I had forgotten until that mo-
meni How hurnbIy and fervently I
prayed 70 heaven; and how sweet seem