The native American., 1837-12-23


level footing in the bottom, conscious for the frs
time, that 4 scas IN trap, out of aohich Their,
soas no escape. had no time for reflection, fol
shower of rubbish pattering on the head of the
vessel, and falling in through its mouth, drove me
i again to seek for shelter at one side. How
chung so long, | cannot tell; but did succeed in
fastening myself to the oyerhanging concaye, I'M
til a considerable quantity of bricks and mortar
had fallen in Immediately after, the main wall
of the burning buiding---the only barrier between
the space Immediately above me and the flames
gave crack, and tumbled over to the other side,
causing such conclusion as made the very NOR
tar leap off the floor i'll cloud of dust, that, fer
time, obscured every thing around me. Expect
| ing each moment to be my last with the instinct
| Of one who awaits blow which he cannot avoid,
shut my eyes and stopped my head shrinking
together, as may well be imagined, and trembling
in every limb. The first thing that reused me
was the glare Of light from the flames, which now,
unconined by any partition, rolled overhead, flap
ping and laboring in the air, with such breadth
and intensity, that their reflection made the whole
concave in which | stood, bright as the inside
| of gilt cup gave myselfup to despair when
contemplated the fiery torrent which now over
canopied me--embers were falling from its bord-
| ers like flakes of snow-a sound like the roaring
of hungry lions proceeded from the midst Of it,
the heat, when turned my face towards it, was
lintolerable-and felt that to look at the sphere
of FURNISHED metal round me would soon melt the
eyes out Of my head. But it was only the first
fury of the fire, tossed about it by the fall
of the gable, that supplied body ofhame SO huge
and intense, and my presence of mind gradually
returned as found that its fury had soon so far
abated as to enable me to bear the miigated glare
from the metal around me with comparative fort-
tude.
| now began to consider some means of escape
The vessel was hollow sphere Of about fourteen
feet in diameter, perfectly smooth, except at the
Ioinings of the metal plates of which it was COM
posed; but the heads of the rivets which held
these together afforded no more hold than just
enough to enable me to get footing very little
way up the curve at one side, out of the immedi-
ate glare Of the flame that beat full upon the bot
tom. The only aperture, except the orifice at the
top, was that by which the contents were intended
10 be drawn off, but this was not much wider than
the mouth of large tumbler. To Chamber out
without the assistance of ladder, rope fastened
from above, was impossible. Had there been a
ledge on the rim of the opening through which
had descended, l would not have despaired, for
the clothes wore would have furnished materials
for rope strong enough to support my weight,
and one Of the loose bricks that lay at my feet
would have given me the means Of making it fast
above / tried the experiment with q brick-bat at
tached to one of my suspenders, but though east
ly swung it over the rim there was no ledge for il
to catch on, and was forced to give up all hopes
of escaping in that way. I had now in great
measure recovered my presence of mind, for
perceived that there was no longer danger to be
|apprehended from the flames above, and knew
that the mass of brickwork which surrounded my
prison was sufficient to protect me from all effects
oc ~ II
scarcely say that had already used every effort
to make myself heard by the crowd, both by
shouting at the top of my voice, and beating the
sides Of my prison; but such was the noise caus-
ed by the cracking and roaring of the flames
which still surrounded me on every side-for the
ruins of the scaffolding burned fercely where they
fell, and strewed the whole platform with fire
that either had failed to make myself heard, or
could not hear the cries of those whom called to
in reply. Seeing, then, that had no chance of
an immediate escape, | made up my mind to COM
pose myself as well as I could, and wait till the
fire should burn itself out and leave passage for
my rescue.
had remained in this resigned state for some
time, when the thought flashed across my mind,
that perhaps if called through the aperture of the
stop-cock, mentioned above, my voice might be
heard The opening was in the very bottom OF
the vessel, anu Ildu W KItcl uOWH vi VIC luu-
bsh to apply my mouth to it. My knees did not
come in contact with the metal, and my hands
were defended by thick gloves. thoroughly wetted,
so that till brought my face close to the aper-
ture, had no suspicion Of the dreadful truth that
was now to learn-the copper was so hot that
could not bear it against my skin! ! started to
my feet, every pulse flying with CONSERVATION.
/ dare not think of my situation. | rushed des-
perately up the sides of my prison. / might as
well have tried to scale the vault of the sky. /
shouted, screamed for assistance-the cracking
growl of the confagration was my only reply. |
sat down on the little pile of rubbish that formed
the centre of what now felt was fast becoming a
brazen furnace in which was to be tried, and en-
deavored to think. put my hand to my fore
head; Twas bathed in a cold sweat; pulled the
thermometer had been using, in tempering my
patients bath, out of my pocket, it stood at lO5o!
II placed the bulb of it on the metal; when had
touched it, the mercury rose with rapidity that
i threatened to burst the tube, and took it away,
terrified at what saw, and afraid to witness the
whole truth After sitting for some moments
/ trembling and inactive, burst into tears. Twas,
Ii confess, quite unnamed at the prospect of the
torments l must endure, if, as had every reason
to expect the metal around me should become red
Ihot Nv weakness If weakness it could be call.