Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-10-15

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Stranger, but believe should suffocate in an
empty church, if once felt that was so shut
| up in 1t that could not get out, have met
men afore now just like me, or worse rather
| much worse.-Men that il made sort of furious
to be tied down to any thing, yet so softlike and
contradictory in their natures that you might
lead them any where so long as they didn't feel
the string. Stranger it takes all sorts ofpeo-
ny of the worst kind ofwhite men here out west
But have seen folks upon the river-quict
looking chaps, too, as ever you see-who were
so teetoally cdrdnkteranherOus that theyd
shoot the doctor who'd tell them they couldn't
live when ailng, and made die of it, Just out
ofspite, when told they must get we'll Yes,
fellows as fond of the good things of the earth
as you or |, yet who'd rush like mad right over
the gang-plank OF like, if once brought to be.
lleve that they had to stay in this world whe-
ther they wanted to leave it or not. Thunder
and bees if such fellow as that had heard
the cocks crow as did-awakened to find
darkness about him-darkness so thick you
might cut it with knife-heard other sounds,
too, otell him it was morning, and scrambling
to tumble for that manhole, found it, too,-back
-closed-black and even as the rest of the i.
ron coffin around him, closed, with not a iivet-
hole to let Gods light and air in-why-why
he'd SToUnded right down on the spot, as
did, and ain t ashamed to own it TO no white
man.
The big drops actually stood upon the poor
fellows brow, as he now paused for moment
in the recital of his terrible story lie passed
his hand over hls rough features, aud resumed
1t with less agitation of manner.
How long may have remained there sense
less | don't know The doctors have since
told me it must have been sort of fit-more
like an apopleXy than swoon, for the attack
finally passed off in sleep-Yes, | slept, know
mat, tor dreamed-drcamed heapo' things
aiure | awoke--tho-c - h,'. apo lream how
ever, that have been able 10 recall distinctly
and that must have come ON shortly before re-
covered my consciousness. My resting place
through the night had been, as have told YOU
at the far end of the boiler. Well, | now
dreamed that the manhoe was still open-and
what seems curious, rather than laughable, if
you take 1t IN connection with other things,
iancled that my legs had been SO stretched in
the long walk had taken the evening" before,
that they now reached the whole length of the
boiler and extended through the opening.
AT first On my dreaming refcctions) it was
comfortable thought that no one could now
shut up the manhole without awakening me-
But soon 1t seemed as though my ieer which
were on the outside, were becoming drenched
in the Storm which had originally driven me
to seek this shelter. felt the chilling rain
upon my eXtremites. They grew colder and
colder, and their numbness gradually extended
upwards to other parts of my body. 1t seemed
however, that 1t was only the under side of my
person that was thus strangely visited laid
upon my back, and it must have been a spe-
cies OF nightmare that afflicted me, for knew
at last that was dreaming, yet felt it impossi-
Bile 10 rouse myself A violent fit of coughing
restored, al last, my powers of vollton The
water, which had been slowly rising around
me, had rushed into my mouth | awokc to
hear the rapid strokes of the pump winch was
driving 1t into the boiler
My whole coudition-no-not all of it-not
I yet-Iny present condition flashed with new
/ horror upon me. But did not again swoon.
The Choking sensation which had made me
faint, when | first discovered how was entomb-
ed gave way to alvelier, though lcss overpow-
erng, emotion. ! shrieked even as | started
from my slumber. The previous discovery OF
the closed aperture, with the instant oblivion
that followed, seemed onlya part ofmy dream,
and threw my arms about and looked eagerly
for the opening by which had entered the hor.
rid place-yes, looked for it, though it was the
terrible conviction that IT was closed--a second
time brought home tome-whlch prompted my
frenzed cry. Every sense seemed to have ten
fold acutcness, yet not one TO act IN unison with
another shrlcked again aud agaln-implo-
desperately | filled the
hollow chamber with my cries ill its wall,
seemed to tingle around me. The dull stroke.
ofthe pump seemed only to mock at, while they
deadened my screams.
Al last gave myself up. 1t is the strug
gle against our fate which trenzes the mind
We cease to fear when we cease to hope.
gave myself up and then grew calm
Il was resigned to todie-resigned to my mode