The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-03-29

in fragments below me, q FIRST had no,
doubted the means of escape above me,
and hardly needed il; but nov, slow and
horrid death from starvation, or in beirr
dashed 10 pieces on tho rocks below, pre-.
sented itself ~ the only alternative conse-
quence-and between these modes mus,
choose.
Those unacquainted with the place may
wonder that should entirely despair Of
help from friends. But realizing the situa-
tion-22O feet from the top Of the bank,
under projecting cliffs; and below, some-
where about a milo from the walks OF hu-
man beings; and the rossing waters limit.
ing the utmost stretch If tho human voice
10 few yards--sbey will wonder no long
er. And. from my we'll known wandering
and cratic habits, no friend would think Of
searching for me. particularly - had Civ
en- no intimation to any one Of my intend
ed excursion.
] had often in my misanshropic hours
longed, nay yearned for death--but in this
TORN and shape, il was revolving and terri.
tying. A lew moments only were neces-
ssry 10 decide upon my choice. There il
. chdsce--s faint one indeed Of escape BY
the ledge. may succeed, and II any rate
suspense will be over--I will try il. Inch
by inch, ! felt my way, trying this and that
point to ascertain If they were 6rm-o(,eo
lour.lifihs Of my body projecting over the
fearful gulf below, while depending upon
them. So convulsively did ! cling 10 these
points and crevices, that (although knew
i not sill aterwards) the ends Of my en-.
gers. upon which had almost entirely to
depend, werc in several pisces cut nearly
to the bone. toilcd on; and, while felt
my physical powers failing from continued
and intense excrtion. my mind was equally
depressed by tho thought that NIL this toll
might be but tho placing smother barrier
between me and return. Al length
reached the end Of this fearful path, and
completely exhausted fell upon . grassy
bank-nos, however, until had glanced
At the bank above me, and satisfied myself
that for some dislsnce 1t least il vas &C.
cessible.
Alter repnsing ~ long ~ my anxiety
would permit, again started forward and
made my way over difficulties which, sl
other times, ! might have ,houehs insur-
mountable--but now, srifling. bad %.
ccnded some 230 feet, when bluff, per.
pendicular range Of rocks, from Is TO 20
feet in height, presented themselves TO my
view. This accent gained, and my deliv-
erancc was sccomplishcd--it was the top
Of the bnnk. But how! was nov the snx.
ious question. Anothcr close examination
OF this cliff from one end to the other Of my
limits--ionnd but one spot Offering sny
possible chance; this was 1t the extreme
end Of the broken ground on which ! had
ascended, where the cliff became perpen.
dicular from top to bottom. A small birch
tree, about four inches through u tho base,
sprung from . crevice in the rock, shooting
up some thirty feet, at m angle Of fifteen
Or twenty degrees with the face Of the rock.
From the top Of the bank an old log pro.
jected forward and downward till il Just
met the tree, u about right angles, some
eighteen feet from the base. Aud this was
nov nv only possible chance of escape-to
climb this little better than hush, get hold
Of the log, and (if il did not sink, Overhaul
anced with my weight, and 60 with me
down into the fearful sbyss) climb up il to
the hank. Although much more fright
ful and terrific attempt than the former one,
! approached il with less hesitation. Nv
success in that buoyed me up, and felt
that ] could do any thing. | sscendsd the
tree. but % il inclined from the pcrpendic-
ular my weight bose il over and down, awsy
from the end Of the log, BY which alone ]
could roach the bank; and, of course, the
higher sscended tho farther | vas borne
from il. And now the fearful expsdient
alone was left, Of swsying tho tree back
ward and forward over the yawning gulf.
23O feet deep, ill should throw il up
within reach Of the log. made ono 81.
fort. whom my head became giddy-fains
and sick, fcls wss losing my bold.
closed my eyes, nsrvsd myself 10 lirmes
hold, end waiting . few miouses, The giddi.
ness passed away. Repeat tho experiment
could not, but descended, and stretched
myself on the ground.
Again passed over tho same train ol
thought that first nerysd me ioe tho task on
the ledge. To resrcas--impossible-
other possible way At proceeding. To -
main there vss death-to 70 forward ths
same. But some ono might como along on
the top Of the hank, and might attract A.
tension. | would wait and see. did
wais--peshsps hour., Il seemed days; my