Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-06-20
VOL. XI-NO. so.
extraordinary Escape.


We fird in the last Abingdon Vircini,n Tho
following account of one of the most remarkable
escapes probably on record 1t was almost mir
aCulous:
The children of Mr.. George Hckan. a citizen
OF Scott county, were playing together in a field
and near the mouth OF q fathomless sink hole
In their gambos, one of them, boy about eipb,
or ten years OF age pushed his little brother. ahont
four years old, headlong over the edge and down
INTO the dark pit below. 1t was some time after
the child was missed, before any certain inror-
nation could be drawn from the others as to
what had become of him; and it was only by
threats of severe punishment, that finally over
| came their fear and eXtortion from the boy who
did the deed, confession of what had happened
An effort was made Immediately TO ascertain the
situation OF the little fellow, aud afford him re-
lief The was not beyond lis power. Ropes were
| tied together with stone attached to one end
and an attempt was made to fathom the depth
| beneath, but more than sixty feet of rope were
employed in vain; no bottom could be reached.
a lighted candle was then let down, but its light
gave no hopeful indication, except that the pit
was free from choke damp or impure air, as far
down as the candle descended. Night came on
and all further efforts had to be for the time aban-
doned. On the next day further trials were
made of the depth of the pit, but with no better
success. In despair the frantic parents were
about to give up all hopes of recovery or reiev-
ing their little innocent. and preparations were
being made to close up the mouth of the pit to
prevent like occurrence in the future, when it
was suggested and agreed upon, that another
and final effort should be made by letting some
individual down by ropes to examine the nature
OF the abyss and ascertain if there was any en-
enlargement for farther efforts to found below.
A brother of the lost child undertook the fear
fnl task. Cords were fastened around his waist
and limbs, and one TO his wrist, by which he
might indicate to those above his wishes either
to descend or to be drawn up. lie was swung
off and slowly lowered, until having gone to the
depth of about fifty feet, he looked below him,
and there shone through the thick darkness two
glstening eyes intently looking upward. In an
other moment he was standing on an angle in
the shaft with the child clasped to his BOSOM
He fastened the little fellow securely to his own
body, and bidding him take the rope firmly in his
hands, the signal was given to draw up. The
child hung convulsively to the rope and in a
few minutes, they arose within view OF the hun
dred anxious spectators, who had assembled to
witness; and when the first glimpse of the little
fellow alive caught their eager gaze, screams
and shouts of JOY from the excited multitude fill
ed the air. and big tears of sympathy started from
the eyes of every beholder.. After the first par
oxysm of delight had subsidized, the child was ex-
amined to see if it had sustained any injury, and,
extraordinary to tell, with the exception of liz
tie brniSe Oh the back of its head. it was perfect
ly sound and unhurt. The only complaint il
made was that it was hungry, being nearly 27
hours under the ground. The enquiries made
OF 1t, 1t replied that it light, and heard it /
thunder. From the nature of the pit, it appear
ed that the little fellow had fallen perpendicular
distance of 40 feet upon slope or bend in the
shaft, and from that point had Sided down 20 feet
farther to the spot where he was found, leaning
against a sort of pillar or wall, and gazing up
wards. How he escaped instant destruction is
beyond all account.