The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-06-21
Extraordinary Escape,

We find in the last Abingdon Virginian the
escapes probably on record. II is almost mirae-
ulous:
The children of Mr. George Hickan, a citizen
OF Scott county, were playing together IN field,
and near the mouth of fathouless sink hole. In
their gambols, one Of them, boy 5 or 10 years
Of age, pushed his little brother, about years
old, heHdlong over the edge and down into the
deep, dark pit below. 1t was sometime after the
child was missed, before any certain information
could be drawn from the others as TO VIVA, had
become Of him; and it was ouly by threats OF Sc
we're punishment that finally overcame their fear
and extorted from the boy who did the deed, q
confession of what had happened.
An effort was made Immediately TO ascertain
the situation Of the little fellow, and afford him
relief if he was not beyond its power, Ropes
were tied together with stone attached to each
one end, and an attempt was made to fathom its
depths beneath, bat more than 90 feet Of rope
were employed in vain; no bottom could Toe
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 abandoned.
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 relieving their little
innocent, and preparations We're being made to
close up the mouth Of the pit, toprevent like
occurrence in the future, when it was suggested
and agreed upon that another aad final effort
should be made by letting some individual down
by ropes, to examine the nature of the abyss, and
Their efforts to be found below. A brother uf the
lost child undertooN the fearful ta.k. Cords
were fastened around his waist and limbs and
one to his wrist, by which he might indicate TO
those above his wishes to descend on 10 be drawn
up.
He was swung off and slowly lowered until
having gone to the depth of about 81 feet ho
louked below him. and there shone through the
thick darkness two gIisteling eyes, intenuy look
ing upward. In another moment. he was stand
ing on shelf or angle in the shaft with the child
clasped to his bosom. lie fastened the little fell
low securely to bis own body and bidding him
take the rope firmly in his hand, the signal was
given to draw up, The child hung conyulsiveiy
10 the rope, and in few minutes they arose with.
in view Of the hundred anxious spectators, WHO
had assembled 10 witness the result; and when
the first glimpse Of the littlo fellow alive caught
their eager gage, screams aud shouts Of joy from
the excited multitude filed the air, and big tears
of sympathy started from the eyes of every be-
holder
After the first paroyysms Of delight had sub
sided the child was examined to see if it had
sustained any injury, and extraordinary to tell,
with the exception Of little bruise on the back
OF the head it was perfectly sound and unhurt.
The only complaint it made was that it was hun.
gry, being nearly 81 hours under the ground--
To inquiries made Of it. it replied that it snw
light and heard it thunder. From the nature Of
the pit, it appeared that the little fellow had fall
en- perpendicular distance Of 40 feet upon a
slope or bend in the Shaft, and from that place
had Sided down 20 feet further to the spot where
he was found, leaning against n sort of pillar or
wall, and gazing upward. How he escaped in.
slant destruction is beyond all account,