Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-07-01
Thrilling occurrence..

The last Abingdon Vrgnan cont aims the follow ing:-The children of Mir. George HicRan,a eiti- zen of Scott county, were playing together Tn a
 field near the mouth of fathomless sink hole. In their ganbols, one of them. a boy about eight or ten years of age, pushed his little brother, about four years old headloRg over the edge and down into the deep dark pit below. It was some time after the child was missed before any certain in- formation could be drawn from the other to what had become of him; and it was only by threats of severe punishment that finally overcome their fear and extorted fiom the boy who did ths deed confession of what had happened. An effort was made immediately to ascertain the situation of the little felIow and afford him relief, if he not be-
 yond its power. Ropes were tied together with a stoae attached to one end, an attempt was made to fathom the depth beneath, but more than sixty feet ef rope were employed in vain ; no bottom could be reached. lighted candle was then
 let down, but its light gave no hopeful indication
 except thst the pit was free from choke daBsp 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 tria;s wery made of the depth of the pit, but with no better success. In despair. the frantic parents about to give up all hopes of recovery or re-
 ieving theif little innocent, and preparations were made to close up the mouth of the pit, 10 prevent like occurrence in the future, whsn was sug- gested and and agreed upon that another and a final edort should be made by letting some ind- diyidual by rope examine the nature Of the abyss. A brother of the lost child undertook the fear ful task. Cords were fastened around his waist and limbs. and one to hls wrist, by which he might indicate ito those above bis wishes either to des- eead or to be drawn up. He was swang oH and slowly lowered, until having gone to the depth of about 50 feet, he looked below hun, and there shone through the thick darkness two gIisteniBg eyes intently looking upward. In another mo- meat he was standing a shelf or angle in the shaft with the child clasped to his bosom. He fastened the little fellow securely b his body, and bidding him take the ope firmly In hIs hands, the signal was given to draw up. The child held convnisivey 10 the rope. and in few minutes they rose within view of the hundred anxious spectators. who had assembled to witness ihc re- suit; and when the first glimpse of the little fel- low alive caught theiF eager gaze, screams aud shouts of joy from the excited multitude filled af. and bg tears of sympathy started from sbe eyes of every beho!deg. After the first paroXysnas of de- light had snbsided, the child examined to see r had sustained any injury, and extraordinary to tell, with the exception of little bruise on The back of its head, It was perfectly sound and nn7 hurt Tae only complaint that t made was that it was hungry being nearly 37 hours under tbe ground. To inquiries made of il. it repiird that t saw light, ahd heard fthunder. From the nature of the pit. if appeared that the Little fellow had fallen pefpendienisr distance 40 feet, upon slope or bend in the shaft, and from that place had slided down 20 feet farther to the spot where he was found leaning against a sort of pillar or wall, and gazing upward. How he escaped ln- stant destruction is beyond all account.