The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-07-02


Most Extraordinary Escape.
We do not remember ever to have
escape than is related in the following
from the Abingdon Virginan. The
particulars are SO ihrlIingly Interesting
that we cannot resist the temptation Of
giving them to our readers in full Oar
readers will agree with US, that the sal>
vailon of the child seems almost mitac>
ulous - burlington Sentinel
The children OF Mr.. George Iicken,
a citizen of Scott county, were playing
together IN field, aud near the mouth
of a folhomless sink hole In their gam
bols one OF them, a boy about eight or
ten years of age, pushed his little brother,
about four years old, headlong over the
edge and down INTO the deep, dark pit
below. 1t was sometime after The child
was missed before any certain in(urma,
tion could be drawn from the Others as to
what had become of him, and it was only
by threats OF severe punishment that
finally overcome their fear, aud exioried
from the boy who did the deed a cons
(ession 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 lis pow
cr Ropes were tied together, with a
stone at one end, and an attempt was
made 10 (athom the depth beneath, but
more than sixty feet of rope were en-
ployed in vain-no bottom could be
reached. A lighted candle was then
let down, but lis 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 their Efforts had to he
for the time abandoned. On the next
day further trial were made Of the depth
Of the pit, but with no better success.
In despair the frantic parents were abou,
TO give up all hopes Of recovery, or re-
lieying their little innocent, aud prepara.
tons were being made TO close up The
mouth of the pit, To prevent like oc-
currence in the future, when it was sur-
gested and agreed upon, that anmher
and a final effort should be made by let
ting some individual down by ropes TO
examine the nature of the abyss, aud as
certain if there was any encouragement
for further eiior To be found below.
A brother of the lost child undertook
the fearful task. Cords were fastened
around his waist and limbs, and one to
his wrist, by which lie might indicate To
those above his wishes either to descend
or 10 be drawn up He was swung of
aud slowly lowered. until having gone To
the depth of about fifty feet, he looked
below him, and there shone through the
thick darkness two elsteuins eyes in
tently looking upward. In another mo-
ment he was standing on shelf or ang lie
in the shaft with the child casped to his
BOSOM lie fastened the lille fellow Sc
curely to his own body, and bidding him
take the rope firmly in his bands, the
slg.ai was given TO draw up. The child
hung convulsively to the rope. and in a
lew minutes they arose within view of
the hundred anxions spectators, who had
assembled to witness the result, and 81 hen
the first glimpse of the little fellow alive
caught their eager gaze, screams aud
shouts Of joy from the excited multitude
filled the air, and big tears of sympathy
started from the ewes Of every beholder
After The first paroxysm Of delight had
suhsided. the child was examined to see
if il ha5 sustained any injury, and extra.
ordinary 10 tell, with the exception Of a
little bruise ON the back of its head. it
was perfectly sound and unhurt. The
only complaint II made was that il was
hungry, being nearly twenly-seven hours
under the ground To inquiries made
of it, II replied that il saw light, and
heard it thunder. From The nature of
the pit, it appeared that the little fellow
had fallen perpendicular distance Of
fort, feet. upon a slope or bend in the
shaft, aud from that place had sided
down twenty feet farther to the spot
where he was found. leaning against a
sort Of pillar or wall. and gazing up
ward. How he escaped instant desiruc-
ton is beyond all account.
~ One of the argnmentatlve hair
spli,,ers called lately on the respectable
and much beloved clergyman Of the float
~