Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-07-03
Extraordinary Escape.

The last Virguian contains the following &C.
count of one of the most remarkable escapes on
record. 1t was almost miraculous.
The children of Mr. George Hickan, a citi-
zen of Scott county, were playing together in a
field, near the mouth Of a fathomless sink hole.
In their gambols, one of them, boy of 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
som 1time after the child was missed before any
certain information could be drawn from the 9TH
ers as to what had become of him and it was
only threats of severe punishment that finally
overcame their fear, and extorted from the boy
who did the deed confession of what had hap
pened. An effort was made Immediately to as
certain the situation of the little fellow, and af
ford him relief if he was not beyond its 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 farther efforts had to be
for the time abandoned. On the next day farth-
or trials were made of the depth of the pit, but
with no better success. In despair the frantic
parents were about giving up all hopes of the
recovery or Of relieving their little innocent and
preparations were being made to close up the
mouth of the pit to prevent like occurrence II
the future, when it was suggested and agreed
upon that another and final effort should bt
made by letting some individual down by ropes
to examine the nature of the abyss, and ascer
tain If there was any encouragement for further
effort to be found below.
A brother OF the lost child undertook the fear
ful task. Cords were fastened around his waist
and limbs, and one to his wrist, by which he
might indicate to those above his wishes eithe
to descend or to be drawn up. He was swung
off and slowly lowered, until having gone tC
the depth Of about sixty feet he looked below
him, and there shone through the thick darkness
two glistenng' eyes intently looking upward.-
In another moment he was standing on she'll
or angle in the shaft with the child casped IN
his BOSOM He fastened the little fellow secure
ly to his own body, and bidding him take the
rope firmly in his hands, the signal was given
to draw up. The child cung convuIslvely to
the rope, and, in few minutes they arose Will
in view of the hundreds of anxious spectators
who had assembled to witness the result anu
when the first glimpse of the little fellow allVe'
caught their eager gaze, screams ana sLou'S VI
;ov from the excited multitude filled the air, and
bio tears of sympathy started from the eyes Oh
every beholder. After the first paroXysms OF
delicbt had subsidized, the child was examined
10 see if it had sustained any injury, and, extra
ordinary to tell, with the exception OF little
bruise on the back OF its head, it was perfectly
sound and unhurt. The only complaint 1t made
was that it was hungry, being nearly twenty
seven hours under the ground. 10 inquiries
made of il, 1t replied that it saw light, and
heard if thunder. From the nature of the pit, 1t
anneared that the little fellow had fallen per-
pendicular distance of forty feet, upon slope
or bend in the shaft, and from that place had
slid down twenty feet further to the spot where
he was found, leaning against sort of pillar or
wall, and gazing upward. How he escaped In
slant destruction is beyond all account