Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-03
EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE


The last Abingdon firsnian contains The following ac-
count:
The children Of Mr.. George Hickan, citizen o: Scott
county, were playing together in field, and the lo":
OF nthoness sink-hoc In their gaab0ls, ol them
boy about eight wears age pushed his little brother
about tour years Old heudong the edge and down INTO
the deep dark pit below. Ii time after The c:d
was missed before any certain information could bc drawn
from the others what had become of him and i;
only ty threats Of punishment that aal" ovrca't
their lear and eStofed from the boy who did the Iced
confession of what had happened An effort made
Immediately ascertain the situation of tie little irIlo"
and afford him relief if he beyond lis pnwer-
Ropes were tied together with attached la "''
eni, and an attempt was made 10 iahom the dcii ''r,
neath but than sixty feet of rope cm;o' ~
in vain; uoom could be reached lighted cnile : S
then let down, but lis light gave hopeful indication cH-
ceP that the pit FREE from ciokc damp or impure an a.
far down the candle descended Night ana al
further efforts had be for the time abandoned On The rest
day further trials made of the dcptn OF the p but wh
better In despair the frantic parents were about
give up all hopes Of recovery relieving their little na'-
cent and preparations being made to Gloss up the n"A
Of the pit 10 prevent IKE occurrence IN the ln:e whE i
suggested and agreed upon That another and hnal "
fort should be mada BY letting indivdua! down hy ropes
any encouragement farther enrts he found 5lov j
brother OF tic lost child undertook the ier!u task Cores
fastened arnand his waist and limbs and one 10 hs
wrist by which he might indicate 3s above his IS in,
either descend be drawn up. lie SWIM oil ard
slowly lowered until having 10 the depth o nho" -
feet he looked below him, and there slnnc through nc c"
darkness glisiening eyes !ncniy looking upward In
another moment he standing shelf or angle IN The
shaft with the child clasped iu his bosom. He fastened tie
little fellow securely his body and bidding him take
the rope firmly In his hands the signal given 10 daw up
The child held cOnvulsivcy the rope and in few minutes
they within view Of the hundred anxious spectators wi
had assembled witness the resulr and when i" tr-:
glimpse of the little fellow alive caught their gaze
and shouts of JOY from the excited muiii'Wt filled
the air, and big tears of sympathy started from the eyr- %
every beholder. After the first paroxysns oidet lad sub
sided the child examined il had sustained any
injury, and extraordinary 10 tell with The exception "i ;i'
orusc the back fits head periecedy sound an!
hur The only complaint that it made thai il hungry
being nearly 81 hours under the ground To inquiries made
of it, it replied that il a light and heard it hln. From
the Of the pit il appeared that the little fellow had
fallen perpendicular distance OF 10 feet upon slope bend
in the shaft and from that place had Sided down 20 far
Their The spot where he found leaning against
pillar WALL and gazing upward. How he escaped instant
destruction is beyond all account.