Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-06-20
EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE.

EAIRAORDINARY ESCAPE.
The last Abingdon Virginian contains the
following account of one Of the most remar-
kable escapes probably on record. 1t was
almost miraculous
The children Of Mr.. George Hickan, q
citizen of Scott county, we're playing togethc,
er In field, and near the mouth Of a fath,
omless sink-hole, In their gambols one Of
them, 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. II was some time
after the child was missed before any certain
information could be drawn from the others
as to what had become Of him; and il vas
only threats Of severe punishment that final
iy overcome their fear, and eztortcd from
the boy who did the deed a confession Of
what had happened. An effort was made
immediately to ascertain the situation Of the
little fellow, and afford him relief if he wzsl
not beyond its power. Ropes we're tied to-
gether, with stone attached to one end, and
an attempt was made To fathotn 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 indicas
ton, except that the pit was free from choke
damp or impure air as far down as the cat.s
die descended. Night came on, and ell fur.
ther efforts had to be for the time abandon.
ed. On the next day further trials were
made of the depth of the pit, but with no
better success. In despair the frantic pa
rents were about to give up all hopes Of res
covery or of ofrelieYing their little innocent,
and preparations we're being made to close
up the mouth of the pit to prevent like oe=s
currence in the future, when it was sugges,
: ted and agreed upon that another and q final
/ effort should be made by letting some indi- :
vidual down by ropes to examine the nature
of the abyss, and ascertain if there was anv
! encouragement for further efforts to be found
: below. A brother of the lost child UNDER
took the fearful task. Cords were fastened
around his waist and limbs, and one to his
c wrist, by which he might indicate to those
, above, his wishes either to descend or to be
: drawn up. He was swung off and slowly
o lowered, until having gone to the depth Of
: about 6fty feet, he looked below him, and
n there shone through the thick darkness two
glistening eyes intently looking upward.
= In another moment he was standing on !
s shelf or angle in the shaft with the child
: clasped to his bosom. He fastened the 1T
tie fellow securely to his own body, and
bidding him take the rope firmly IN his
hands, the signal was given to draw up
1t The child hung convulsively to the rope,
l. and, in a few minutes they arose within view
:. of the hundred anxious spectators who had
e assembled to witness the result; and when
e the first glimpse Of the little fellow alive
Is caught their eager gaze, screams and shouts
Is of joy from the excited multitude filed the
q air, and big tears Of sympathy started from
IS the eyes of every beholder. After the first
N paroxysms of delight had subsided, the ehild
Is was examined to see if it had sustained au7
d injury, and, extraordinary to tell, with the
g exception of little bruise on the back of
e. its head, it was perfectly sound and unhurrtt.
d The only complaint it made was that it was
hungry, being nearly twenty-seven hours rn-
4 der the ground To inquiries made of il, il
er replied that It suw light and heard is
Is thunder. From the nature of the pit, Il sI- al.
81 peared that the little fellow had fallen per.
L pendieular distance of forty feet, upon a
5 slope or bend in the shaft, and from that
IT place had sided down twenty feet further t6d;
q; the spot where he was found, leaning against
Of a sort of pillar or wall. and gazing upward.
1t How he escaped instant destruction is be-
rs yond all account.