Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-06-26
Whole Number $40.


the following account:
The childreno of Mr.. George HIck-
an, citizen ol Scott county, were
playing together near the mouth oI
a fathomless sink.hole. In their
gambols, one Of them, a boy eight or
ten years Of age. pushed his little
brothe7, about four wears Of age,
head-long over the edge and down
into the deep dark pit below. II
was sopie time after the child was
missed. before any certain informa-
tion tsould be drawn from the others
as to what had become Of him; and
il was only by threats OF severe
punishment that finally overcame
theiI fear and extorted from the boy
who did the deed, a confession Of
what had happened. An effort was
made Immediately to ascertain tho
situation OF the little fellow, and az
ford him relief il he was not beyond
its power. Ropes were tied together
with stone attached to one end,
and an attempt was made TO falhom
the depth beneath, but more than
sixty feet OF lope wers employed in
vain; no bottom could be feached.-
A lighted candle was then let down,
hut its light gave no hopeful indica-
ton, exceut that the pit was free
from choke damp or impure air, as
far down as the candle descended.
Night came on and alIfurther efforts
had to be for the time abandoned.--
On the next day further efforts were
made Of the depth of the pit, but
with no better success. In despair
the frantic parents were about 10
give up all hopes OF recovering or
relieving their little innocent, and
preparations were being made TO
close up the mouth of the pit, to pre-
vent a like occurrence in the future;
when il was suggested and agreed
upon, that another and a 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 any encouragement for
'urther efforts TO be found below. A
brother of the lost child undertook
the awful task. Cords were fastened
around his waist and limbs, and one
to hIs wrist, by which he might indi-
cate 10 those above his wishes either
to decend or TO be drawn up. He
was swung of and slowly lowered,
until having gone TO the depth Of
about fifty feet, he looked below him,
and there sbone through the dark
ness two glistening eyes intenlly
looking upward. In another mo.
nent he was standing on a shelf or
angle in the shaft with the child
clasped to bis bosom. He fastened
the little fellow securely 10 his own
b7GY, and bidding him take The rope
firmly in his hands, the signal was
given to draw up. The child held
convulsively to the rope and in few
minutes, they rose within view Of the
hundred anxious spectators, who had
assembled 10 witness the result; and
when the first glance OF the little fel-
low alive caught their eager gaze,
screams and shouts OF Joy from the
eager multitude filled the air, and
big tears OF sympathy started from
the eyes Of every beholder. Alter
the first paroxisms Of delight had
subsidized, the child was examined to
see If it had sustained any injury,
and extraordinary 10 tell, with the
exception of a little bruise on The
back of its head, il was perfectly
sound and unhurt. The only COM
plaint that il made was that it was
hungry, being nearly 81 hours un.
der ground. To inquiries made Of IL,
it replied that il saw a light and
heard it thunder. From the nature
Of the pit, il appeared that the little
fellow had fallen a perpendicular
course of 40 feet, upon a slope or
bend in the shaft, and from that place
had slid down 20 feet further to the
place where he was found leaning
against a sort Of pillar or wall, and
gazing upward. How be escaped
instant destruction is beyond all acr
count.