Southern shield., 1851-06-28
EXtraCrdinarV Escane,

The last Abingdon Virginian gives the following account of one of the most remark able escapes probably on record. It was almost miraculous:
 "The children of Mir. George Hickan, a citizen oi Scott county, were playing to- gether in field, and near the mouth of fathomless snk-hoIe. In their gambols, one of them, boy about s or 10 years of age, pushed his little brother, about years old, head-Iong over the edge and down into the deep dark pit below. It was some time af- ter the.child was missed before any certain information could be drawn from the others as 10 what had become of him, and it was only by threats Ot severe punishment, that finally overcome their fear and extorted from the boy who did the deed, confes- sion of what had happened. An effort was made immediately 10 ascertain the situation of the little fellow, and afford him relief if he was not beyond its power. Ropes were tied together with a stone attached to one the depth beneath; but more than 60 feet of rope were employed in vain; no bottom then let down, but its light gave no hopeful
 indication, except that the pit was free from choke dump or impure air, as far down as the candle cended.-Night came on and all further efforts had 10 be for the time abandoned. On the next day further trials 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 ot recovery or relieving their little innocent,I and preparations were being made to close up the mouth of the pit, to prevent like occurrence in the future, when it was sug gested and agreed upon, that another and a final effort should be made by letting some individual down by ropes to examine the nature of the abyss, and ascertain if there was any encouragement for farther efforts 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 he might in dicate to those above, his wishes either toI descendor 10 be drawn up. He was swung off and slowly lowered, until, having gone to the depth of about fifty feet, he looked below him, and there shone through the thick darkness two gIistening eyes intently looking upward. In another moment he1 was standing on a shelf or angle in the shaft with the child clasped to his bosom. He fastened the little fellow securely 10 his own body, and bidding him take the rope firmly in his hands, the signal was given to draw up. The child hung convulsively to the rope, and in a few minutes they arose with in view of the hundred anxious spectators, who had assembled to witness the result; and when the first glimpse of the little teI- low alive caught their eager gaze, screams and shouts of joy from the excited multi tude filled the air, and big tears of sympathy started from the eyes of every beholder.- After the first paroXysms of delight had sub- sided, the child was examined 10 see it it had sustained any injury, and, extraordn- ary to tell, with the exception ot little bruise on the back of it's head, it was per fecty sound and unhurt. The only con- pIaint it made was thatit was hungry, be- ing nearly 27 hours under the ground.- To inquiries made of it, it replied that 1t saw a light and heard it thunder. From the nature of the pit, it appeared that the It. tie fellow had fallen perpendicular distance of 40 feet, upon slope or bend in the shaft, and from that place had slided down 20 feet farther to the spot where he was found, leaning against sort of pillar or wall, and gazing upward. How he escaped instant destruction is beyond all account.
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 AN OLD NADIA lady who has attained the age of twenty-four or five, without hay ing married fool, knave, a gambler, a drunkard, or loafer.
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 BAcHELoRs.--Are the only true liberty poles, standing by themselves with the flag of freedom flying from the top.