Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-11-11


ly. Through all, 1t became c'car 70 me
that instead Of falling orer, ! had fallen
Mrongh the clitf-strange as it was that
hollow g,ound should occur so near the
edre without the external wall OF the cliff
caving in towards it, The space through
which had fallen must have been narrow,
for my body was btuised, and the skin torn
from my sides with Strips Of my clothing
that Icould feel on for a light to ex-
anime better into my miserable position
bot after all, did not feel without hope. /
7 coAld not lose the ilea that | was TO Int
uperssome meaas or way If escape, if |
only could get the .anaiches to ignite, and
show me the form Of the cave.
Worn out with pain and thought must
have slept. awoke with raging thirst,
and, almost at the same time became
sure that heard the dropping Of water.
dragged myself towards the sound stretch
ed out my hand and drops from above fell
/, on,it; eagerly | swallowed few. which
Burnt my throat they acre distilled brine
salt as any impregnaiion Of water posi-
bly could be-
This disappointment crushed me terri
hv. | should die Of thirst ere ! had found
a mode of extinguishng it. thought OF
the matches, and l tried them again, in
vain this time, howe,e err they gave forth
light smoke. In time the heat of my
breast would dry them-that was hope.
| had no idea of time except that my watch
had run down while | slept. / wound il
IN again, knowing that when it again stop
ped eight-and-tweuty hours would have
rome by. Again, on my hands and knees,
/ crept around. feeling by the damp walls,
and as continually approached and reccd-
ed from the spot where the salt water
dropped from a projecting rock, | discover
ed that the cave must be nearly round, and
not many yards square. Having discover
. ed this. became more collected and reso-
Lutte, and forced myself to calm View of
nv position. / had 10 acknowledge TO my
self, that my only chance of escape seemed
the hole or crack through which had fall
len; but no ray of light betrayed the spot
: earth and stones must have fallen in and
V choked 1t up. Parching with thirst, and
e faint from bodily injuries, was almost at
l., the point Of despair, when distant sound
It fell upon my ear. ] iistenel with intense
>. attention. Soon, more and more distinctly,
p. I recognized the noise of machinery, the
d rumbling of carts and the voices of men /;
i then bell rung, and with throb of Joy.
v I recognized it as tie morning summons to
I'll the laborers in the works. A night only
n could have passed since my leaving the
e outer world. Had they missed me! would
i they search for me? Alas there was
Q nothing TO lead them TO suspect the spot OF
& nv captivity. I thought Of the strange
e disappearance of my younger brother-this
At double bereavement would kill my poor
i mother but still ] was comforted by the
knowledge that only partition Of rock
-ei separated me from my fellow men Now
Y. could almost distinguish their voices.
felt that it was in vain TO hope that my calls
d and shouts could be heard by them, yet
o. could not forbear shouting till was quite
ID exhausted.
% Then reflected on the means ! coul
at find of digging away the barrier OF rock
ST It could not be thick / knew that. by my
ne facility in hearing sound,and concluded that
at as had fallen close to the edge of the cliff
y | had sunk straight down to the level Q
or The valley at It's foot, and possibly the wal
s. of my prison was not more than two OF
~ three feet in thickness, But had no i'm
~ nlemcnt save my knife. and that was slen
" der one. quite unequal to cutting passage
.. through even the soft and damp salt-rock
u. which formed the partition. Suddenly
st. remembered having picked up heay,
he iron OK shoe, on the wagon-road durln!
nd my Sunday walk. 1t was still in my pock
Int ct. With what Joy. pulled il out an
h. commenced eagerly my work.
,at will not detail the agonies of those day
I 4 fi,a Inrl-
ness, sometimes encouraged, sometime
ce nearly hopeless. ! could not find that
len made any visible progress; the sounds wer
he no nearer than at first, and ! was GROWN
nd more and more exhausted from fatigue an
he burning thirst. The salt air intiamed m
r | ewes. parched my skin and eXeoriaicd m
so throat !; and often lad horrible idea th;
he. should 20 mad; but worked on. ! ha
rd wound up my watch FIVE times, therefore
,o- must have been the sixth day -deliveranC
, T rs far off as ever / had been trying
loosen fragment of rock which SCENE
. I somewhat detached from the strata. Gins
{ | could only judge of by feeling) If SUI
NO 9 eded should much reduce the thickne
ate Of the barrier at that point but had
,st stop and rest tecore the final trial. aga
md tried nv matches. / had constantly dor
50 hitherto. but without success, and but
alt few remained but now .he third one tf
pht I tried gave forth light smoke. then
ne. light blue flame. and finally clear re
nd light. l held it carefully and plainly b
i'm held the cavern in which ] was immure
INST II was small one, and sparkling from Il
ose saline cr1 stalls as if studded with gem
at Opposite to me was a dark object, on
fer projection of the shelving rock, and bea
,ds ing similarity 10 til ontlnc of human h
nse ure. lifted high the expiring match, an
was bv its last ray, saw n hanaa face :
owe In frenzy Of impaiienee tried the ie
int remaining matches in vain; the last o.
me. was in my hand more carefully ] drew
rm- over the saadpapcr; it burned only for {
Inv instant: but in that instant holding i {
az reeslv even with the body. I recognized q
en- dead. pa'e, but unchanged face OF my roo
any lost brother Henry