Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-10

only partition OF rock separated me from
my fellow men. Now could almost distin.
guish their voices. felt that it was vain to
hope that my calls and shouts could be heard
by them, yet could not forbcar shouting till
| was quite exhausted.
Then ] reflected on the means could find
Of digging away the barrier Of rock. 1t could
not be thick knew that, by my faculty in
hearing sound, and concluded that, as had
fallen close to the edge Of the cliff, had sunk
straight down to the level of the valley at its
foot, and possibly the wall of my prison was
not more than two or three feet in thickness.
But | had no implement, save my knife, and
that Was slender one, quite unequal to cut
ting passage through even the soft and damp
sat-rock, which formed the partition. Sud
denly | remembered having picked up a heavy
iron ox-slOc, on the wagOn-rOad, during my
Sunday walk. 1t was still in my pocket
With what joy pulled it out, and commen-
ced eagerly my work.
will not detail the agonies Of those days
and nights, when | worked on in the dark
ness, sometimes encouraged, sometimes near
~ hopeless. could not find that made any
visible progress; the sounds were not nearer
than at first, and was growing hourly more
exhausted from fatigue and burning thirst
The salt air Of the cave infiamed my eyes,
parched my skin, and excoriated my throat
and often had IL horrible idea that should
20 mad; bnt ] worked on. had wound up
my watch five times, therefore it must have
been the sixth day-dcvcrnnc as far off as
eYcr.-L had been trying 10 loosen n fragment
Of rocl; which seemed somewhat detached
from the strata, this could only Judge ol
by fecling.) IL succeeded / should much
reduce tho thickness Of the barrier at that
point; but ! had to stop and rest before the
final trial. ] again tried my matches. had
constantly done so hitherto, but without sue.
cess, and but few remained; but now the
third one that tried gave forth light smoke
then light blue flame, and finally n clear red
light. held it carefully and bcheld plainly
the cavern in which was immurcd. 1t was
small one, and sparkling from the saline
crystals, as if studded with gems Opposite
to me was II dark object on projection o.
the shelving rock, and bearing similarity tC
the outline Of human figure. lifted high
the expiring match, and, by its last ray, saw
q human face!
In n frenzy Of impatience, tried the few re-
manning matches, in vain the last one was in
my hand; more carefully drew it over the
sand-pnper; it burned only for an instant bul
in that instant, holding it directly even with
the body, recognised tho dead, pale, but un
changed face Of my poor, lost brother Henry
was again in darkness, with the dead body
and my irenzied thoughts. After time re-
sumcd fiercely my labor at the rock. A few
blows loosened it; few more and the large
mass rolled inwartls, and from a Hssurc in tht
rock which lay behind it, came in marrow
streak of daylight. was all but mad, or
would not have had sufficient strength to CT
feet my purpose.
by the aid Of my ox-shoe I soon increased
the hole, till it was large enough to admit my
head. My shouts soon brought assistance
from the works, to which, as had supposed
was very near, and soon from that fearful
tomb were drawn the living and the dead
bodies.
No one knew me till spoke. The body o.
poor Henry had preserved by the salt, and
was also partly petrified That he had been
killed by the fall was evident, and had never
moved from the ridge on which he fell nev.
er entirely recovered from the effect of the salt
which left my eyes and nose constantly red,
aud rendered my flesh ever after similar to
cOrncd pork.
n. Il. There are many dull minds, in which
the wonderful IN always confoundcd with the
fictitious, and many such Of my acquaintance
have maintained that the scene of my advcn.
ture was the cellar Of neighboring distillcry,
often visited by oil my family, cmbelished by
heated fancy or incipient deirium. To such
tho best EugWpr iS-nO anSwor