Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-05-22

| cliff caving in towardsit. The space through
which had fallen must have been narrow,
| for my body was bruised and the skin torn
from my side with strips of clothing that
could feel. Oh for light to examine better
into my miserable position; but after all, |
| did not feel without hope. could not lose
the idea that was to hit upon some means or
way of escape, if l only could get the match
es to ignite, and show me the size and form OF
| the cave.
Worn out with pain and thought, l must
| have slept. awoke with raging thirst, and
almost at the same time, i became sure that
heard the dropping of water. dragged my
| self towards the sound, stretched out my hand,
| and drops from above fell upon it; eagerly l
swallowed a few which burned my throat; they
| ,oere distilled brine-salt as any impregnation
of water could possibly be ~
This disappointment crushed me terribly.
/ should die of thirst ere l had found mode
of exit. thought of the matches. and tried
| them again, in vain this time, however, they
gave forth light smoke. In time the heat
of my breast would dry them-that was hope.
/ had no idea of time, save that my watch
had run down while slept. l wound it up
again, knowing that when it again stopped
eight and twenty hours would have gone BY.
Again, on my hands and knees, crept around,
feeling by the damp walls, and as continual
ly approached and receded from the spot
| where the salt water dropped from project
ing rock l discovered that the cave must be
nearly round, and not many yards square.
Having discovered this, became more col
lected and resolute, and forced myself TO a
calm review of my position. had to ac
knowledge to myself, that my only chance of
escape seemed the hole or crack through
which had fallen but no ray of'light betray-
ed that spot-earth and stones must have fall
len in and choked it up. Parchng with thirst.
and faint from bodily injuries, was almost at
the point OF despair, when distant sound fell
upon my ear. l listened with intense atten-
tion. Soon, more and more distinctly, rec
ognlzed the noise OF machinery, the rumbling
of carts, and the voices OF men then bell
ruRg, and, with throb OF joy, l recognized it
as the morning summons to the laborers in the
works. A night only could have passed since
my leaving the outer world. Had they miss
ed me Alas! there was nothing to lead them
tc suspect the spot of my captivity. 1 thought
of the strange disappearance of my young
brother-this double bereavement would kill
my poor mother; but still was comforted by
the knowledge that only a PARTITION of rock
separated me from my fellow men. Now |
could almost distinguish their voices. | felt
that it was vain TO hope that my calls and
shouts could be heard by them, yet [ could
not fcrbear shouting till was quite exhausted.
Then reflected the means L could find of
digging away the barrier of rock. 1t could
not be thick-I knew that by my facility 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 a slender one, quite inadequate to
cutting passage through even the soft and
damp salt-rock which formed the partition.
Suddenly l remembered having picked up
heavy iron OK shoe, on the wagon road, du-
ring my Sunday walk. 1t was still in my
pocket. With what joy [ pulled it out, and
commenced eagerly my work.
l will not detail the agonies of those days
and nights, when L worked on in the DARK
ness sometimes encouraged sometimes near
Is hopeless. l could not find that had made
any visible progress; the sounds were nearer
than at first, aud L was growing hourly more
exhausted from fatigue and burning thirst
The salt air Of the cave inhamed my eyes,
parched my skin, and eXcoriated my throat,
and often | had a horrible idea that I should
go mad but worked on. had wound up
my watch five times, therefore it must have
been the sixth day-deliverance as far offa
ever. | had been trying to loosen a fragment
of rock which seemed somewhat detached |
from the strata, (this could only judge of by
feeling). fl succeeded, should mnch reduce |
the thickness of the barrier at that point but |
had to stop and rest before the final trial.
/ again tried my matches. [ had constant |
ly done so hitherto, but without success, and |
few remained but now the third one that | |
tried gave forth light smoke, then blue |
fame, and finally clear red light. | held it |
carefully. and beheld the cavern in which |
was immured. 1t was a small one. and spark
ling from the saline crystals, as if studded
with gems. Opposite to me was dark OBJ
iect, on a projection of the shelving rock, and
bearing similarity to the outline of human
face. In frenzy of impatience, | tried the
lew remaining matches, in vain; the last one
was in my hand; more carefully drew it
over the sand paper; it burned only for an in
stant but in that instant, holding it directly
sven with the body, recognized the dead,
pale, but unchanged face of my poor, lost
brother Henry.
l was again in darkness, with the dead body,
md my frenzied thoughts. After a time l re-
'umed my labor fiercely at the rock. A few
blows loosened it /; few more and the large
nass rolled inwards; and from fssure in the
rock which lay behind it, came narrow streak
Of daylight. l was all but mad, or L would
not have had sufficient strength to effect my
purpose.
By the aid of my OK shoe I soon increased
he hole till it was large enough to admit my
head. My shouts soon brought assistance from
he works, to which, as had supposed, 4 was
'ery near, and soon from that fearful tomb
we're drawn the living and the dead bodies.
No one knew me till spoke. The body of
Door Henry had been preserved by the salt,
md was also partly petrified. That he had
,een killed by the fall was evident, and had
,ever moved from the ridge on which he fell.
never entirely recovered from the effect OF
he salt, which leh my eyes and nose constant
y red, and rendered my flesh ever after sImi-
ar to corned pork.
A patriotic Ohio giil, an assistant teacher
II fho of Orleans.
her antipathy to the traitors, the
,fher day and xuaa conSaauanflu diSmi issed |