Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-11-23

This new manifestation Of the powers ef
Nature fairly stsrtled noe into desire ter
flight and / mad already turned feg the
purpose, Whea suddenly there cane 9 SOFT
of Fum6ling orabh, and the groena, shak-
inR, heaving and rolling under me, oegen
10 erumble off into the dread abyse. was
thrown down, and, On my knees, praying'
God for mercy, was sorambling over itand
Inward. 70 save myself from most horri-
M a te' when two hloots, rolling together
caught my feet and legs between them, and
Without actually crushing, held them ss II
In q vice. Then came another crash end
crumble, the lava slid away from behind
me, and l was left upon the very verge Of
the awful gull, now Widened TO some fftsen
or twenty feet, down into which locked
with horror. r.strained ey es, only to see dark
ness and death below, and breathe The al-
most snhocatiug vap9rs that rushed up
from that seemingly bOttomless pit.
Oh, the horrors Of that awful realisation
Wnat pen or tongue can portray tsen -
there, q helpless but conscious prisoner,
suspended over the mouth Of black Rad
heated abyss, to be hurled downward by
the next great throe Of trembling nature.
Help help help tor the lore CT God,
help" 1 screamed in the very agony cf q
wild despair.
looked up and around to catch a glimpse
Of my guide; but he was gone, and I had
nothing 10 rely on but the mercy Of EeaTen;
and l prayed to God, as l never prayed
before, for q forgiveness Of my Gins, that
they might not follow me to Judgment. It
might be q second, il might be minute,
Il might be an hour, that I should have
thus to undergo a living death; bUt be the
time long or short, felt that there Hss no
escape from q doom that even nov makes
me grow pale and shudder when l .hiSk Of
Il Above me was clear blue sky-be-
meath me q black and horrible eSyss-
around me slckening vspOrs that rsde my
brain grow dizzy. Rumbling and hifs;ng
sounds warned me that another conVulsion
might occur at any moment, and another
would be the last Of me. Home and friends
I should never see again, and my tomb
would be the volcanic Heols stroYe,
with the madness Of desperation, e olsen
gage my imprisoned limbs, but might as
well have attempted 70 mnve q menntsin.
There 1 was fixed and fastened fo- tie ter
rible death was awaiting. Oh, God of
mercy what fatel r-.,
Suddenly heard shout; and, looking
around, beheld, with feelings that Z can,
not describe, my faithful guide fastening
down the rugged sides of the crstsr to my
relies BE had fed in terror ct tie frst
alarming denomination, but had Eobly re-.
turned to save me, ii possible, By risking
his life for mine. May God reward him
as he deserves. ..-5I
al warned you, master" he said, as be
came up painting, his eyes hsls sterling
from his head, and bis whole countsnance
expressing commingled terror and pity.
"You did you did :" cried I, but oh
forgive and save meP
You are already forgiven, mEsteT,end
will save you if csn-ssvs yOr or perish
with you"
Instantly he set to work with his iron.
pointed stick 70 break the lava eround my
limbs, but had scarcely made any progl ess
when sgsin the earth trembied, and the
blocks parted, one Of them rolling down
into the ysWning ohssm with duh, hol.
ioE sound. I sprang forward seized q
hand Of the guide-We both struggled hard,
and the next moment We had both fallen,
locked in each others arms, upon the solid
earth above. / was free, but still upon the
verge of the pit and any moment We might
both be hurled to destruction. u
"Quiok, masterl' cried the guide; up
upl and run for your life /"
staggered to my feet, with . wild CRY
Of hope snd fear, and, half supported by
my faithful companion, hurried up the
sloping sides of the crater. As wereaohed
the ridge above, the ground shook with
heavy explosion; and, looking back, I be-
held with horror a dark, smoking pit,
where we had so lately stood.
And then, without waiting to see more,
turned and fed over the rough ground as
fast as my bruised limbs would let ne. We
reached our horses in safety, and hurrying
down the mountain, gave the alarm to the
villagers, who Joined US in our flight across
the country till safe distance Wasgained
Here bade-adieu to my faithful guide,
reWsrding him as man grateful for the
preservation Of his life might be supposed !
to do. a~of f.Fra r q. -'54-fg = q
A few days later, when the long-extinci |
uecla was again eonVulsing the Island, and |
sending forth its mighty tongues Of fire
and streams of melted lave, was faraEay |
from the sublime and awful scene, thank. |
ing God vas alive to tell the story Of my
wonderful escape from burning tomb.